We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chase Kerby a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chase thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

It’s strange when I think about it, but there was never a specific moment in time where I said to myself “this is my calling” or “this is what I’m going to do with my life.” I remember writing poetry at a young age and then getting my first guitar when I was 15. After that the hobby became a passion, the passion turned into obsession, and eventually the obsession evolved into an understanding. It was an understanding of how important music and art are in our lives, both as a viewer/listener and as an artist. It was then that the world became more than 3 dimensional to me and I started seeing things in a very different light. I think that once an artist grasps the gift and responsibility of being able to create, that’s when the decision is made (whether out loud or internal) to pursue a creative career. That’s how it happened for me. I saw what I am, what I could create, and how I could help others along the way.

Chase, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Sometimes I tell myself that music found me. I never really had an affinity for it as a child, but in my teen years it became as much a part of my life as breathing. I started off by picking up the saxophone at age 11. I loved jazz and big band, so the sax was a clear choice. At the time I was also writing poetry in secret, but when you’re awkward in middle and high school poetry isn’t really something you advertise. When they cancelled the jazz band at my high school, I scheduled an audition for the choir. Only problem was that I had never sang before. My dad had just bought me my first guitar and the poetry eventually turned into lyrics and someone had to sing the songs, so I had to figure out how to do that. Being self taught on everything was a time consumer in hindsight. I didn’t realize that I wasn’t going out or socializing because I was obsessed with creating songs, focusing my emotions, and figuring myself out. I was at home with a notebook and my guitar. The natural progression after high school took place. I was playing shows multiple times a week, going on tour, and more. Music and the experiences that accompanied it have been my teachers of life, professors of wisdom, and the sculptors to my character. I tend to think that I learned more about life being stuck in a van with 4 other sweaty guys in the middle of nowhere, than I ever did in a classroom. Long story short, I fronted several bands throughout my 20s and still do presently. I did semi big tours and small diy tours. I was a contestant on The Voice in 2015 (go Team Gwen). I’ve been a frontman, a bass player, a keys player, a lead guitarist, a back up singer, and sometimes all of those at once. In 2017 I became a director of programs at a local art non profit. There I booked daily art demonstrations and music performances that were free to the public (about 255 per year) and was also in charge of the music for a 6 day art festival (managing about 120-150 performing acts). In 2021 I cofounded the Showboat Concert Series that is currently about to begin its 4th season in downtown OKC, as well as the first ever organized busking schedule for downtown.

I’m currently working on several facets of my art by writing a book of poetry featuring my photography, recording a spoken word album, and recording my debut solo music album with hopes to have all of it culminate into one big event/exhibition. think double album and book release with a photography exhibition and live musical performance.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2012, I was the primary songwriter and frontman for a band that had garnered a sizable local following. We started getting attention all over the state and were about to release out third ep in the span of a year and a half. The manager of the Flaming Lips had helped us by scheduling several meetings in NYC with very import figures in the music industry (record company VPs, legendary music lawyers, etc). 3 days before flying to NYC, our bass player and I were given notice that 3 out of the 5 members were joining another band who had just signed a record deal. So while the bass player and I were in these meetings in NYC, we didn’t even know if we would have a band when we returned home (even with new members, it didn’t last longer than 7 months.

I remember having this sense of panic, burn out, being a fraud, failing, etc all at the same time. It was overwhelming and sadly illustrated how quickly the support of your music community can shift away. It was the lowest I had ever felt in my musical career. Had I given up then, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity for to be on The Voice, I would’ve missed incredible show opportunities, but most importantly I wouldn’t have the friendships I so deeply cherish that I do now. I think sometimes the real gift of resiliency is who you end up with in your life. Our chosen family.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think for society to really support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem, we need to first champion the importance of the arts in everyday life. If the basic person can understand that art in all of it’s forms are what make life worth living, then we can truly begin to not just respect the art and the artist more, but appreciate it for making life better. Psychologically that means people have to be willing to make themselves more vulnerable to music and art in order to find more parts that resonate with them as an individual. Financially it means changing/updating laws in order for the public to see being an artist or musician as a viable job/career, it means buying art and albums, it means attending shows and openings, and more. But once a person has connected with art or music on an emotional level, those things those things begin to become second nature because art and music lovers see spending money as almost more of an investment.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasekerby/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-kerby-a149516a/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChaseKerby
• Other: https://chasekerby.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
Photos by Nathan Poppe, Iasiah G Pickens III, and Chase Kerby