Meet Keri Larson | Singer + Vocal Coach

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

Hi Keri, what are you inspired by?
As a creative I am inspired by everything from fashion, music, art, food, and home decor. I have always said if I hadn’t pursued a music career, I would have loved to be a creative director for brand and fashion campaigns. Grace Coddington is my ultimate inspiration for all things visual. I believe creatives are storytellers in general no matter what creative space they live in predominately. From a singers perspective I find that it’s so important to get the story right through vocal tone, agility, and melodic choices. Whether performing as a lead vocalist, or in my case a background vocalist in most settings, we are tasked with being true storytellers. I’m so inspired by creatives that take a piece of the past and incorporate it with something current. For example I love a mix of regal and rock n roll in fashion and in music. In the home I love to see a traditional palette mixed with modern art on the walls. Too much of one detail creatively is simply one dimensional. This applies to my field as well. The best singers know that balance in choice of style and approach produces the most memorable performances.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One of the creative ventures I am most proud of was producing the YouTube series: The Black & White Sessions in 2015. Over five seasons we released 90+ videos of singers and background vocalists that primarily live in LA. It was an idea I had along with producer and musician, Tony Guerrero. It was a passion of ours to bring these singers that were primarily behind the scenes on albums, tours, tv, and films to the forefront. We wanted the vocalists to sing a song they loved or were inspired by. We asked them to record it in one take with minimal to no fixes in post production. What came out of this project were moments frozen in time of singers being vulnerable, but also being in control of their creative process. Not relying on the artists or producers they were working for to direct them in this setting. It was freeing for most and frightening for a few! These sessions are still inspiring up and coming vocalists and creating opportunities for many of the singers featured. There are very few cities in the world where you will find this kind of discipline and talent. I’m eternally proud of this project and you can find all of the videos on YouTube. Both the 1st and 2nd season recordings are available on all streaming platforms.

One interesting fact that sets me apart in this industry is I was born with Microtia Atresia, an ear deformity that comes with deafness. Only those in my close circles know that I am deaf in my right ear completely. I never really thought to tell anyone in professional settings until early in my career a producer expressed how rare it is for partially deaf singers to work at the level I was working. I’ve always believed God gave me a voice to replace my loss of hearing. My daughter, Mazie, was also born deaf in her right ear and she is now singing professionally as well.

At this point in my career I feel joyfully reflective on working on albums for everyone from Harry Styles and Ariana Grande to Barbra Streisand and Andrea Bocelli. I love the diversity of genres and I love the connectivity of singing around a mic with amazing singers. Working on film and TV shows has been so rewarding. I was one of the singers for this most recent finale of American Idol with CeCe Winans and getting to be on the stage singing about the goodness of God was certainly a career highlight. People ask me regularly how to break into this community. I always say talent will get you in the door if someone believes in you, but humility, a strong work ethic, patience, and bravery will build integrity and keep you getting called back. Finding out where singers are performing and showing up and meeting them is currently a great way to get connected as sessions have slowed after hard hits from covid and the recent SAG-AFTRA strike. Most of us have begun to diversify income streams. I began vocal coaching in 2022 and have found it super inspiring working with singers age 7 on up to independent artists crafting their first EP’s, and sitting in as an adjunct vocal professor at CalBaptist University for their commercial music dept.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am from small town Tennessee so I was a tourist in my own city for the first few years I moved to CA. Hard to believe I’ve lived here 20 years now! When my friends and family come to town there is so much to see and do! I have primarily lived in the Newport Beach area of Orange County so I like to mix a little of both into my favorites lists. If I was putting an itinerary together I’d say start the week off with a couple days in LA visiting the Grammy Museum, The Getty, The Academy Museum, the Warner Bros. Studio tour, and even the Petersen Automotive Museum (way cooler than I expected it to be). Of course you gotta do the winding drive up to Lake Hollywood Park to get a classic Hollywood sign photo! We also always look up our visitors favorite celebrities in advance and just drive up to where their star is on the walk of fame to get a quick photo to avoid walking in a tourist trap. To wind down after being tourists all day we love outdoor dining at Laurel Hardware and Momed. Sometimes we brave the crowds at the Farmers Market by The Grove for the foodie types.

Now off to Orange County for less hustle and more chill over the next three days. Day one we’d start on Balboa Island with a hippo cookie in hand from Dad’s Donut & Bakery Shop. We’d grab a coffee at Huskins and take a nice stroll around the island complete with a ferry ride over to the peninsula. Then we’d head to Lido Marina Village for some outdoor shopping, people watching, and lunch at Zinqué. Cocktails and dinner would be in the back room at Oak & Coal on 17th st. in Costa Mesa.
Day two it’s down to Laguna Beach, but starting at Rose Bakery Café in Corona Del Mar for breakfast. Walking the streets of Laguna and getting pics at Victoria Beach is always a tourist favorite and then taking the drive down to the Montage for photos, cocktails, and views is lovely. We’d take in the sunset at Lookout Point in Corona Del Mar and then walk over to dinner at Bandera, one of our favorite local restaurants. For the girlie types, on day three we’d head up to old town Tustin and have tea on the patio at Morning Lavender mixed with some shopping. After relaxing at the beach in the afternoon we’d probably have our last dinner at A Restaurant or A Crystal Cove for a true Orange County experience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I certainly would not be where I am today without the love and support from my family and friends over all these years. Being from the small town of Gallatin, Tennessee, I was so lucky to have one of the best music educators ever, James Story, support and believe in me in my high school years. I don’t think I would have ever made it to LA without the weekly drives into Nashville for voice lessons with the memorable, Mark Perry. This man transformed my approach from singing every genre of music over many years.
The “opened every door” shoutout goes to Tim Davis, vocal producer and contractor. He pushed me to move to LA and once I got here, he let me ride the coattails of most of his creative projects. He introduced me to the tiny and tight knit group of studio session singers and has given me some of my greatest work memories, including singing on all six seasons of the Fox TV series, glee.
Shoutout to Alisan Porter for letting me scream high notes all over LA since 2019 and a shoutout to Shelley Scarr Hovsepian for recommending me. It’s been a ride.
A special shoutout to the LA singing and contracting community! This is a creative group of folks that encourage and support one another in every season of life. Singers have encouraged, recommended, and loved on me at my most difficult moments and celebrated my successes in the most fruitful seasons.
Lastly and most importantly, I must shoutout my husband Tommy and my kids James and Mazie for pushing me to always say yes when fear creeps in and to believe in endless possibilities.

Instagram: @kerilarson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keri.larson

Youtube: @TheBlackWhiteSessions

Image Credits
Trever Hoehne
Jen Rosenstein
Tiffany Palmer