Meet Andrew Kesler | Musician, Producer, Composer & Arranger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Kesler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Like many musicians I caught the bug when I was very young… two years old! I grew up in the prairies of Canada in a house filled with instruments and records. I was immersed in music and found myself constantly discovering and exploring new sounds, be it Hendrix or Handel. By the time it came to leave the nest at eighteen there was no question that I would be moving away from home to follow the siren call of music. Initially that took me to Toronto to study jazz piano and music production, and then after a chance collaboration with the late veteran producer/engineer Al Schmitt I wound up in Los Angeles, at that time a naive and wide-eyed youngster in my mid twenties with no work lined up and not knowing anyone.

All of this to say that the path of music chose me, and making adventurous life choices filled with risk and uncertainty is very much the norm for those who pursue a career in this industry. I’ve spent my whole life learning about music, be it how to sing and perform on multiple instruments, arranging, composition, engineering, music production or simply how to effectively collaborate with others. This mix of both formal and informal study has given me an incredible wealth of tools and knowledge that has allowed me to build a unique and diverse career. My curiosity to learn about music never relents, in fact I spent the pandemic earning a master’s degree in orchestration purely out of my childlike fascination with the seemingly endless potential of writing for orchestra. However, what truly fuels me on this road are the inspiring people I meet and the incredible, potent experiences I get to be part of.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am known as a “Gadget Man”, meaning that my musical role is fluid. For example, one artist might commission me to arrange and orchestrate their music, whereas a different artist could ask me to produce and mix an album, or I might get hired to perform as a multi-instrumentalist on an international headlining tour. The music industry can be very challenging to navigate, and while we try and help each other as best we can, one does need to find their own path that resonates with who they are and what inspires them.

I figured out early on that my path wasn’t to become an “artist” myself, rather my passion was to work behind the scenes and collaborate with others to help them achieve their creative goals while challenging myself to continue exploring and experimenting, because the fun is in the creative process! Sometimes I get to be in a leadership position, other times I have to answer to someone else and to constantly switch between them is valuable experience that constantly keeps me striving to improve my skills in both music and communication.

This approach has delivered some incredible opportunities including performing with David Foster, John Mayer, Michael Bublé, Jacob Collier, Arturo Sandoval, Seal, Katharine McPhee, Jennifer Holliday, as well as two seasons in the America’s Got Talent house band. I’ve done arrangements for Pentatonix, the Tony Awards, Frankie Valli’s former vocal group The Modern Gentlemen and recently contributed three orchestrations for The Manhattan Transfer’s 50th anniversary album.

I’ve recorded my music all over the world, from big band sessions at Capitol Studios to tango music in Nashville and orchestral compositions with the City of Prague Philharmonic. I am also part of a unique jazz vocal group called Accent, comprised of 6 guys from 5 different countries, we’ve toured to nearly 20 countries and have released 5 albums. Never a dull moment!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
After I’ve taken them to my favorite food spots (Ca Del Sole, Taj Mahal, Iroha Sushi, Angel’s Tijuana Tacos), I’d load up my car and take them straight up to Yosemite Valley. I try to take a solo retreat up there in the fall each year. It’s so beautiful and majestic, a great place for an artist to be inspired. Of course there are beautiful places all over Los Angeles that I frequent as well but the core of what keeps me here are the incredible people in my circle. I find the musicians and creatives in this city are so fascinating to speak with and I always find myself connecting to unique people and enjoying stimulating conversation.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who have supported me and can take credit for my success. Besides my family and the brilliant colleagues, teachers and mentors I’ve been fortunate to have I’d like to give a particular shoutout to the American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC). When I moved to Los Angeles in 2015 I became plugged in with this brilliant organization which very quickly connected me to many of the heavyweight composers, orchestrators and arrangers in Hollywood including Conrad Pope, Michael Giacchino, Nan Schwartz, Gayle Levant, Mervyn Warren, Chris Walden, and so many more. They host these incredible events that bring industry veterans and rookies alike to share and learn and it’s been so fulfilling for me to serve on the board of this organization for the last several years. (https://asmac.org)

Website: https://andrewkesler.com/

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