Meet Kevin Spencer: Writer/Musician/Thinker

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

Hi Kevin, what makes you happy? Why?
Sharing music with people. Music is the greatest communicator in the world. It’s the only language you don’t have to be able to speak in order to understand. I’m very lucky that music and the stage have been my only jobs since I was 18, very lucky indeed.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is imitating life and the human experience through music. I play many instruments, but my voice is always home. Whether I’m performing live or on record, it’s always about living in the emotional space that the lyric and melody need you to be in. To successfully find that space while on stage or when the red record light is on is one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced. It’s as if time stops and everything goes into slow motion for a second. I’m sure it’s similar for athletes or dancers, a truly beautiful thing to experience. The path has not been easy, and I always offer the same advice to young musicians. ‘If you can do anything else with your life, do it, but if you have to do music to survive inside, hold on tight because it’s going to be a long road of hard work. If you’re in it for money, turn around and go get a job. If you do it for love of it, the money might come, but not without 10k hours just to get to the starting line.’ To put it in perspective: The first time my band was in the gate fold of Rolling Stone, I had to borrow money off my neighbor to go buy the magazine. It’s about the music and the work, not the other stuff.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When we have friends come stay with us in ATL, my wife Krystee and I are very lucky that we barely even have to leave our own neighborhood! (although it wasn’t that way when we bought this place 15 years ago) My wife and I are a few doors down from the MLK birthplace (Inman Park/Old Fourth Ward), so my daily itinerary would read like this… Coffee at Chrome Yellow, Bike ride on the BeltLine, Brunch at Ladybird, Afternoon drink at Fetch dog park for our pups, Dinner at Kimball House, Go see a concert at any of ATL’s killer venues.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
If there is one thing the pandemic shutdown has allowed us, it’s time to reflect on the things that make our lives better and who is responsible for them. So with that in mind, I’m giving my ‘Shoutout’ to every single person that ventures out to see live entertainment on any given night. Wether it’s a known event, or just going out to see what you can discover, THAT is the backbone of how to propel music and artists forward. Not thanking music fans for their continued support would be like being a bricklayer and not acknowledging the bricks and cement that bind. We need to reinvigorate the clubs, venues, crews, musicians, artists, and fan experiences throughout the entire country. It’s up to us to rebuild our vibrant music scene as it’s the heartbeat of A town and the soundtrack to our lives. So, my ‘Shoutout’ goes out to the lovers of live music, Thank you from #ElectricAvenue

Website: ElectricAvenueMusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electricave80s/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ElectricAvenue

Youtube: www.YouTube.com/ElectricAvenueMusic

Image Credits
All Electric Avenue photos: Emily Butler One of Kristian Bush (Sugarland) and I is from the Country Sip magazine from the Country Music Awards One of Me in RENT 18 years ago is Joan Marcus