Interview '07 - Keaton Simons
03.28.07 - Wednesday
At age 26 Keaton Simons has already accomplished many musical feats. He's been on a music soundtrack, had his music used on TV Shows and has appeared on several late night programs. Some dare to dream and ask why? Keaton has made his dreams a reality by asking "Why Not?" KS blends Pop, Rock and Blues all on his latest EP "Blink." We were recently given the opportunity to talk with Keaton about his influences, working with The Matrix and his current tour with Josh Kelley. Keaton is another rising star in the world of music that continues to grow and inspire audiences of all ages.
Photos Courtesy Of:
www.keatonsimons.com
Island: The first thing I noticed about your music is that you seem to cover many genres. From blues to pop to rock your vocal abilities and soft tones really drew me in. Who are the artists that influenced the way you write & perform your music?
Keaton: Many artists from all around the world, but always comes back to Beatles…also Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell.
Island: While listening to your
material I noticed you have written quite a few songs with The Matrix.
(music production team) How did you hook up with them?
Keaton: Met them at a friends bbq, talked and slipped them a cd,
they loved it. Now Lauren Christy actually says “Keaton is her favorite
artist”.
Island: Do you find it easier to
write alone or with a team such as The Matrix?
Keaton: Depends on the situation and mood of song.
Island: You've had some of your
material played on TV recently. The song "Without Your Skin" was on the
show Passions and the tune "Currently" was heard on the ABC hit Men In
Trees. Do you think the songs were placed in situations that did the
material and or meaning of the material justice?
Keaton: Yes, it’s a matter of perspective and how it impacts the
person using the music to make their own interpretation.
Island: Sticking with TV here, you've also been on late night programs The Late Late how with Craig Ferguson & Last Call With Carson Daly (Jammed with Ben Harper). Is it harder to do a performance on TV or on stage live in front of your core fans?
Keaton: Different, but neither is harder, just a great rush for both of them.
Island: In June 2005 you covered the classic Talking Heads tune "And She Was" for the movie soundtrack Sky High. How did that opportunity arise and was it harder to cover a classic song then to write a new one?
Keaton: Isn’t harder, because already written and already have the basic sound. But taking something beautiful and interpreting that for me is a great process. It was done strictly for the show (Movie), but now people always ask me to cover that at concerts.
Island: For those who haven't
picked up your EP entitled "Blink" what can they expect to hear? And for
those who have it already is there something about the disc that they
still may not understand or know about? Also are you working on any new
material at the moment?
Keaton: Always working on the newbies, really want them to interpret
the disc in their own eyes and in their own life. I wrote the songs from
my experience hoping that people can use them to understand some of
their own.
Island: This is usually one of
those "why did you ask me that" type of questions, but I just had to
ask. Out of all the songs you have written, which one or two pop right
into your head as being most important or special?
Keaton: “Without Your Skin”, “Currently”, “Nobody Knows.”
Island: On March 9th you started your tour with Josh Kelley. How has the tour been going so far and how to did this combination come about?
Keaton: Tour has been amazing, every second unbelievable, making so many new fans. Josh and I are fans and we’ve talked about it, but many times that is just bullshit between artists, but with the mutual respect we’ve come together and made a great tour. We’re writing together now also on tour.
Island: It is always hard to
narrow something down to just 1 or 2 but out of all the live shows so
far what has been your favorite tour stop and why?
Keaton:
They
keep getting better every time! This band is unbelievable and the way
they have been flowing and learning from each other is an amazing
process to watch and be a part of.
Island: What are your plans once
the tour with Josh closes up? Summer Tour?
Keaton: Festivals and summer tour. Oh, the next tour, I want to be a
tour whore.
Island: Going hand in hand with
the last question if you could tour with anyone who would it be and why?
Keaton: Everyone tries to compare me to John Mayer, so I guess I
should be touring with him, but I wouldn’t trade this tour with Josh
Kelley for the world.
Island: Now going back to writing material, if you could sit and write/record an album with any musician of your choosing who would it be and why?
Keaton: Dead would be John Lennon. Alive, Jack White or T-Bone Burnett.
Island: As always Keaton it has been a pleasure. Your future is certainly bright and we look forward to hearing more from you. Any final thoughts, words of wisdom or anything you'd like to mention to our readers, your fans?
Keaton: Keep supporting, because every single listener and fan makes all the difference in the world.
For more Keaton Simons music & information, make sure to check out:
www.keatonsimons.com / www.myspace.com/keatonsimons
* Thanks To Doug Weber @ New Ocean Media