Q: I love the feel-good vibe of “Beers On Mars”; it reminds me of late 90s/early 2000s music and the ultimate dance song. Can you walk me through the creative process in making this track?
AFTER KEPLER: I love that you feel that! It was our full intention for this song to be exactly that- a feel-good vibe. We wanted it to be the type of song that when you listen to it, it brings you back to your favorite memories and places and allows you to relive it again and again in your mind.
Q: I’m always interested in an artist’s musical journey. Do you remember who or what first got you into music? Was your family musical growing up?
AFTER KEPLER: I (James/Lead Singer) began playing music 16 years ago and also have a solo project out under the name James Ghareeb. The rest of the band (Shout out Adam, Zack, Adi, Samuel, and Manuel) have also been playing for ages in various music projects of their own. Growing up, there wasn’t a genre of music I didn’t like. I enjoyed everything from Eminem and Hip-Hop to the Acoustic vibes of Ben Howard. My late grandfather played a Lebanese instrument called the Oud, and while I didn’t have the opportunity to spend much time with him before he passed, I believe his music lives within me. I’ll actually be incorporating more Mediterranean type sounds in some of my upcoming releases.
Q: The instrumental on “Beers On Mars” is so free-spirited and calming. What was the production process like?
AFTER KEPLER: Our bassist Samuel is actually the producer on this song and together with a few other artists we sat in my apartment reworking it. It’s important to me that each instrumentalist on the track is able to add their own vibe to it, so we put a lot of emphasis and focus into the melody and the chorus. We wanted something that was chill but also upbeat, and Samuel was able to take all of those elements and instruments and create something incredible out of it. We even added in the Saxophone for a special touch.
Q: If you could collaborate with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be?
AFTER KEPLER: Ooh that’s a great question. I think I’d have to go with Coldplay. They’ve always been able to show so many different genres within their style of music. That’s something I really attach myself to personally, being diversified in the music. I find them to be pretty inspiring in my own creative process.
Q: Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to follow your path as a musician?
AFTER KEPLER: Absolutely! I’ve been making music for a long time and I’ve had the opportunity to play hundreds of shows and all of that has been an incredible experience! There was one moment in particular though, where someone had reached out and explained that my music really helped them through a dark time in their life. That really touched my heart to know that my music was able to have such a powerful and healing effect on someone. I want to continue to help give people a new narrative on life with my music. That experience really inspired me to keep making music.
Q: Did any real-life events occur in your life that inspired the song?
AFTER KEPLER: Yes! I started writing ‘Beers on Mars’ while I was traveling abroad. I had an incredible opportunity to see so many different cultures and ways people celebrated life. It inspired me to write a song that would help people remember the good times in life and celebrate it.
Q: Thanks so much for speaking with me! Tell your fans and everyone what exciting stuff is coming up next for you! Any shows/projects in the works?
AFTER KEPLER: Thank you so much for having me! 2023 is going to be an exciting year, we have tons of releases planned throughout the year and will be playing our first show in Los Angeles! We hope to be booking a tour by the end of 2023, so stay tuned for that. You can follow us on all socials @therealafterkepler and find us on all streaming @ After Kepler. We can’t wait to show you more!
Interviewed by Melissa Cusano
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