Keith Tutt is the talented cello-ist whose work has graced the albums of Oh! Gravity, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Keith has also joined the guys for a few Switchfoot concert dates, and has frequently played with Jon at his solo shows. The fans were immediately struck by the depth and life Keith's playing added to our favorite songs and Jon's new work, and he quickly became an "honorary member of Switchfoot" for many fans.
We recently sat down with Keith to discuss his own work, working with Switchfoot, Jon's EPs and music in general, so read on for a transcript of the conversation!
For more info on Keith Tutt and his music, visit his myspace HERE.
Land of Broken Hearts (LOBH): First, thanks for doing this interview with us Keith!
Keith Tutt: This is indeed an honor... AND you're getting the VERY FIRST interview I've EVER done.. officially. hahaha.
LOBH: We're flattered! So I guess we should start at the beginning here.. how long have you been playing the cello? What got you into that?
Keith Tutt: Well, I've been playing since I was about 3 1/2. The story, in short, goes like this... my parents wanted my sister and I to take music lessons. They said we could pick any instrument, but we'd have to stick with it until we got out of high school. My sister chose violin (she also played with me on the Oh! Gravity album and my first live shows). I RANDOMLY picked cello. I don't even think I knew what it was... haha.
LOBH: Fate prehaps? You mentioned you played on the Oh! Gravity album... but how did you meet Jon/Switchfoot and how did you get involved in playing music with them?
Keith Tutt: HOW I MET SF:
Hahah, well, Jerome has ALWAYS been a rock star, but before the people caught wind of him, he was a rock star at my elementary school hahah. He used to watch me on the playground when I was like 8 or 9. He was the cool lunch supervisor. Years later, he'd do work out of a studio in town, while I'd be down there jamming with my friend Sid (who was the other violinist in the trio for Oh! Gravity along with my sis). So Jerome and I would run into each other fairly often. I'd tell him about my music goals... he'd give encouragement... fast forward a few more years. Jerome had joined SF (officially a Rock Star!) and I was looking for an excuse to go to a Rock Concert. I called him up... went to the show in Bakersfield... finally got to meet the guys.
HOW I GOT INVOLVED MUSICALLY
At the Bakersfield show, which was my first SF concert, I was totally rocking out and the idea came to me..."live strings would be soo hot along with this music." It would take it to a different level. So I immediately text my friend Sid and my sister.. we ended up recording string arrangements for "Dare", "Shadow", and "We Are One". When we finished, Jerome happened to be home from tour, so we called him to a friends house. He came over and BAM! we hit him with what we had. He said "Send it to the studio I'll let the guys hear it." Next thing we know...on July 5 2006 we got to record on Oh! Gravity. (Yeah, I remember like it was last month)
LOBH: That is so rad! So how did you get involved with Jon's EPs?
Keith Tutt: Well, before the Soma show, Jon and I were talking about the other projects we were involved in and he told me about this crazy 4 EP project he wanted to do. He asked me if I'd be down to help.. I was like, "Let's do it!" The first song we worked up was "Southbound". I came down to his house for a evening and we jumped right into it... with no guide or plan, lo and behold a masterpiece! hahahaha. or something like that... Well, at least I think it's a pretty cool song. ha. From there Jon would email me songs to come up with string parts too.
LOBH: Oh it's definitely a masterpiece! But I might be biased there... Nah. So what's it like working with Jon and Switchfoot?
Keith Tutt: Easy work. They've been very open to letting me "do what I does".
LOBH: How do you go about figuring out the cello parts for the songs on Jon's EPs? What's that process like?
Keith Tutt: Well, like I said before, I'd get an email with just a guitar track and Jon's vocals (sometimes more, but not often.) Then it's like... alright... where to start? Sometimes parts of a song instantly come. Other times I have to sit with the song for a while. I usually like building the chorus first.. it kinda gives you a foundation to build the rest of the song around. But, its really like discovering a new island...with the thought of "How can I build a home here but not destroy the natural beauty of this place?"...or something like that.
LOBH: What is something about the recording process of the EPs that would surprise people?
