Today on WASTOIDS, a call with Kiefer Shackleford. An inventive pianist, he’s a veteran of the Los Angeles scene. He’s been busy in 2021: in April, he released the Between Days EP, featuring a great Cure cover, and last month, a new full length, When There’s Love Around.
Layering full band instrumentation with synths and upright piano, he’s reflective of an ethos that borrows and blends from new age, jazz, 70s soul, funk, post-Dilla crate digging beats, and ambient soundscapes. His work recently caught the ear of Drake producer 40, who commissioned some piano sketches for Drake’s Certified Lover Boy.
We caught up with him for this episode of Strange Gear to discuss his creative outlook, incorporating synths into his work—namely the Prophet 600—and discuss the value of working on art even when—sometimes especially when—you don’t feel like it. Thanks for listening to WASTOIDS—catch Kiefer out on tour this fall.
Tour dates:
Sep 26: Bronze Peacock Room, House of Blues, Houston, TX
Sep 27: Cambridge Room, House of Blues, Dallas, TX
Oct 5: Chop Suey, Seattle, WA
Oct 10: Soda Bar, San Diego, CA
Oct 20: Fine Line, Minneapolis, MN
Oct 24: Drake Hotel Underground,Toronto, ON
Oct 29: S.O.B.’s, Manhattan, NY
Oct 30: Milkboy Philly, Philadelphia, PA
Nov 6: The Masquerade – Hell, Atlanta, GA