Musical Experimentation and Genre Exploration with Dion Kerr
Love Music More · hosted by Luke F. Walton
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Topics discussed
Host note
Dion Kerr is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, and bassist from South Florida, fresh off a tour opening for Unknown Mortal Orchestra when we talked. He grew up in a musical household, jamming with family before he had any formal training, and later taught himself upright bass by trying to become Jaco Pastorius, stripping the frets off a bass to chase that sound.
We get into why he thinks every musician should learn a little drums, the rhythmic foundation runs through everything, how playing fretless changed what he could express, and why he treats genre as something to cross rather than defend: he lets the music tell him what to do project to project, rather than showing up with one fixed approach. Dion also talks about Dialogues, his YouTube series built around collaborating with musicians, and eventually non-musicians, outside his usual circle.
The episode closes on community: Dion's belief that there's an unlimited amount of talent out there, and that musicians lifting each other up is how those barriers actually come down.
Selected moments
- Dion's Musical Roots 1:33 Dion talks about growing up in a musical household and early jamming with family.
- Self-Taught Skills 4:12 He reflects on teaching himself the upright bass while influenced by Jaco Pastorius.
- Expressiveness on Instruments 7:10 Discussion on the expressiveness of fretless bass and musical training.
- Interacting with Drummers 8:30 Dion shares insights on how his knowledge of drums enhances his bass playing.
- Exploring Different Musical Feels 12:29 He explains how different projects necessitate varying approaches to bass playing.
- Debunking Genre Boundaries 16:25 Dion emphasizes the importance of authenticity in crossing genre lines.
- Collaboration in Music 23:25 Dion discusses his YouTube series, Dialogues, and its collaborative nature.
- Musicians Supporting Each Other 30:22 The conversation highlights how musicians can uplift each other in the industry.
Selected excerpts
I grew up in a very musical household... it was just a typical day, singing and dancing in our house.
I stripped my frets... I just wanted to be Jaco at that time.
The expressiveness you can get out of a fretless is so nice; everyone should experiment with both.
I think everyone should play a little drums, because the rhythmic foundation is pretty much everywhere in all music.
I always try to let the music dictate what I'm supposed to do. I approach every setting differently.
At the end of the day, people are hiring you and your voice, as long as you fit in the mold of the band.
With my YouTube series, I really want to expand who I can collaborate with, even maybe a poet or something like that.
There's an unlimited amount of artists and talent around the world... I hope those barriers get broken down even more.
FAQ
What influences Dion Kerr's music?
Dion's music is influenced by his upbringing in a musical household, various genres, his experiences touring, and collaborating with diverse artists.
What is Dion Kerr's YouTube series about?
Dion's YouTube series, Dialogues, features collaborative projects with other musicians, aiming to create unique musical conversations.
How can I support independent musicians like Dion Kerr?
You can support them by purchasing music on platforms like Bandcamp, attending live shows, and sharing their work on social media.
These pages are host notes, not a full transcript. An automatic transcript is on the Spotify episode.