Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Kempton
Hi Rob , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I knew Austin Gladney from his former project Kitsune Rad. Several years later, I ran into Austin at the Horse Jumper of Love at Joe Squared. He said he’d just moved back into town from New Orleans. Then I asked him if he had made any music recently. He said he had a few demos that I could listen to. We then exchanged instagram handles, and that conversation put the pieces in motion to form Curver.
A few days later, I listened to what Austin had sent me, and I knew instantly that I wanted to be involved. We needed an amazing drummer, so I asked my friend Connor Lefevre who listened to the demos and wanted to audition. He ended up being the perfect fit, gravitating to the heavier shoegaze and alternative rock sound we had explored. Connor is also a skilled sound engineer and mentioned he’d like to mix the band’s first release. Everything just fell into place in this organic way.
Five shows later, we’re mounting a small tour from Philly to New York in mid October. We’re currently recording our first ep as a full band, with Connor at the helm in the mixing booth. Looking back, we have come a long way from those initial rehearsals. Each set feels tighter than the last.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting a band together is no small feat, especially when Connor and Austin are in other projects. As a result, we’ve had to turn down some great gigs. Still, this is the game of booking shows, being considerate of each other’s availability. We all have our own lives and jobs, and often we make compromises because it’s critical to avoid burnout. This has allowed us to communicate with each other better about what we want from the project, which feels like growth.
Curver is not the result of one sole person. We are a team, so it’s important for us to gel and utilize our individual strengths and talents together. I handle the booking and social media accounts. Austin focuses on songwriting, and Connor oversees the studio and recording aspects. It has worked out beautifully since no one has the onus of handling every component alone.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When I’m not preforming with Curver, I write. I’m a published poet and have been published in Bruiser Magazine, a local small press based in Baltimore. Recently, I helped cover the Sondheim Art Prize Finalists Exhibition, which was displayed at the Walters Art Museum.
I’m incredibly proud of the music Curver is making. We’re putting a more experimental take on shoegaze, using samples Austin builds from scratch on his Macbook. At times, the music is ethereal, slow-paced, and in other instances, it drives, swirls, and builds into a frenzy. Not many bands in Baltimore sound like us. It feels truly unique to this city.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
As a music lover, I go to a massive amount of shows around Baltimore. This has created moments in which I can talk to touring bands and peers about putting shows together, both locally and afar. Within our music scene, there is a natural inclination to build up each other and help facilitate new gigs. These bands are looking for new connections and spaces to play, so everyone wins. Several of these interactions have successfully landed Curver onto a gig.
The best advice I can offer is to put yourself out there. You never know who will gravitate. Never forget the importance of intention and getting out of your comfort zone. Do something you wouldn’t ordinarily do, something your intuition would typically dissuade you from doing. Get weird with it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curvermd
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/opzfiyEbEqPTxYzk/
- Twitter: @curvermd
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@curvermd
- Other: https://linktr.ee/curver
