Ten Questions with Drummer Jared Kneale (Kacey Musgraves)

11 years ago Brittany Fisher Comments Off on Ten Questions with Drummer Jared Kneale (Kacey Musgraves)
Jared Kneale, drummer for Kacey Musgraves
Jared Kneale, drummer for Kacey Musgraves

Country music sensation Kacey Musgraves is nominated for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Single of the Year. She’s not just blowing smoke, the girl has serious talent. But, see that guy playing drums just behind her? We’re here to talk about him. Like most drummers, Australian-born Jared Kneale began his musical career banging on pots and pans. He now serves as Kacey’s touring drummer and was kind enough to take the time to tell us a little bit about himself.

LRM: Tell us about your background. When did you make the move to the States? Did you immediately venture to Nashville?
Jared Kneale: I was born in Sydney, Australia and grew up on the southern beaches of Sydney, a town called Cronulla. If I wasn’t at the beach, you’d find me playing cricket or rugby or skateboarding. I went to music and sports friendly schools and had some amazing experiences getting to travel doing both. Actually my first ever trip to the United States was when I was in tenth grade on a school band tour. Little did I know that I would then venture back a few more times for music. I was touring with an Australian gospel singer-songwriter, Reuben Morgan, back in 2007-2008. At the end of one of those tours, I was invited to stay with a friend in Nashville for two weeks and just fell in love with the place and people. I came back again a year later and it was that trip that I decided I needed to move there, so I began the process of applying for a visa. I eventually got approved, packed up my life and relocated in April of 2010.

LRM: How long have you been playing the drums? How did you get started? Was it something you always knew that you wanted to do?
JK: I started hitting pots and pans at grandma’s place as a toddler and played along on a seat with the drummer at church at four years old. A family friend eventually encouraged my parents to get me some lessons, so they bought me my first drum set when I was nine and I began the journey. That was an exciting day! My father plays piano and was always spinning old Billy Joel, Beach Boys and Little River Band records so the home was full of music. Many times my younger brother (who began learning bass & guitar) and I would jam along with dad in the basement of our house. I kept learning and developing a taste for different styles of music and by the time I was in late high school, I remember distinctly deciding that drumming and music was the career path I was going to take.

LRM: Did you actively pursue country music or did it just fall into your lap?
JK: It’s kind of funny to me that I’m now playing a bit of country music because growing up in the big city of Sydney, country music wasn’t that popular or common to hear. I was listening to bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters to Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan & Bob Marley and studying lots of Jazz, Blues, Latin & Funk. My last 4 years in Australia, I was a member of a Latin/Funk/Rock band called Watussi and we wrote and recorded several albums & EP’s together, received an ARIA nomination (Australian Grammy’s) and toured internationally. On my visits to Nashville I became well aware of how much more than just country music was actually going on there, and that excited me. I’ve subsequently grown to appreciate and enjoy country music since moving and living here, cause after all, it’s just a close cousin to Rock, Soul and Blues anyway. As a musician, I really enjoy the art & skill involved in playing FOR the song and Nashville (being a song town) has taught me how important that is and how to do it well. So, to answer your question, it fell into my lap. I’d like to think that my background in other styles of music and drumming brings a unique and different flavor to the country music I play. So far so good. My phone’s still ringing!

LRM: What is life like on the road with Kacey and the rest of the band?
JK: Life on the road with Kacey and the guys this year has been incredible. We all have a great time together on and off stage. You couldn’t meet a more chill, fun bunch of people to hang out with on the road. It’s truly been a pleasure playing Kacey’s songs night after night and watching her career take off like it has. Going into it early, of course, you don’t know how things eventuate with an artist, so to see the development of Kacey grow into the performer she is now and the success she’s seeing in such a short space of time, has been really cool to witness and be a part of. We’ve all individually worked really hard on our crafts and careers, so to see it all converge like it has at this point in our lives is pretty sweet!

LRM: How did you land the gig playing for Kacey?
JK: Myself, the bass player and guitarist had all worked together before on a Soul duo project called Sugar & the Hi-Lows. One half of that duo is a guy named Trent Dabbs, who had co-written with Kacey last year. When Kacey was looking to put together a band last Fall, she asked Trent for some recommendations and he put us forward. The rest is history. I had just come off a tour with Katie Armiger, so the timing worked out really great as well.

LRM: Do you have a favorite Kacey song to play? Why?
JK: There’s quite a few that are fun to play, but if I had to pick one it would probably be “Back On The Map”. When I first listened through Kacey’s album, this track stood out to me and quickly became a favorite. The groove in this song morphs and changes in an interesting way. It starts out half time and goes to a more syncopated double time in the 2nd verse and builds through to the end. It’s simple, spacious and impacts really hard. Fred Eltringham (who played drums on the album) did a stellar job of giving this more melodic/pop song the right feel for the emotion this song carries. Live, we stretch the outro out a bit and take it to psychedelic town, which is always fun for the drummer.

LRM: Who are your biggest inspirations? Musical, personal, you name it.
JK: There are two that come to mind immediately, Jesus – my saviour AND my late mother, Karen. Both have played key roles in me becoming who I am today.

LRM: Do you have any advice for those aspiring to become a touring musician?
JK: Yes. Work really hard at being the best musician you can be but also get really good at being personable and humble, because a great attitude goes along way out on the road.

LRM: What do you do during the long travel hours? Any other passions?
JK: On the road I like to read, listen to music, explore a town on my longboard and find the best coffee shop. I try to stay fit with yoga and running. I love to meet and talk to people, travel, and play music. I’m so very thankful that my job entails all of that.

LRM: Tell us something interesting about yourself. It doesn’t have to be music related, but it does have to be, well, interesting.
JK: Three random facts: 1. I once was an extra on a famous Aussie soap opera, throwing a frisbee in the background on a beach. 2. I’ve represented my high school at ping pong. 3. Favorite food = Thai food.

Follow Jared’s adventures by keeping up with him via Twitter and Instagram.

Brittany Fisher

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