Keith Tutt: I did the majority of the work at home... in my living room. hahaha. And between the hours of 11pm-7am. Funny story when I was doing my parts to "This is Home," my roommate went to bed at like 1 am. I told him I'd be done in a few hours. 6am came around. He gets up to go to work and said he saw me still sawing away! Those hours are when I work best it seems... no distractions but the internet you know?
LOBH: Oh I know. So what EP is your favorite out of the four? Why?
Keith Tutt: Hmmmm. Well, the first one will always be special...but I'd have to say Spring is my favorite. It's when they EPs took a different direction musically, plus "the March" and "Baptize" remind me of cartoon music.. I LOVE cartoon music. hahaha.
LOBH: You've played acoustic shows with Jon and rock concerts with Switchfoot. Which setting is your favorite?
Keith Tutt: You know.. it's really a toss up. I LOVE the bigness and noise of the rock show... and Ryan makes my cello sound HUGE, which is always cool. But it's the acoustic shows that are more of an adventure. More room to make mistake masterpieces.. hahaha.
LOBH: Jon mentioned in one of his blogs that you were one of the people walking around for the This Is Home video, but none of us has been able to spot you in that video. (And believe me, we looked!) Was your part of the video edited out?
Keith Tutt: Well, I stole the mic from Jon and sang a verse… but they said that it would look weird on film. Despite our stunning resemblance. hahahahaha... Yeah, I got edited out I guess. I was just one of the random people walking around in the background.
LOBH: Is there one moment from this past year - working with Jon and playing shows with Jon and Switchfoot - that really stands out to you?
Keith Tutt: Probably the first show that the string trio played with them live. (House of Blues Anahiem). To see your dreams go from wishful thinking to reality is the absolutely greatest feeling in the world! And for me that's what that was.
LOBH: I'd like to ask you a little bit more about your own music now... Who is your biggest musical influence?
Keith Tutt: Wow, this is a tough one too...I've been influenced by soo many people. It's funny, the influence have come more from people I know, than people I've listened to on record or CD. I'm surrounded by a lot of really great musicians of all types. Singers, instrumentalists.. etc. They play all different type of music, from Rock to Jazz, Hip-Hop to Country (which I LOVE)... and I take little elements from all of them.
LOBH: What is your favorite piece of music to play?
Keith Tutt: I really don't have a favorite piece to play. I enjoy just playing.
LOBH: Do you have a preference between classical and popular music? You've been playing more modern music with Jon, but the cello is a very classical instrument.
Keith Tutt: I love them both. Equally. It's fun to play classical music and test your dexterity on fast songs and your ability to make people cry with your tone on the slow somber ones. But, in modern music the fun lies in the "Where do I fit into this picture?" Classical music was written for my instrument...modern music is written. THEN my parts are usually added to it, and THAT'S where the fun begins.
LOBH: Any advice for people aspiring to be cello players/musicians?
Keith Tutt: Learn how to get out of your box and to appreciate music as a whole... not one certain style. It will allow you to "fit" in more places.. I mean, cello in a rock band... also, continue to educate yourself in music. Learn the theory behind what your playing...and on top of all that play with a purpose...ohh, and have fun.. Smile! hahah.
LOBH: Practice that guys! Can you tell us about your future projects/plans?
Keith Tutt: I'm wrapping myself in a LOT of stuff. I'm sure I might pop up on the new SF, aside from that I'm playing/writing with a few different singer songwriters (priscilla ahn, samantha farrell, elayna boynton.. to name a few) in the near future... Shoot, might start some singing! My jazz band demos coming.. along with other random stuff. Keep your eyes open! I'll be putting updates on my MySpace page as things come up.. So come by and visit.
LOBH: To wrap this up... we have three questions that we ask to everyone we interview.
1. What is one questions you've never been asked and the answer?
Keith Tutt: Umm.. all of them! hahaha.
LOBH: What is one song you wish you had written?
Keith Tutt: "Rocket Love" by Stevie Wonder, ohhh. I gotta put two.. "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Rhaitt.
LOBH: What is the best advice you've ever been given/heard?
Keith Tutt: "It's never too late to be who you might have been."
LOBH: Keith, thank you so much for your time! I really enjoyed this interview!
Keith Tutt: Thanks for the opportunity to share a little bit of myself with you guys, this was pretty cool. See you at the next show!!
|
