Keri Johnsrud is a fresh and appealing jazz singer with a quietly expressive voice and a deep understanding of lyric interpretation
Interview conducted on Aug. 07, 2020
By Dan Locke
Jazz vocalist/composer Keri Johnsrud has been on the Chicago jazz scene since 1999, performing in notable venues such as the Jazz Showcase and Green Mill.
What is your upbringing?
I grew up in a small rural town in Iowa called Conrad with my father (a pharmacist/entrepreneur), mother (a professional vocalist), and three older siblings (two brothers and a sister).
How did you discover music?
Music was always playing in my home. I can remember listening to our local AM radio station and tuning into their various programs like “Saturday Evening Pops” or “Musical Memories”. Since my mom sang mostly Big Band music and from the American Songbook, I probably was exposed to that type of music first. My older siblings were also very musically talented, so I tended to listen to them and whatever they were into.
How did you start to write music?
I don’t really know, actually. I’ve always had musical ideas floating around in my head, but never really did anything with them. One day I decided to sit down at the piano to try and flush those ideas out on paper. Pretty soon I had about one or two complete songs laid out that I thought weren’t half bad. Around the same time, I ended up meeting Atlanta-based pianist Kevin Bales. I mentioned to him that I had JUST started writing my own music and we decided that it might be fun to collaborate. The rest is history, I suppose.
What different is Iowa to Chicago for live jazz music?
I hadn’t begun performing jazz professionally until I had moved to Chicago. So, I’m not certain I can give a fair assessment of the differences between Iowa and Chicago in regards to the live jazz scene. However, today, I know there are more jazz venues and opportunities to perform in Iowa than when I was growing up there.
What was your first performance at like?
Looking back, my first professional performance was a bit of a scene. First of all, I was super nervous and the band wasn’t all that tight yet, which added to my anxiety. We played in the bar area of a restaurant, with dining situated around the corner. The owner kept telling us to play louder so that the diners could hear us in a completely separate part of the venue. Doing so obviously blasted the people sitting close to the stage, but I cranked my sound system up all the way, anyway. That still didn’t appeal to the owner and we almost didn’t get paid at the end of the night as a result.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
I think my first original song was From Here. I recorded and released it on my second album, This Side of Morning.
How did you start the band?
The band members are all people I’ve known and played with for a while on the scene. However, with the last album I recorded, we used mostly Atlanta based musicians known by Kevin Bales. We tend to use those same musicians when we promote that album. Since the release, I’ve gotten to know those players pretty well and really look forward to each time we get to play together.
Mic of Choice?
I like to use condenser microphones. The one I’ve been using since I began is an Audio-Technical.
Venue of Choice?
One that respects musicians and lets them do what they were hired to do: play their music.
You did a monthly residency at Andy’s Jazz Club. How did you get that gig?
I had been going to shows as a patron for quite some time and got to know some of the people that worked there. When I was ready to book my group, I sent an email to the venue and they hired me a few weeks later.
Your original music was featured in the film “Thank you a Lot”. How did you feel once you heard it on the soundtrack?
It was such an awesome feeling to see/hear it on the screen. It’s just a short little segment, but it was so much fun and a great experience and hope to do it again, one day.
You release a cd called Beyond the Neighborhood: The music of Fred Rogers. How did that project start and how did you pick the songs for it?
It began with a conversation Kevin Bales and I were having about children’s television shows that were aired while we were growing up and how the music composed for those programs tended to be jazz or classically based. We also discovered that we both had a love for Fred Rogers and how he had a love for jazz and classical music, as well. I didn’t know at the time that Fred wrote ALL of the music for each of his programs. So, we decided to dig through his catalog to find songs that could relate to both adults and children. We took those tunes and turned them into jazz arrangements. We actually didn’t change the music that much at all as Fred was a brilliant composer and we wanted to keep that integrity intact.
What is your favorite track on the album?
My favorite is Troll Talk. The lyrics are a bunch of jibberish, but I feel it’s the song most relatable to jazz. It’s mostly improvisational and very expressive.
It would have been nice if your music was picked for the Tom Hanks film.
Thank you! We would have loved to have had our music be part of anything showcasing Fred Rogers, but we’re happy with how things have turned out for the album.
How do you stay healthy while touring?
I try to space out touring dates in such a way that minimizes a stressful situation. Meaning, I try not to book the next show in a state that is an 8hr drive from our previous night’s show. Also, I try to drink more tea and water, as opposed to alcohol when on the road. If we have several dates in a row, I also try to limit speaking during the day as to not tire out my voice by the end of a show.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
Unfortunately, it’s the way the majority of music is heard nowadays. I can understand the convenience aspect from a consumer point of view, but as a musician, it really hurts our income since we make less than a penny per play. It’s not a viable way to make a living as a musician, but then again, it is one way to get your music out to the masses.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I personally love vinyl. I like the way it sounds and love to have something tangible in my hands to look at when I’m listening to the music. It’s very intimate to me.
