Today we’d like to introduce you to Keelan Walters.
Hi Keelan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Music has been a core part of my life since before I can remember. I faintly recall myself at 4-years-old, banging away at the drums with a stick in each hand and legs too short to reach the kick pedal. As the years progressed, my dad, being a rock drummer earlier in his life, helped me learn drums as well as introduced me to many kinds of rock and blues music. In elementary school, I gravitated toward guitar, and it quickly took over my life. In the 8th grade, I was introduced to jazz, which I was not particularly a fan of because I was unfamiliar and inexperienced. Everything changed on my first day at Hamilton High School when I embarrassingly failed at a 12-bar blues solo during the first big band rehearsal. I realized I had much to learn and practice in order to not be embarrassed in that way again. As the years progressed, I began to fall in love with the rich history and emotional honesty of jazz music. During my time at Hamilton, I was provided and offered many incredible opportunities and experiences, such as trips to compete in competitions and participation in outside-of-school jazz programs. The experiences and communities gained from these programs, along with Hamilton, solidified my desire to pursue jazz in college. I attended Cal State Northridge and had an incredible time. I feel so lucky to have been able to play with and meet so many amazing peers and faculty, as well as experience life-changing opportunities performing and touring around the country and the world. Since graduating in spring of 2020, and after the pandemic began calming down in LA, I have been very busy with gigs, recording with friends and local artists, and teaching private lessons to students of all ages and experience levels. Hired gigs include casual jazz, playing with local rock/pop/r&b singers, and Musical Theater work. I’m now currently back in school for my MFA at California Institute of the Arts, where I’ve been learning many new musical perspectives. At CalArts, I’ve also been working on composing as well as developing myself as an artist. I have different musical projects, both alone and with good friends, that will be released later this year.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In 2021, I suffered from playing-related tendonitis in my right arm/shoulder. At first, it was a very scary experience because I didn’t know why I was experiencing the pain, how long it would last, and how serious and reversible it was. I eventually found an artist-focused occupational therapy place called Artistic Advantage. The occupational therapists there really helped me understand what postural and ergonomic habits, music-related and not, were causing my issues. They also gave me many recovery and strengthening exercises and routines.
At around that time I had also been experiencing a lot of musical burnout. Both of these issues for me were very scary, especially because music, for my entire life, tends to me my anchor. With time and space away, as well as mindfulness meditation and music practices, I have begun to learn more about myself and the balance I need to best prevent musical and physical burnout.
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?
My main work consists of playing with LA-based artists and bands. Some include R&B artists Michi (@michiguerrero) and Arlissa (@arlissa), pop artist Sophia James (@sophiajamesmusic), as well as jazz fusion band Yocoya (@yocoya_band).
I tend to specialize in jazz mainly because that’s what I’ve studied the longest. I love playing all types of music. When I play, I aim to be open enough to let the wide range of my influences come through. I also really love recording and producing music with friends. Later this year, as I plan on 2 albums to be released. The first is one I’ve been making with my good friend Liad Golad (@thejuujaan). The second is one I’ve been working on and off for years now. It is also a collaboration with various friends and artists and is mainly focused around musical ideas I recorded from 2019-2020 when I lived near Cal State Northridge.
Another part of my work is teaching. I teach privately as well as with the Herbie Hancock Institute’s Jazz in the Classroom Program. With this program, I teach afterschool jazz combos at different LAUSD high schools.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
When performing, it’s very important to me that my bandmates and I are having fun. I feel that when performing this way, it’s easier to connect and be present with the music and the musicians you are playing with. Whenever I play with people, especially with more improvised music, I always aim to be as open, connected, and conversational as I can.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keelanguitar/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@keelanwalters6354?si=o0FVMZO8TitYNXEE
Image Credits
Stephany Saias
Johnny Blanford III
Sam Umbay
Joe Linares
Bryce Ikemura
