We recently connected with Rocky Kuner and have shared our conversation below.
Rocky, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I believe I was born with an innate ability to sing and mimic or copy what I was hearing and found interesting. I think this natural ability made taking singing lessons a genuine special interest for me, and I learned how to manage my voice to sing in a healthy way so I could potentially continue to sing well into my old age. I studied what is called ” Speech Level Singing” or “SLS” for short, from my dear Instructor Gregg DeCastro. As an instructor myself, and knowing what I know now, I think everyone’s learning process is going to look different depending on each individual’s skill set, and how adaptable they are. I guess the way I “speed” things up for my students, and for myself, is just the reminder that most of singing is like being in a state of extreme self awareness, that we have to trust ourselves, and approach things with a not so serious attitude to loosen up and not overthink everything. The most essential skills I learned as a musician and artist were how to learn something on my own. For example, how to read charts, how to write them freehand, and how to play chords to learn to accompany myself on various instruments. Basics are all you need and you can learn just about anything. Having patience and grace for yourself, and great work ethic are also equally as important. Getting good at something comes from familiarity, which essentially is practice, discipline, and holding yourself accountable. Giving up on yourself too soon or the opposite, which is extreme ego where you don’t think you need to work hard at your craft are potential obstacles that stand in the way of learning more. For me specifically, my obstacle is imposter syndrome, having undeserving feelings towards what I do, or thinking its not that important to share. But thankfully, I am able to sit with these thoughts and feelings and cope with them in a healthy way. Most artists can relate to this as well, so it makes me feel less alone.
Rocky, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I grew up in a really loving and supportive family that recognized that I had a passion for singing and music at a very young age. My parents put me in local theater shows and piano lessons and at age nine, I met my vocal coach Gregg DeCastro. I picked up instruments around the same time and started learning how to play the dulcimer, guitar, and simultaneously began songwriting. I looked up to many artists, from Joni Mitchell to Nelly Furtado. I got accepted to go to OCSA, an arts high school in Santa Ana, CA, which I attended for six years and graduated in 2015 from the commercial music conservatory. Straight out of high school, I joined a Rush-inspired original band called YYNOT and continued to write my own music and perform local gigs. I’ve been a music Instructor/vocal teacher for eight years and counting, I’m now currently in a different Rush tribute band called The Mood Lifters, and I am working on releasing an original EP this year titled ” Cosmic Self and the Mystery”.
The biggest part of what I do in the Moodlifters specifically, is emulating Geddy Lee’s vocal parts or getting as close as I possibly can to sounding like him when I sing Rush’s material. I have to remember a lot of lyrics, and most of the time I have to write the first phrases of each song down on my setlist to trigger my working memory. It’s challenging but very rewarding work and i’m very honored that I get to do it. The fans are so supportive and sweet and i’m very lucky to be working with the nicest and most amazing musicians i’ve ever met.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
my mission is just to remind everyone that no one is alone in experience of life’s challenges. I love connecting with other people, reminding them of their true essence and helping them feel supported. I write music to express this and support myself through difficult times. I teach vocal lessons to people to help them express themselves and feel validated. I connect with other Rush fans and help to create a space where they can feel present yet nostalgic. my mission is simply being able to guide people back to themselves. I strive to continue to honor my ability to transmute my own energy into something not quite tangible but into something I can share with others. It makes my life feel fulfilled and rich just to be alive, and in turn that fuels my creativity.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I wish I knew about Jeff Buckley sooner in my life. Discovering him, his music, and artist expression came to me at the perfect time in my life, but I have a feeling the influence he’s had on me would’ve definitely opened up a perspective for me that might’ve changed the way I thought of things sooner in my career and life. His influence could’ve maybe sped up the learning of certain lessons for me or at least being validated in my initial thoughts of the industry and art. on another note, I also wish I had Spotify lyrics sooner!! This would’ve made learning song lyrics a much much faster process for me, but there is also something about hand writing them out too that helps me remember better as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rockybelly97.wixsite.com/mysite
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rok_lobsta97/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rocky.kuner
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rocky-kuner-92a094159/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Robdoeme69/videos
- Other: https://linktr.ee/rockykuner