Rising Stars: Meet Anton Kellner of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anton Kellner.

Hi Anton, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Music was all around me my entire life. I was born in Maryland and lived with my Dad, who is a session bass player. I grew up playing West African music in a band that my Dad was in and was able to perform at pretty established venues around Washington DC (Kennedy Center, Blues Alley, etc). It was a great experience, especially at such a young age. My music mentor was a percussionist who taught me how to play music by ear and ear only. While I also played bass, I didn’t know or understand music theory. This is what I attribute to how I make music today.

In my teenage years, I eventually found myself playing hardcore music around the DMV area and eventually joining an established band (from California) as their vocalist. They picked me up from the East Coast and we toured the country, recorded an album and that’s how I winded up in California. After that fizzled out, I dabbled in solo indie/folk music, performing under my own name (and accompanied by a band). That was pretty cool, but it got boring. So here I am today, with an art collective that I call Ambergrove.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely had it’s ups and downs. Playing in a band is like dating a bunch of people at the same time. There’s a lot of different opinions, schedules, rituals, make-ups, break-ups, etc. That’s why I ended up going solo. However, at that time, I learned that the best music is made when it’s shared creatively. Once you get to understand this, you’re pretty much artistically and creatively free. It just took me some time to get there.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a songwriter, producer, and performer. In the last few years, I mostly do work in a music collective/project that I call Ambergrove. Ambergrove is not defined by its members but by the art and the connections shared among each other. a supergroup of sorts with one goal in mind, to make something timeless that will last through the ages. it has many hands, many feet and many faces, it is partnered with artists from all walks of life and with different musical backgrounds. from the very first note played, all the way to the last click of the mouse from the recording engineers, every vibration has been felt long before it ever existed.

What matters most to you?
What matters most is being honest in anything and always remembering why you are doing something to begin with, regardless of the outcome.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theambergrove.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theambergrove_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAmbergrove/
• Twitter: https://x.com/TheAmbergrove
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambergrove/videos
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/theambergrove
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@theambergrove

Image Credits
@Matthew Baca
@RIchard Fusillo