What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?
I feel it’s long overdue. It’s one thing to say you support people of color, but what action will be taken…to ensure that the safety, dignity, and respect is given to those who have suffered for far too long? It’s a wake-up call to many of us and I just pray we don’t hit the snooze button.
What is the mental health situation of the United State? How can public help the doctors and nurses on the front line?
I think we’re getting better as a nation recognizing that mental health is as important as physical health. We’re not quite there yet, but I feel we’re starting to slowly chip away at the stigma associated with mental health. I still don’t feel there is adequate funding for mental health issues, but I do feel more awareness is being brought to the forefront. So, hopefully, one day, we will get there.
Do you think that the Chicago mayor will let kids go back to school this fall?
It sounds like CPS will be going online for the time being. I think that whatever decisions are made, should be made with the health and safety of our children, teachers and other school employees in mind.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
Oh, man! So many songs! I don’t have one particular one in my head right now, but if I did, it would probably be a Hall & Oates or Huey Lewis and The News song. I grew up listening to those groups, mostly because my older siblings were fans. For some reason, music from these bands make me think of summers in Iowa, going to the swimming pool, or just being outside. Happy memories.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
That’s kind of the million-dollar question, right now. I think that live music and how it’s performed is going to change for the time being or at least until there is a vaccine. We’re already seeing measures in place that we haven’t seen before (i.e. plexiglass used in front of vocalists, musicians wearing masks, reduced venue capacity). There are also fewer and fewer gigs available. For most musicians, this is how we make most of our income. So, we’ve had to become even more creative as to how to make a living. Online teaching is definitely one way, but also finding work outside of music is something I know a lot of my friends have had to do. The business as a whole will take a hit, but I’m hopeful that we will recover.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’ve been giving online piano and vocal lessons, a bit of songwriting, and a lot of movie watching. I’ve also done quite a bit of online gatherings with friends and family. It’s kind of funny, but I probably ‘see’ them more now than I did before the quarantine. It’s also times like these that really force you to figure out your priorities and what’s important to you. So, I’ve been doing a lot of relaxing and trying not to sweat the small stuff.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
In the beginning of the quarantine, I did some knitting, which was fun. I haven’t really done much of that since, though. I also got back into doing paint-by-number. It’s funny how relaxing that can be. It may seem a little juvenile, but it’s so cathartic for me.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. What are you planning to do?
I’ve done a little bit of the online concert thing and will probably a little bit more of it in the future. I don’t do anything weekly or on a regular basis, but if I feel I have something to share, I will share it online somehow.
Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Right now, I don’t see it as a viable way to produce a livable income. The only way I see it could be possible is if the organizer offers a guarantee for the artist. If it’s just left up to receiving online tips, then I’m not sure if enough income could be generated that way.
Live Nation is starting to do the first ever U.S. drive-in concert series — LIVE FROM THE DRIVE-IN — which started on July 10, 2020. Now there are many other Drive-in concerts popping up. Do you think this is something you would be willing to do?
It sounds like a unique idea and one I’d be open to. Some of my friends have done this already and they seemed to enjoy it. It’s a little strange performing to people in their cars as opposed to sitting/standing in front of you, but it’s one way to keep performing.
For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?
That’s a tough call because you want to perform, but you also need to know your worth. I think some bands will do it just to keep working and I absolutely wouldn’t fault them for that. However, it’s a slippery slope. Pretty soon, you could find yourself in a situation where that’s acceptable 100% of the time and you can’t make a living doing that.
In addition, at the present time for a band to go on tour from one state to another they may need to self-quarantine for 14 days. How is that going to work?
It definitely makes it more challenging to tour. I suppose if touring is something that is right for you to do at this time, perhaps scheduling all of your shows in one state is the way to go. Traveling state-to-state is something that probably needs to be put on the backburner for now.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it maybe the end of music fest for the next couple of years?
I think it may be the end of the music fest as we traditionally know it, for the time being. I don’t think it will be like this forever.
How was your first Post-Covid-19 performance?
It was fantastic! It felt so amazing to perform in front of an audience again after 4 months, albeit socially distanced, of course. There is nothing like that immediate audience response when performing and playing with your musician buddies.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Umm…I’m not so sure about that. If someone can pull it off, then good for them!
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
Oh, goodness! I have no idea. Hopefully, I’m still performing and writing and a little bit wiser, too.
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