DANVILLE — Landon Keller hasn’t followed the traditional path of a musical artist.
The 26-year-old Danville resident didn’t pick up a guitar until he was 19. Sports were his focus in school.
“I didn’t wear a letterman’s jacket, though,” said Keller, a 1999 Danville Community High School graduate. “I wasn’t a conventional jock.”
You could say the music was in him all along, just waiting to be released. The catalyst for unleashing it proved to be discovering a world beyond Top 40 radio.
“I started listening beyond what’s on the radio,” Keller said. “If I had continued listening to the same one or two stations, I don’t think I ever would’ve felt I had anything to offer music.”
Bands like Dave Matthews, Phish, and The Grateful Dead revealed to Keller “how deep, fulfilling, different, and fluctuating music can be.”
He started writing his own songs about a year after he began playing. In fact, Keller has performed only originals in public.
“I don’t know if I could play other people’s music,” he said. “I got the fever for writing early on. From there, I was very hard-core in discovering my own sound.”
Keller says that discovery continues, even with the impending release of his debut CD, “Curiosity.”
“It’s basically my greatest hits from the time I started writing one or two years ago,” said Keller, who estimates he’s composed 45 to 50 songs.
He describes “Curiosity” as a “very twentysomething” album. That transitional time in someone’s life when a lot of aspects are up in the air.
“Music was probably one of the most consistent things in my life at the time,” Keller said. “I felt a lot of outside pressure to not take music so seriously. But it’s not a frustrated CD. It’s everything — the good and bad. Or indifferent.”
It also was an exciting time for Keller, a time of experimenting and exploration.
“When I started out writing music, I didn’t know which direction I was going to go,” he said. “I’m still figuring that out, but that’s also what I like about music.”
While Keller describes “Curiosity” as a learning experience, he calls the music he’s writing now more mature and thematic, more in the singer/songwriter vein.
“I’m slowing it down a bit, trying to be more soulful,” Keller said. “That gives it more room for emotion. I realize now you don’t need 150 words in a song for it to be complete.”
The performance schedule is still less concrete. Keller has graced stages all over central Indiana, but a full calendar still alludes him. He’s set to graduate from Marian College next fall with a degree in business and arts administration.
“I’m still trying to get my backup plan in order,” Keller said. “I can’t devote the time I want to music yet.”
So it goes with finding a supporting band too. Keller’s had a rotating cast of bass players so far. He’s finding more stability using his family. His father plays drums for him.
“It’s nice having a family member because the preparation and meshing seem so effortless,” Keller said.
No matter what happens, Keller intends to always devote at least part of his time to music.
“I want to continue playing, recording, learning — all that good stuff,” he said.
And, if the rock ‘n’ roll gods allow, making a living from it.
“I feel like I have something to offer,” Keller said.
“Curiosity” will be available in downloadable format on iTunes, and online at www.cdbaby.com. For more information on Keller, visit his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/landonkeller.
wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com
Local News
Slanted and Enchanted
Danville resident finds solace and soul in music
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