Q&A with Musician John L Keck
John L Keck is a storyteller who expresses himself through music and visual art. His upbringing in Georgia and near St. Joseph give him a diverse background and influences that permeate his work.
Question: How did you get your start as a musician?
Answer: I think it probably started with an appreciation for my sister’s singing. She is four years older than me and loved to sing. We often made up songs in the car. And she was always playing different complex instruments like the mountain dulcimer and clarinet. I tried the violin when I was about 10 and struggled, but eventually I found Van Halen’s 1984 album. When I heard “Eruption,” that was it. I had to understand how they made those sounds. That’s the great thing about music; I’m still searching for tones and phrases I heard as a child, and the fun has never left. Thanks, Mom, for that first guitar!
Question: How would you describe your personal musical style?
Answer: I regularly say that I write songs for those who love Van Gogh’s paintings. With one foot in the South and one in the Midwest, my work is a modern blend of traditional Americana and a willingness to be undefined.
Question: What have been some of your most memorable performances?
Answer: I’ve played to big packed rooms with some heroes of mine and felt like I’ve really accomplished something, and I’ve played to empty spaces with spotted clapping in the darkness. But the gigs that always come to mind first are the ones where people repeated lyrics back to me after the set. It’s an incredible feeling to have a stranger come up to you and recite something you just sang to them for the first time. And those nights when you get the attention of someone who hadn’t been listening for whatever reason and then a spark goes off. They become so caught up in what you’re performing that they pause their lives, and for just three minutes or so you remind them they are not alone.
Question: What advice would you give to other aspiring artists?
Answer: Do what you do, because it brings you joy. Even if it’s a cathartic exercise in releasing thoughts that might have felt confining or limiting, expressing that creates a release that frees you from the mental chains we all feel. If you can find joy in that, you’ll sleep well and tomorrow will be another day. Also your work affects other people, even if you never speak. Remember that, and the magic is everywhere.
Question: Did we understand correctly that you are a visual artist, too?
Answer: Yes, I’ve been a photographer, painter, and cartoonist my whole life. Although I “publish” or release limited things into the wild I really try to not limit the direction an idea flies off in. However, during the long parts of the COVID lockdown I began finding relief from the world when I poured into painting and drawing again. Now, I paint daily as a meditation and frequently give away my napkin art. I often call these little pieces “Forever Flowers” or “Napkin Novels,” which I create to see the impact creating in public has on my surroundings. Hopefully we can talk in person sometime about what they mean. I’d like to make you smile if I can with a priceless small gesture.
One of the reasons I like to give away these napkins is that I sign them with the number of days I’ve been alive that day. Which I think is a very unique way of signing an art piece—like a million-dollar idea. It makes me smile thinking that each person who kept one could easily have a highly collectible work of art, considering my creative streak and when I gave it to you. It really all depends on what people find valuable.
Question: Where can readers find your work?
Answer: I’m working on a large mural at the International Trucking Service Extra Fine Art Gallery in St. Joseph that will open to the public this spring. I have several other shows coming up that will be listed on my Facebook page. Say “hello” if you find me painting in a coffee shop!
Music wise, you can find me on Bandcamp.com if you’d like to buy a digital copy, and my music is also available on traditional streaming services. Feel free to use my songs on Instagram and TikTok if you feel like making videos; I’d like to see what you create with them. I’m not releasing music to be commercial, I’m looking to make a lasting connection with the rest of the world.
I’m also open to playing original music gigs when asked, so please reach out if you’d like to talk details.
You can find John L. Keck’s music online and follow him at www.facebook.com/johnlkeck.
