Formed in 2020, Kenny Hada (Hay-duh) & The Others brings together vocalist/guitarist Kenny Hada, drummer Brandon Custer, and bassist Micaiah Navarrete to deliver their “alternative blues” sound.
The Austin, Texas-based band’s vocalist drew inspiration from the ongoing pandemic and began writing songs to reflect the turbulent emotions that became commonplace for life during quarantine. Hada paired these volatile feelings with the contrasting joy of the birth of his first child to work seamlessly into the band’s lyrical style and unique sound.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
On a basic level, I would describe it as guitar music since that’s usually how my song ideas begin. I’ll sit down with the guitar and just start listening to what sounds are coming out and try to compose other parts around the guitar.
What is your creative process like?
Writing the music can be pretty spontaneous and even whimsical sometimes. I drive a lot for considerable distances so that allows me a lot of time to imagine and come up with different song ideas. If there’s a song idea that really sticks with me, I will sing it into my phone and record it and try to work out the different instrumentation I’m hearing in my head once I get home. Lyrics, on the other hand, I am much more deliberate. My approach is usually inspired by a feeling but then I will actually create a brainstorming page of topics, subjects and catchy lines/ideas and just begin writing those initial feelings down first. After that it’s all about revision and subtracting from the original lyrics to a polished sounding/feeling lyric that works with everything I’m trying to express.
What is your current music project about?
Love Deluge is my latest release and it’s mainly about the emotional roller coaster that the year 2020 put not only myself but the entire world on to. On top of all that, my wife and I were expecting our first child, Atticus in March. He spent a little over a month in the NICU which scared us like crazy within a novel, changing world that became more and more constricted. Insanity! Once he was home, he still needed some medical attention beyond normal newborn baby stuff which added more stress to the very confusing situation we all began living in during quarantine. The only emotional escape and solace I could find in the healthiest manner was to begin working and on the new music that is now Love Deluge. So basically, the songs cover most of what I was feeling during that time, depression, anger, sadness but also hope, love and happy-go- lucky craziness.
What draws you to your preferred genre?
I’ve always enjoyed playing blues music, but I’ve always loved funk, but I’ve also always loved pop music as well alternative indie rock, and don’t get me started on jazz! I love it all and love playing/writing it all! The trick that I’ve always seemed to try is to somehow fuse all of those genres into something that speaks my musical truth and try to not make it so “out there” or too unfamiliar. I think that’s why I call our music Alternative Blues. Haha
If you could pass on a nugget of wisdom to the next musical generation, what would it be?
Don’t worry too much about being original. You are already a unique and original being. Trends and genres can be cyclical, but you will always be you. So, if you’re true to yourself, your music will echo that and those around you will notice just how ‘original’ you and the music you create truly are.
How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it?
I usually sing an idea and record it via my cell phone while driving long distances. I’ll later work out any good ideas at home by myself until I feel like the idea is in a good spot for The Others’ input. Then we jam it out until things feel right, record our performance and then I get to work on the lyrics.
How do you deal with writer’s block?
I do an exercise called Objective Writing. Basically, I pick any inanimate object that’s around me, describe it in writing using our five senses as well as two other senses writers have (kinetic and organic). I’ll do this for ten minutes and ten minutes only and forget everything I wrote. This exercise really helps me with coming up with metaphors and ideas throughout the day and helps get my writing to express what I’m wanting to say quicker.
What do you enjoy most about being an artist?
Expression, by far. Whatever I’m feeling I can put it out there. Or, even better, I can create fictional situations and have fun expressing that creatively. Not all songs I write are necessarily autobiographical.
What would be a good theme song for your life?
The Ocean by Led Zeppelin
Which fictional character do you wish was real?
Baloo The Bear, how rad of a friend would he be!?
What do you think the greatest invention has been?
The electric guitar, duh. lol
Do you have any superstitions?
Just Talking Book by Stevie Wonder on vinyl. LOL
If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself?
Always say yes to opportunities that don’t quite fit what you’re looking for.
Website: https://khtomusic.com/home
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KHTOMUSIC