January 26, 2012
We interviewed Andrew Root ’09, the bassist of DownBeat Keys, a band that originated at Hamilton. DBK has begun to gain more attention from people as they have opened for Talib Kweli, Soulive and Matt&Kim. They are alos currently working with Jeff Franzel, who has worked with top recording artists such as N’Sync, Clay Aiken and Josh Groban. To download their newest album, Summer on Saturn, for free go to the band’s site at www.downbeatkeys.com.
How did DownBeat Keys get their start?
We got our start by auditioning for a headliners contest at Hamilton called Drop Beats Not Bombs. [Baldwin, Cal, and Ill Will] and showed up not knowing what to do and met Kadahj and another rapper and we just played really well together. After that we started performing at lots of parties on campus: Annex parties, Class and Charter Day and The Pub.
How would you describe your sound to audiences who have never heard DBK?
It’s very high energy. Our songs are going to make you move. They’re intended to make you dance. We have the energy of a rock band and high energy and aggression of hip-hop. Our sound is a mixture of the two.
Who are your musical inspirations and why?
We all come from different backgrounds and have different tastes. The two rappers are into Hip-hop and R&B. The instrumentalists, like myself, are into Funk, Reggae and Rock.
Which artist(s) are you obsessed with at the moment?
Janelle Monáe.
What are your hopes for DBK in the near future?
We’d like to have a record deal and a full United States tour by the end of 2012.
If you could pick one band or artist to open for, who would it be and why?
The Roots because they’re pretty much the only band that does what we’re doing. Live instruments with rapping.