MUSIC MAKERS

14 western tidewater living Music brews, percolates in Kasey Square's imagination

Barista performs, composes, produces flavorful sounds

STORY AND PHOTOS BY STEPHEN H. COWLES

As Kasey Square prepares coffee that gets customers humming, he's also got a tune playing in his head that wants performing. The co-owner of Storehouse Coffee in downtown Franklin not only creates cups of java to people's satisfaction, but he also composes, performs and produces music of his own making. During lulls and after closing the shop with his wife, Delia, he will go to a table where he'll noodle on an electronic keyboard; applications on a connected laptop aid in recording and scoring as he's playing.

Originally from Newport News, he came to Western Tidewater through his family. His mom, the Rev. Dr. Evelyn Square, is pastor of Scott's Revival Church in Franklin, which was started in the 1960s by her father, the late Bishop Clinton L. Scott. Dad is Ernest Square, who is the chairman of the church deacons.

“All of us know how to play a musical instrument. Our grandmother, Bernice Scott, taught us organ and piano,” said Square, who started lessons on the drums at 3 years old (“I thought I was a drummer”) and continued to about 10 before going on to other instruments including classical and Hammond organs, keyboards and synthesizers.

“I have not stopped playing since,” said Square, 35.

At Norfolk State he majored in music education. After a year off following graduation, he woke up one day with the thought, 'I'm going to start teaching,” and went on to do so at Lake Taylor High School.

“There was not a lot of freedom in public education,” Square said about the decision to stop five years later. “I'm more of a creative force when it comes to art.”

Knowing how to play trumpet, guitar and even a little bass are also in his musical toolbox (“Violin is scary.”), and that enabled

At Storehouse Coffee, Kasey Square gets some time to work on a song using an electronic keyboard and laptop.

The laptop has programs that enable Kasey Square to both record and score what he's playing at the same time.

him to participate with other more accomplished and renowned musicians and groups such as Robert Randolph and The Family Band and the Blind Boys of Alabama. All that in turn took him to Australia, the Netherlands, Poland, Canada, Mexico and the United States.

“We traveled up until we decided to stop in 2018. It was taxing,” he recalled.

Two years later Square met Delia through a mutual friend in Norfolk. The attraction, though, was not immediately mutual.

“She didn't like me at first, but I won her over,” he added with a smile.

Her creative abilities include not only as co-owner of Storehouse, but also as a photographer, foodie and mother to their two sons, Kels and Dex, also known as “D.B.”

The former is already more of a budding writer than musician, and the latter is drawn to the piano and drums.

“I don't mandate,” Square said about whether or not they'll also play instruments. “I let them explore. It will find you or you will find it.”

Three of his music-related projects include first, the formation of The Evening News, which produced the 2013 selftitled debut album available on iTunes. Second is the creation of Black Trek, a music production company. Third is his involvement as an organist in Pharrell Williams' upcoming project, “Voices of Fire,” which is to be featured on Netflix. Square described the Virginia Beach native as “chill and humble.”

Other musicians he admires include Yellowjackets, Nas, John Mayer, Bill Evans, Pat Methany, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea; the latter two were pianists in jazz legend Miles Davis' group. Speaking of Corea, you can watch Square perform “Spain,” at When Tidewater Talks on Facebook and YouTube.com.

Square foresees that he'll one day return to music full time and travel again, but for now both coffee and Black Trek are on his mind.

Oh, there is one last thing. Referring back to his own band, The Evening News, he said, “We are writing songs for our sophomore album. We're all in different places so there's no set date. We want to surprise everybody.”

The Music Makers focuses on local individuals, duos, trios, bands and choirs that create music full time or even on the side. If you fit that category and are interested in being featured, call 757-562-3187 or email Magazine@TheTidewaterNews.com.

A University with faith in your future.

Faith in your academic future. Faith in your missional future. Faith in your transformative future. Faith in your competitive future. Murfreesboro, NC | enroll@chowan.edu | www.chowan.edu | 252-398-6230

Correction from the Fall Issue

The man pictured on page 16 of the Fall edition of Western Tidewater Living is Neal Johnson, left. At right, the man pictured on page 20 is Forrest Johnson.