30/08/2022
ATH Newsletter Article 2:
This is a Bio Of club member Kevin Reeves. The interview was conducted and Bio written by Margarita McCabe.
Member Bio
Kevin Reeves member of “Around the House.” Lives in Interlochen, Michigan Born on December 22.
What’s Kevin’s goals in life? Kevin answers: “The goal is always to be always moving forward, seeking out and doing a thing. We’ve gotta have “micro-goals.” I have some financial goals for the year. You know, like trying to do music, but really, we just wants keep moving forward. And, as long as we’re moving forward, we’re hitting those little “micro-goals.” Or, “Macro-goals” Your main goal is sorrounded by music. “Yeah.... It’s like performer, writer,
teacher tech guy... fixing people’s s* #%t.. which is all good. That’s what I love. Music will always be around it. Creative arts and tech will always revolve around what I do. Have you thought bout picking up (musical) instruments since you were a child? Oh yeah. since I was a kid. What was the first instrument you picked up? (Answer) “Piano.” As I recall, my first song was “Camptown Race,” or something. Easy... ya’ know. I learned how to play that. Since you were a child have you “reached for the stars?” I guess we’re reaching for joy. We’re reaching to “level” things up. You know, “rising tide lifts all boats.” We just reach out and push and receive, push and receive. Kind of an exchange of energy. Do you have any famous artists that you look up to, and helped you with your career? My biggest influence as a writer and whatever is Jeff Lynne of ELO, because ELO is the greatest.band in the world. And, I’m a minority in that one. So, in my world I think he’s “just ) amazing. Keyboard players like Rick Wakeman from Yes, Dennis DeYoung from STYX - Keyboard player, masters of the craft. They’ve put in the work and, Cripes, Dennis DeYoung was an accordion player.... What a Dork, right? Those are the Dudes that I look up to. Vocalists? Everybody from like Chris Cornell , Allison Krause to some “metal”vocalists. I just love great vocalists. And, even if it’s not “on pitch,...” Like Tom Waits, for example. Polarizing. You either love Tom Waits, or you hate Tom Waits. And, you know, I have to be in the mood for something as brash as Tom Waits. But, he’s such a great communicator. Literally, he’s like “open mouth, insert mike.” and start spouting the truth, as he knows it. I love it, and it’s great. That’s the whole deal. How about your schooling? I’ll tell you this. Being a music major, is absolute (trash) But, being in some of the classes that I got was really important. If I could do it again, with college... ‘cause I got a Bachelors in Music, I’d NEVER do it, again. I would’ve been a Business Major and a Communications Minor. Because, I wish I would’ve realized early on that being a Music Major does not a musician make. It doesn’t matter if I’m a music Major or not. I’d always be playing music. I’m really horrible at business. Just to learn how to communicate “branding” of a company etc .I wish I had done all that. But, it’s never too late. I’ll take some more classes. None of this is edged in stone. College us what it was, and I got some great experiences. One time at Martha’s Vineyard, doing a music program “thing” was really good, but doing a “Major” in college sucked. So, what’s your (main) goal? I would love to edit some audio books. I don’t necessarily want to be a “voice-over” talent on that. Produce and edit audio books and the design for them. Write music for television, like write music for doing “cues,” stingers, or the “donuts” that are in a jingle. I would love to do some if that. This work really does pay well, because that’s a really thriving business. I’ve done some jingle singing, for radio, which I think is great it’s awesome! For 50 minutes I’d be on a FaceTime call, and the producer would say, “Hey, can you sing that again, or sing this over one more time.50 minutes later I’d made a hundred-fifty bucks, and he’d do a radio jingle for some market in. Omaha.
Do you like reading books? And, if you do who are some of your favorite authors? I’m a Sci- Fi and Fantasy fan. I’m also a Bio reader. And I like things that are weird. Some of my favorite authors are so weird. It’s like they were in a mushroom trip, inside a mushroom trip. Writers like Harmon Cooper who has characters trapped in a video game. Obviously, Tolkien and Lewis. Yeah, there’s a lot of good ones.
If you had some words of wisdom to leave with, what would you say? Humility.... You HAVE to do everything with intentionality. If you’re just an opportunist, you’ll get far, but, your reputation will proceed you, and, that’s a worse thing to deal with. And si, it’s all about like I can bring something to your organization, or, I can bring something to your art, or table, as opposed to:
“Look at me... I deserve to be in your “art,” and I know guys like this, and I hate working with them. But the people that are grateful,
Don’t necessarily play to win. Play to “Place.” Because, if you can “Place,” then you are “one” among winners. You’re a winner among winners. But, if you play to Win, all the time, you get bigger numbers, but yiure in a smaller cage. So.... Play to “Place.” The “One-hit wonder” guy that.... (Whatever happened to him?) he’s a person too. But, it’s the guy who’s got the number 100 Billbiard hit, that’s STILL SOMETHING. That “says” something. Speak life.... Speak LOVE.
