Keelan Ellis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keelan Ellis.

Keelan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I was a little kid all I’ve ever wanted to do was be a rock singer like the rockstars I saw on TV such as Steven Tyler, Paul Stanley, Mick Jagger and other greats. Growing up in school my favorite type of rock music wasn’t so popular with the other kids I grew up with. While I was listening to Aerosmith, they were listening to Blink-182 so I never really got to enjoy the culture of my peers. I still would do the talent shows every year since 3rd grade dressing up as Paul Stanley from KISS to Bon Jovi or of course Aerosmith and that was my first time getting those chills and butterflies in my stomach telling me this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I was somewhat of an outsider for liking the “classic rock” music and would get pushed in the dirt, or getting my things stolen from me because of my long hair. I was thrilled when I relocated from where I grew up.

I played in cover bands in high school covering classic rock hits with a band called Back to Bedlam ( I had nothing to do with creating the name lol) and even now I’m in a professional cover band called Hi-Fi Academy which plays hits from all eras 60s-to today and we have an amazing time seeing the crowds sing along with us. I started my first original band named The Voltz a few years back with some great guys but I always had trouble finding the right bass player and something never felt right about it so it dissolved after about two years. I took a short break from the original music and at the end of 2018, I told myself I need to stop having excuses why I can’t put out my own music and just go for it. It’s funny cause people around me would always tell me “just do it” (thank you Nike) but I never really understood until recently that they were right. It’s ok if it’s not an epic hit or it’s not the best recording.

I was finding way too many excuses not to do it but I finally went for it and got some great help from some special friends of mine who encouraged me to go solo and put music out there. I ended up recording with Stewart Cararas and putting out my first music video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb5Kw-F4sMo) which I’m premiering this Monday at St. Felix as an excuse to get all my friends and family together for some drinks. I’ve started booking my first shows with the new band who I’m extremely happy with Mihailo Lukic on guitar I was able to convince to continue our work together from the Voltz and an amazing rhythm section (Curtis Corwin on bass and Cody Root on drums) and we want to hit every show we possibly can in 2020. I am excited to see how far we can take this new band and confident that it will take us exactly where we want to go as long as we stay positive and work hard everyday towards our dreams. See you out there LA!

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Going for what you believe in is never a smooth road. Even for the ones who succeeded in their dreams, they still have struggled daily. People say it’s almost impossible to be a musician, but becoming a successful musician is the same struggle as wanting to become a lawyer, or a doctor, or whatever else it is that your heart desires. All that schooling and testing you go through then on top of that finding the right place that will hire you. Nobody ever starts at the top. So I’ve accepted that this career path is a struggle and I embrace it. Networking is huge in this industry, but I never try to climb up ladders or be fake with anyone.

All the friends that I have in my circle are genuine friends and I do not like asking for favors. But when the right opportunity approaches you can’t be afraid to ask kindly if you could be considered for such gig. I have barely just begun this journey and the struggles will always be in front of me. The main focus is to keep writing music and to keep playing shows in front of new crowds. The day I see a crowd of people singing along to the songs I wrote will be a huge accomplishment for me. I do music because I love the thrill of exciting a crowd of people in front of me with music that takes them out of reality only for those couple hours. So these minor struggles become worth it.

Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I’d say the niche that I have about my music is that I’ve always stuck to the classic 70s and 80s rock even when nobody my age was really into it. I tried getting into the more modern genres, but it wasn’t enjoyable for me. Now all of a sudden in the recent years the music I grew up loving is starting to come back with bands like The Struts, Royal Blood, Greta Van Fleet, and new artists making names for themselves like Micky James and Frankie and the Studs. Rock will never die because there’s nothing else like it and there’s no more loyal fan base. We are lifers. So I’d say what sets me apart from these from these new up and coming rock bands is that they are all inspired by musicians such as Led Zeppelin, Queen, Bowie or Joan Jett who I’m a huge fan and very much influenced by myself but I am bringing my influences of Aerosmith, Stones, and Cheap Trick.

Every rock band today likes to say they are influenced by classic rock but they bring their own modern touch to it and I feel like that’s because they fear they will be looked at as just rehashing old music, but have you seen today’s pop stars? Harry Styles is wearing the EXACT same outfits as the young Mick Jagger did. Because the stones are LEGENDS! It’s an honor to be recognized for your influences and people should be more embracive and I think as long as you don’t steal an exact riff from another band’s hit and make your own style of music it is modern. So I embrace the fact that it is obvious that I grew up on bands like Aerosmith and KISS and can’t wait to rejoice in that flavor of music with the people that come to my shows. I will be playing The Viper Room December 9th and The Peppermint Club January 25th.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Someone once told me there is no such thing as luck. Luck is when perseverance and opportunity come together and I try to be reminded of that daily.

Contact Info:

Website: www.keelanellis.com
Email: contact@keelanellis.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/keelanellis
Facebook: www.facebook.com/keelanellisofficial
Twitter: www.twitter.com/keelanellislive - Voyage LA

the two Local Showcase Acts kicked off the evening with two amazing sets. Keelan Ellis delivered some throwback rock tunes - Will To Rock