Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Everman.
Hi Keith, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Nashville, Tennessee aka Music City USA. As a child, I took piano lessons for many years. Additionally, I demonstrated vocal talent in the church choir where I soloed often. The musical highlight of my childhood was when I was chosen with a handful of 3rd graders to perform in the Puccini opera, Tosca.
Although I loved music and had a bedroom airband well into my teens and twenties athletics, academics and work pulled me in a different direction. However, throughout my life I had a lingering desire to be a musician.
In 2017, I was living in Los Angeles consulting startups when I started doing open mics around town. The feeling of being up on stage singing something I wrote was such a thrill that I wrote more and more.
In early 2019 I enrolled in the Songwriting School of Los Angeles. After my first basic class, I decided that I was going to make a huge career change. I decided that somehow I wanted to in my 40’s drop my life as a businessman and become a full-time writer. I knew and have known all along of the risk that comes with this lifestyle change. However, I decided that if I was lying on my death bed and knew I never tried this thing then I would have huge regrets.
I wasn’t living in the most musical part of Los Angeles. I was in beautiful Hermosa Beach. Despite that natural wonder of living on the Santa Monica Bay, I decided that if I was going to be a songwriter, I would go all in. This meant that I had to live near musicians.
Hollywood and the Valley didn’t appeal to me so I looked elsewhere on the map. I have spent so much time in Nashville that I thought I would give Austin a try.
I ended up moving to Austin mid-pandemic in July of 2020. I knew virtually nobody in town and would spend weeks by myself just writing.
Eventually, the world opened up and I started going to shows if only to meet other musicians. At the first show, I went to where people were no longer social distancing and singing and dancing with joy, I was inspired to write my first release, “Sonic Celebration.”
From the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2021, I ended up writing approximately 85 songs. I have taken seven of those into the studio, have released one and will be releasing three more songs this year. My next release, “Hard Life” comes out on April 8th, 2022.
The short of the story is that in my 40’s I quit my professional life to become a songwriter. That brought me to Austin where I now play gigs regularly and am lucky to mingle and play with some of the best musicians in the world. I’m glad I took this chance.
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?
It has absolutely not been a smooth road.
It goes without saying that stopping a professional career to become a musician is not an easy economic decision.
Additionally, my decision to stop consulting and to become a full-time musician was a catalyst for a breakup with a woman who I loved dearly.
Secondly, it was a lot easier announcing than executing that I was a musician. I’ve had open mics and even gigs that bombed.
Thirdly, my time spent alone in the second half of 2020 was extremely difficult. I moved to Austin to be around musicians but there was nothing really going on. Looking back, it was a lot harder than I realized when I was in it.
Finally, it was a long road before I developed a cavalcade of musicians that will play and write with me. I have just kept jumping on stage around town to earn that respect.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a songwriter whose songs are described as Classic American Story Telling. I’m also a performer and a frontman who enjoys creating fun shows that make people want to dance and sing along.
Any big plans?
My plans for 2022 are to keep writing. I’d like to have ten releases by the end of the year. Also, I would like to have at least two full-band gigs every month for the rest of the year.
I have set a goal to have my first short tour in the summer of 2023.
Contact Info:
- Email: keithevermanmusic@gmail.com
- Website: www.keitheverman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keithevermanmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keith.ikard
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClJyEiN_t6pnn-aUFmozVhw
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/search?q=Keith%20Everman
Image Credits
Alva Sims for posed shots Melissa Bordeau for stage shot
