Introduction & Background

Please introduce yourself and share a bit about your background.

I was born in Oklahoma, moved as far as New York to the North, and Guatemala to the South.. in Texas currently. I was a trucker for 12 years over the road. I like to think there's an element of going places to my music. Any project, taking the listener away is the goal, except protest music. There the goal is, "look at this." I have a solo band called Djembe Funk, I play and write with my wife (Keri) and we're called The Kintners. I also am in a protest band with Keri and our friend, bkbirge called Boots on the Ground.

What's your musical origin story?

Music has fortunately been a part of my life a long time. My father played jazz flute when I was a child. My mother sang gospel music. I didn't stand much of a chance. I get inspired to create by politics, religion, a good meal, a kiss, anything that comes with words. I can go off about. I don't need a reason to make music, never have. I'm good at coming up with reasons not to make it. haha.

What were the driving forces or pivotal moments that inspired you to pursue music?

I had a major psychological breakdown about ten years ago. I decided I would be a music contractor then, even if it meant being poor. It's simply better for my brain. It was very hard, but not as hard as say.. trucking. It was never so hard I wanted to quit. But I did adjust a ton over the course of a few years. Adjusting is fine. Quitting is fine too, really. In many ways, I quit every day.

Musical Identity

How would you describe your style of music?

I hope I have a variety of sounds ranging from a Southern Gothic thing on songs like 15 Years and Smoke and Mud from The Kintners, to Funk and Jam Rock like Djembe Funk. I love protest music too like Boots on the Ground. To me, Boots is like a new classic rock band, finally. All about that. I love experimenting. If it vibes, I release it. Haven't really thought about genres in a few years.

How is your personality reflected in your work?

I think my music is worth time to a lot of folks, I am too. My personality is complicated as a bipolar. Sometimes I'm this way, sometimes I'm that way. The differences from song to song might be interesting to some folks. But to my friends, I'm just being me. I would hope sometimes there's something clever. I enjoy being clever. But again, not always.

Describe your creative process when you write new music.

I actively explore different ways to write. I do not have a go-to. I might make a bunch of stuff up then edit. I might try to tell a story, or at least the story of the moment for a specific character in my brain. I might do creative writing exercises and come up with moods conducive to music. I might write letters to folks in my past and mine the letters for lyrics. I am ALWAYS on the hunt for new processes. I get just as excited to try the processes as I do get excited for the songs. I won't stick to a single way of doing it. I have too many moods.

Current Work

What is the name of your latest release?

"Riding Waves" for The Kintners, and "$20 Mic" for Djembe Funk - both have codes available here.

What was the inspiration for that release?

Riding Waves is a song inspired by the drastic changes as a bipolar I experience in moods. $20 Mic features the use of a cheap mic I love. Both have Keri singing too. She sings in choir in Riding Waves, and sings verse/chorus in $20 Mic. I'm very lucky to live with someone I love so much who enjoys making music with me. She's the story behind everything.

What challenges or unexpected moments did you encounter during the writing/recording process?

Recording choir was much trickier than I thought. I didn't anticipate how much easier it would be in a larger room. Noise adds up and even with limiters, choir can sound clippy and wonky. We ended up doing choir tracks in the bigger dining room and standing far off from a big condenser. I got what I was after that way. Not the same at all as a lead or back-up vocal. But a dozen vocals - well, it takes something different.

Promotion & Engagement

What strategies do you find most effective for promoting your music?

I just use this service. I have a website at thekintnersmusic.com and I put links from here on there. That's all I do. I don't really care about a huge following or making money online or getting likes and follows. I don't have social media. I just type on my site, upload stuff to Bandcamp. All I worry about. Locally I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off sometimes. But I find online promoting to be fruitless and frustrating, in my case. It's likely just because I don't care.

How do you engage with your fans?

I hope folks feel free to email me anytime - thekintnersmusic@gmail.com. Email is still my main thing. I guess I am old school, but it doesn't feel like performing to me yet. That's better for me.

What upcoming promotional activities or releases are you most excited about?

I am working on a ton of collaborations. I am working on writing political cartoons with a great cartoonist. I am working on a The Kintners double album of all original material recorded and mixed in house. Djembe Funk has a concept EP going. I'm always doing something. Every day. Ok, maybe not EVERY day. lol.

How can folks contact you?

thekintnersmusic.com is the main thing I do. All the music is there. I write a blog there. Links, codes, contact, everything. I love email - thekintnersmusic@gmail.com. I have YouTubes and Bandcamps, they're all on the website! It's your one-stop everything Kintners.

Any additional insights?

I'm very happy to get to make music. I play on other folks' music a whole lot. I do percussion, bass, guitar, vocal.. Words take me forever. But I can hammer out a music part in no time. I enjoy that. If you ever need anything like that, I don't charge. I just do all I can do. Sometimes it's really quick, sometimes it takes me a minute. It just depends on how many there are, I suppose. Email me, happy to talk.