Meet Levi Petree | Songwriter & Actor

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

Hi Levi, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I feel like that can change from day to day. But if it’s in you, it’s always gonna be there bugging you to get out. If you create something you’re proud of and then take a chance putting it into the world, It’s hard if you don’t see the results you hoped for. But I keep going and think others should because it means you’re following through on what unique thing you have to offer to the world. If we’re lucky, maybe it’ll speak to other people and find them in the time they need it. But at the very least, you’re doing something you can proud of. That’s a treat we maybe don’t give ourselves enough. And any time self-doubt starts to creep in, I do this little trick of putting one thing on the calendar to be excited about. Whether it’s a release or a show, that’s how you keep momentum going and makes me feel good about whatever is coming next.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One lesson that’s stuck with me is “go before you’re ready” … meaning, just get up and do it. That comes from a technique I used to study when I did theatre in Chicago. Don’t overthink it, don’t sit on it too long, don’t talk yourself out of doing it altogether. Say yes and get up there. It may not be perfect the first time but the more you do it, the better you’ll be and the more prepared for the next time. Just keep getting up. It feels like there are no rules anymore and your creative voice has more opportunities than ever before to find its audience. But you gotta put yourself out there … Be brave, be bold, believe in yourself and say yes to things.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Funny enough, I just had one of my best buds out here and we did this very itinerary. We wound through the canyon roads to grab a bite at The Old Place Cornell and followed it up by boogie boarding at Lechuza Beach. The Old Place is my favorite restaurant and it feels so removed from the rest of L.A. Grab a seat at the wooden bar, order up a black coffee and chow down on the best smoked bacon you’ve ever had.

Some other favorites would be a walk through Descanso Gardens, catching a movie at the Vista or Los Feliz 3 theatres and then grabbing an enormous slice of cake from the Alcove (you’ll get sick if you eat it all in one sitting … unless you’ve practiced it as often as I have). If you’re still hungry after that there’s always the taco stand on the corner of Hyperion and Rowena!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wanna give a shoutout to my buddy, bandmate and producer Chad McKinsey. He’s been a great friend and creative partner for over a decade now – lending his drum skills, mastery of production or a critical but constructive ear to any song I’ve ever released. He makes me sound far better than I am and I’m constantly wowed by the growth and output from every other artist he works with.

There are few people I trust more than Chad. And at this point, any hope of “hittin’ the big time” is really just a hope of being able to pay him back for all he’s done for me. I’m proud of our accomplishments together and am grateful he’s made me feel like part of the family. If you’re in need of a top-notch producer, mixer, coach, teacher … he’s your man!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/levistpetree?igsh=YzAwZjE1ZTI0Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Qx6FVS5OkE1yh0ixxT0e5?si=IvWbzB7zRE21gpPI-UFI6Q

Image Credits
Bob Turton Photography

Royel Reign

Larry L Abellera