Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian McKee.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My obsession for music started as a toddler dancing in the dining room to “I Will Survive” and “Play That Funky Music”. My Dad introduced me to classic rock years later and I was blown away by the thunderous drum sound of John Bonham on “When The Levee Breaks”.
As a young teen, I started practicing drums for hours after school. This led to my first band performance in our local church. I knew I had to learn about recording and decided to move to Minneapolis after high school to attend IPR for an audio production degree. Being in recording studios there and learning how to engineer for local bands and my own music was where my love for the song production process really started to flourish. I finished my first album shortly after graduation. Musician friends in Minneapolis led to me to living in Chicago not long after. There I ran a vibrant house venue with friends and developed my songwriting, along with a propensity for addictions. The shoe dropped when the pandemic began and the city was called to curfews and quarantines.
I ended up in Santa Barbara to live with my sister and her family for a while and fell in love with the nature in Southern California. It took a year to start a social circle and start gigging at local venues. I’ve worked a long list of jobs from Busser to Elementary Music Teacher in California and just released my first four-track EP, Compelled, in February. I now work as a freelance music teacher in solo and band performances for hotels and bars, live sound for a local church, and with several recording clients as a producer. My dream is to keep making music and loving what I do. My most recent single, “In This Guitar”, has received favorable reviews and I’m proud of my progress. I’m now almost three months sober and know there’s always room for improvement. Moving toward my purpose and an intentionally peaceful life to share with loved ones is the most I can ask for.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My obstacles include: ADHD deficiencies including trouble with focus and time management, which have led to job loss, relationship loss, depression, and anxiety. There’s a hunch, which I’m overcoming, that the smooth road is for other people. Addiction to nicotine, weed, and alcohol and relationship issues has led me to sobriety and a spiritual awakening. I thank God for the struggles that ultimately woke me up to my own power.
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 specialize in songwriting/production and am known for playing gigs where ever I’m needed – and hopefully wanted. I’m most proud of the recording work that I’ve been a part of that will outlive me. As an engineer and performer, I’ve worked for Early Eyes, Good Luck Finding Iris, The Clean Tramps, David Segall, Dylan Smith, Normandy, Brandon Kinalele, and myself. What sets me apart from others is being able to fill multiple roles in a recording setting. From lyrics and melody to playing drums, guitar, bass, keys, and mixing the final product. I can do it all and am refining my emphasis on authentic artistic expression constantly.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I view risk taking and being an artist as interdependent ways of thinking. Business and creativity are as opposite as right and left brain tendencies to me. Moving out to one of the most expensive places to live in the country and pursuing something occasionally profitable has been a major challenge and the biggest risk of my life. A greater risk than failing as an artist is looking back on my life and wondering “What if I tried?” I’m finding out that debts must be paid and life will humble you but I’m embracing the lessons, however uncomfortable they might be.
Pricing:
- $600-$1000 per song – Production, Writing, Recording Services
- $100/hour – solo performances
- $300-$1000 band performances
Contact Info:
- Website: Linktr.ee/brianmckee
- Instagram: @brianmckee_
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/4Bgnok2Gwno
Image Credits
Normandy Neal
