Meet Cody Dear

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Dear.

Hi Cody, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
My musical interests actually started because of my older sister. Growing up, she was always playing different instruments around the household which ended up inspiring me to pick up some as well. I started on classical piano then eventually picked up jazz saxophone in the local middle school band.

I continued exploring many different avenues of music from way back then, all the way until my years at UCLA studying Ethnomusicology. After I graduated, I ended up sticking around Los Angeles and ended up working with a pretty eclectic group of artists that helped open a lot of doors for me in the music industry.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The first years out of college were definitely pretty rough. I was living check to check playing gigs that didn’t always feel fulfilling, and I was pretty lost artistically for a while.

However, these experiences definitely pushed me to become a stronger entertainer and really forced me to network out in the music scene as much as possible. I definitely needed to go through those difficult years to help myself find what mattered most to me about being a musician and how to navigate the business side of things to keep myself mentally afloat and financially stable.

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?
Most people know me as a saxophonist, pianist, and songwriter. Most recently, I’ve signed a publishing deal with Sony Music and Colour Vision Records which has definitely been an inspiring change of pace. I love incorporating elements of jazz, RnB, and soul music into a pop medium that has a much more accessible entry point for listeners.

Some of my more recent collaborations have been with the artist MAX (Max Schneider). Leading into his next upcoming album, I’ve had the pleasure of co-producing and writing his most recent 3 singles: Gucci Bag, Wasabi, and It’s You (ft. Keshi).

In addition to writing and touring internationally, I’ve also had the humbling honor of performing on many notable shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Bachelorette, Live with Kelly and Ryan, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I definitely plan to continue touring as much as possible and entertaining those around me! Similarly, I hope to continue collaborating with new artists and help bring their visions to life with my musical craft.

PS: A side future goal would also be to maybe open a restaurant with live music as well.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cody.dear/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@codydearmusic

Image Credits
@christuitephoto, @ashleyosborn, @kylesparkman, and @rikemind