Q&A With AV On the Radar Featured Artist: Kenny Lee Young
Ambient Vibes had the opportunity to ask Kenny Lee Young folk artist some questions. I hope you enjoy!
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Generally, I would call the music I make acoustic soul with a smile. However, I have written in many styles with my lead guitarist where we have covered folk, funk, grunge, neo-soul, pop, rock and jazz. It just depends on what we feel comes to us at any given point. We try to let creativity take us where it wants us to go regardless of the genre we have played previously.
Do you have plans to tour or live performances?
Before the pandemic, we played about 200 shows/gigs a year and toured every once in a while. Now that things are opening back up in Colorado and the rest of the US we have a solid schedule booked 3 months out and do have plans to take it back to the road gigs as well.
If you could be guaranteed one thing in life (besides money), what would it be?
That is a fair question. What I have learned in this life is that if something is guaranteed you sometimes lose appreciation for that thing. I am a fan of hard work, focus, and the process it takes to earn what you are striving for. In short, I wouldn’t want to have anything guaranteed to me.
If you were left on a deserted island with either your worst enemy or no one, which would you choose? Why?
I would 100% want to be left with my worst enemy (if that exists). As much as I cherish my alone time I still thrive on connection and companionship. I would like to think that finding common ground with people I have opposing ideas with is a talent I wield. I have always respected good rhetoric and welcome healthy debates. Understanding is only reached after confrontation.
Which musician or producer would you like to collaborate with?
Dan Auerbach is someone that I have revered as a musician and producer for about a decade. In that same wheelhouse, I would name Jack White as well. Derek Trucks, Marcus King, Cory Wong, Eddie Vedder, Jacob Collier, Andersen Paak, and Joey Landreth are musical treasures to me. I would be flabbergasted if I was ever able to cross paths with let alone collaborate with them.
When you create music, what is your personal purpose or goal?
Creating open and honestly with lyrics and melody is the main strive. I think that there are certain paradigms that get ingrained in us whether you're a musician or not within the songwriting parameters that we often play by. I like to keep these rules in the back of my head while creating music that I like to play. I know that this might seem selfish, but I love to make music for myself. However, there is nothing like having another person connect with what you’ve created.
Have you ever been told you look like someone famous, who was it?
When I was young and had hair in high school my friends would compare me to Rufio from Hook.
If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That is probably the most difficult question for me, because if I were to choose one of my favorite songs then I fear I would eventually begin to detest it...But ok I’ll bite…”Staying Alive” by The Bee Gees (jokingly).
What’s next for you? Projects? Share it all!
I have been working at a studio for about 5 years where I have the luxury of recording all our music. I plan on still keeping up with that and diving into the world of licensing our music for movies, television, and commercials. For the past 2 years I have become immersed in 3D animation and video editing. It is a huge asset to have for making music videos for us along with logo design and animation for ourselves and others. I will most likely always be creating music, but I would like to work on more projects that utilize these skills. We hope to set up tours at the end of this year and we will continue to live stream the musical events that happen in the studio I work at.
Listen to “Gratitude” by Kenny Lee Young on the Ambient Vibes: On the Radar on Spotify now.