Kid Astronaut

Artist+Dreamer+Visionary+Creator

When did you first get into music?

I started making music at a very early age, inspired by the greats like Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and others - I took my influences and started making my own way in the music world and industry. I released my first record at the age of 7 years old and been going ever since.

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

At the moment my biggest inspiration is my kids. I just want them to believe they can do anything and everything they set their minds to. I think also I’m inspired to keep going by my internal calling. Just wanting to follow my passions and see where it takes me.

How has your music evolved since you first began performing?

Damn...that’s a great question. Music, like learning through life is a never-ending process. I constantly feel like I’m starting over. I guess the biggest thing that’s evolved is the risks I’ve taken. I was in a band called Air Dubai before my solo project Kid Astronaut and in that band, I had a lot of help. Kinda crutches on my creativity to be honest cause there were a lot of hands to do things. Since then, with starting my solo project, I still have help from my manager who’s amazing - but a lot of the drive and vision has to come from me first. I really like that. I’ve started producing, playing more instruments, just really trying and forcing myself to grow as an artist and individual.

I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us?

My favorite shows were Vans Warped Tour and opening for Lupe Fiasco as a member of Air Dubai. Vans Warped Tour because I was into punk music and that genre but had never gone to a show. I loved how raw and “leave it all on the stage” some of the bands I watched were. I definitely began to add that into my performance style as Kid Astronaut. Also the Lupe Fiasco show cause to this day he’s one of my favorite artists. Being able to open the stage for him and his band was an amazing opportunity.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

Revenge. Have to get back at my haters!!! Nah just kidding, it’s definitely love. I love what I do and I love that I have the opportunity to do it. I don’t take the gift for granted and I try to push myself as much as possible to not get stuck in a habit or rut with it. Just endless creativity. It’s nice.

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

I just wanna say authenticity. I think as an artist you HAVE to be yourself cause no one in the billions of people in the world will have your exact blueprint. I’ve always tried to ask myself in groups settings “what do I need from this situation?”, “what will make ME feel good here?” I do that because I don’t want to just fit into the crowd. I have no issue with walking alone, I find myself in really awesome places that way.

What has been your biggest challenge as a singer-songwriter/musician? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

I think the biggest challenge is just that phrase. Sometimes I don’t wanna do vocal stuff that I CAN do on a song because it’s just natural for me, I try and consider myself an artist. Like a painter. I love how artists later in their lives will just change up their art style because they wanna step out of their conditioned boxes. It’s a challenge in the studio sometimes cause my manager will suggest like, “Bro, you should kill the vocals here” and I’m just like, “I kinda wanna lay back take this section in a new direction”. I guess that’s been a challenge lately, Not following the “standard”.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

I think my biggest phase of suffering has come from needing to be patient. It takes time, years, to grow as an artist. That feeling of wanting to be on tour but being home instead, or that uncertainty of whether or not your music is going anywhere before a major breakthrough comes. Nowadays I’m a lot more allowing of those moments of silence because I know something is building. I now work to fill that time with educating myself, like I said, learning production or reading up on how I can be a better business/musician. I suppose another suffering is when you’re in between big payments. I think that’s for any entrepreneur though - we’re gonna go through hills and valleys when chasing our goals.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?

In my opinion, it’s made music a lot easier. I realized I have an entire Kid Astronaut Channel that people can choose to tune in to. Now it’s just about fine tuning that content and really becoming a content creator that not only creates things of value, but also can reach as many people as possible. I’ve never shied away from wanting to be a major artist, It’s always just been about me doing it in a way that feels true to me and not compromising myself in the process.

Have you done or plan on doing any Live-stream Concerts? If you have, how has the response been from your fans?

We just did an amazing full band live stream show hosted at Dog House Music Studios here in Colorado. My band The Nebula and I were really looking forward to this year but when Covid hit the plans kinda got put on hold. That was disappointing but one of the things we like to say is “run the audible” like a football play. We tried to make the experience as close to a real concert as possible with lights, graphics and of course just rocking songs.

If you could change anything about the music industry. What would it be?

Diversity and access. There’s still a major limit on what artists can do within the INDUSTRY. There’s still a majority of one type of face at the top, in ownership. I want to change that. Specifically for people of color because like it or not, we are such a major influence on music. We need to have more equity in the industry overall.

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

Another great question.

1. Michael Jackson - Thriller: This album because to this day Michaels’ production and artistry are largely unmatched. I think this album is timeless not just because of the music but also because in the 80s when the album dropped no one sounded like that project. Sonically, artistically or otherwise. I think it’s just a legendary project that deserves to be at the top of my list.

2. Common - One Day It’ll All Make Sense: I didn’t start listening to Hip Hop until about High School. Sometimes I think because of that, I’m not allowed to appreciate it cause I was “late’ (or maybe that’s just the Hip Hop snobbery). Anyways, a collection of Jazz, Rhymes, Beats, Storytelling - I love the dynamics of this record and I also think it shaped some formative years for me musically so within that and also expanding my knowledge of what was possible with music - I think this is definitely in my top five.

3. Cocaine 80s - The Pursuit EP: Before listening to Cocaine 80s I wouldn’t have considered myself a lyricist. James Fauntleroy (Cocaine 80s lead singer) helped open my mind to what was possible as a singer and a writer. The Cocaine 80s EP’s by James and Producer NO ID are intricate, layered, and poetic. They taught me a ton about songwriting that I definitely utilize today.

4. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix: I loved this record already but when I saw the band live, Thomas Mars (Phoenix’s lead Singer) moved across the stage like he owned it, climbing up the rafters with his red mic cable, the band was tight and LOUD and there was this low drone note they played for like 5 minutes before dropping into their next song. It made me want to take my writing, performing and everything to the next level - plus rockstars are just cool but I thought Phoenix did it in a way where it was about adding to the culture not just being obnoxious. Groundbreaking stuff really.

5. Kid Astronaut - Alchemy EP: Is it wrong to add myself to this list? My latest EP covered all of my genre loves (Hip Hop, Soul, Punk and more) and fit it all in on each track sometimes switching genres even on an individual song. After a really difficult 2019 - creating the Alchemy EP was a culmination of all those feelings, love, pain and turning it into something beautiful. I can’t wait to take those songs on the road (hopefully???) and see how they reach new audiences.

Tell us about your current project. Are you working on new music? An EP or Album?

We’re in the studio creating about 6 projects right now. I have 2 albums, 3 EPs, a music video, and something else (top secret) in the works. Quarantine has been a blessing in a lot of ways creatively. A lot of space to think, create, and grow.

What is the best advice you have received?

If you’re gonna go down, go down as yourself. Which means to me don’t compromise your vision for anyone.

What’s next for you?

Our music video should be out soon, maybe next month! Not letting people know what song it’s for yet but we’re really stoked about all the footage we captured. We’re in the editing process now.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

www.kidastronautuniverse.com should be the one-stop shop, if it’s not, my bad, hit me up and let me know! I’m also mostly on IG @kidastronavt