Ken Ketler is currently a work-for-hire songwriter/musician for the Songs of Love Foundation; creating customized music for critically/chronically ill children of all ages.
Ken’s music has been featured for two plus years and is currently used daily on WZLX 100.7 FM Classic Rock in Boston during morning drive time.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Ken about his music, technology, challenges and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I come from the Boston area and love many of the bands that come from here including Boston, the Cars, & Aerosmith. When I create music, I gravitate more towards an “Alt Country” vibe more like John Mellencamp-ish. I love his blend of rock guitars and drums with unlikely instruments like fiddle and accordion. It just gets me right “here”!
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
This is impossible to answer! I need to make music and have since the fourth grade the same way someone smells pizza and just needs to eat. I always have some tune in the back of my head and it keeps me fueled through some of the mundane life-things we all have to do.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
I’ve been writing a lot of songs for critically ill kids (SONGS OF LOVE foundation) to celebrate them and make them happy. This has given me some REAL perspective that I would not have gotten otherwise. For this new song, Honey Ain’t Homegrown, I just wanted to write something fun. There seems to be a large group of people migrating towards Nashville; craving Southern values. This is a tune about a girl who just arrived and actually has what it takes to assimilate into the native culture and perhaps stay there permanently. I actually see a lot of myself in this “person”, minus the “skin tight Daisy Dukes”. I’m a balding man in my 50’s!!! That would just be wrong…oh..so… wrong!
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
Editing and sound processing is fantastic! Seriously, a rack of tube compressors and EQs, digital reverbs and open reel tape machines to saturate… all in a lap top! My dreams are coming true! I do think there is too much use of auto tuning, snapping sampled instruments to-the-grid, and even looping. Music looses LOTS of life for me when these tools are over used, especially when the music might be “acoustic” rock or country that by definition should be more organic (IMHO), flaws and all.
What was the last song you listened to?
Copperhead Road by Steve Earle. Going to see Melissa Etheridge play live tonight!
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Love them all, but I still buy CDs by the dozen for $2 a piece at a local 2nd hand shop.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I love that Bandcamp offers downloads in various formats and it’s very easy to use. I also love that YouTube has a volume leveling feature to end the loudness war. Bring back dynamics!!!
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
ReverbNation is the site I tend to feed and water the most religiously. SoundCloud to a slightly lesser degree.
Anything else before we sign off?
Thank you for all you are doing with MTM!
