Photographed & Written by: Matthew Terry
ABOUT THIS SERIES:
Over the past year I’ve focused on the local haunts that musicians, musicals, and music fans call home and fill with the warmth of audible expression. In 2025 I will begin delving into the musicians who fill those haunts and leave memories like ghosts in the structures that represent the local scene. Much like these venues, each musician possesses their own personality and motivation, and I think it’s important to speak of that motivation because artistic expression allows us to explain ourselves in ways that extend beyond our own subjective experiences.
As a creative person who often unearths inspiration from outside of the medium I am utilizing at the time, I have always been intrigued by what causes someone to tick. What moves their mind? What must be torn down to rebuild something beautiful? And what keeps us progressing forward when so much of our reality seems set in old habits? Expression seems easy in the days of the social media blitz, but to truly connect with others in a world run on separation – especially when that connection is formed from something that only exists because of an artist’s hand, mind, and the electric space between the two – it’s nearly worth worshipping…or at the very least is worth attempting to understand better.
February takes us from the psyched-out prog rock of Lady Igraine to the funk-laden, soulful sounds of The Textures. The Textures have been building a fierce following in the QC and beyond since they broke into the scene a little over 5 years ago. This 6 piece act has graced almost every major stage across the QC, including local festivals on both sides of the muddy Mississippi.
You may recognize them from Alternating Currents, Mo.Live, or their appearances at the illustrious Summercamp music festival in 2020 and 2022 respectively. This March they will be hosting The Spring Thing at The Stardust in Davenport, an annual music/arts experience they established last year to help music lovers shake off the winter blues. I caught up with them to talk about the process and progress of a sextet that, in a relatively short time, has more than stamped their name on the local scene.
Let’s start off with some introductions. Who makes up the band The Textures and how long have you been playing together?
The Textures are made up of six members: Kelsey Kays on lead vocals, Ben Kays on guitar (lefty!), Justin Behn “JB” on guitar, Logan Farber “Frog” on the keys, Justin Fisher “Fish” on bass, and Kyle Goldsmith on the drums. The Textures have been performing for over five years, but our current lineup has been going strong for more than two. We love to play in our zone during live shows, but we also do even more in the studio, crafting layers of vocals from multiple band members as well as auxiliary percussion, strings, and more. Everyone is honestly multitalented!
We’ve all heard stories of classic bands finding members via newspaper/street ads, as well as through meeting at an open jam. So, what brought you together? Were you friends prior to the band?
Ben: We have come together over a few years, starting as a group of guys who wanted to play some soul and funk music, and later evolving into our current lineup. I am actually the only original member of The Textures, but everyone joined in different ways. At a gig at Gabe’s in Iowa City, the original group played with a band called Wulfbriar and saw Frog playing keys. We knew it would be a long shot, but we asked him to join, and he did! Shortly after, Kelsey and JB joined, as they were introduced by mutual friends. JB suggested his coworker and old friend Fish should join in 2020, and then in late 2022, we were in need of a drummer, so Kelsey suggested one of her oldest friends, Kyle. It’s been a dream team ever since!
Why did you become a musician, and/or what or who initially got you passionate about music? Who are your biggest inspirations currently?
Kyle: I got my start by playing the French horn in elementary school. When Guitar Hero came out, I started getting really interested in rock music and asked my folks for a guitar for Christmas. I spent a few years learning guitar tabs in my bedroom when upon moving to the QC, I traded a bike with a neighbor for a drum set and started finding out what it was like to make music with people. It’s a feeling that hasn’t changed in 15 years: I love making music and I feel that I’m at my best when I’m making music with my friends.
Kelsey: Like Kyle, I realized my love for music and singing when I was in early elementary. My mom noticed that I was memorizing entire songs at a really young age, so she bought me a little karaoke machine and never stopped encouraging me to sing. Then came years of driving me around to talent shows, auditions, open mics, lessons–the works! My biggest musical inspirations at the current moment are groups like Lake Street Dive and Khruangbin – bands that have created their own sound and been working hard to get from small stages to festival headlines over the last decade.
I know genres can be limiting/a bit unnecessary, and art is often better experienced than explained, but how would you describe the music you make?
JB: The way we have always described it has been that our music is a conglomeration of each member’s individual influences–which is a wide range of music. I feel like The Textures originally strove for an alternative indie sound with an essence of groove and space but as we’ve had new members join over the years, the sound has evolved into more funk-based grooves with rock and even soul elements at times. However, there has always been an improvisational element to how we translate the songs to the stage. Being able to be vulnerable with one another musically and take risks to explore the depths of improv inside some of these songs live has been a key element to the ever-changing sound of the Textures.
Do you try sticking to a singular sound or are you more open to an expansive sound that bends the space between genres?
Kelsey: I think bending the space between genres is exactly why we call our group The Textures! Every color, flavor, genre, texture – you name it – all types of music are always on the table. If you listen to our entire library, it might even contrast more than anticipated. Each of us brings our own influences and lived experiences to the writing room, and whether the inspiration pulls on funk, jam, soul, pop, punk, or even country influence, we come together around it and just create. Then after you get used to playing, it evolves into something more and becomes fully texturized.
As a photographer, a lot of my inspiration comes from other mediums, often painting. Outside of the world of music what/who else inspires your art?
Ben: I’m often inspired by movies. Movies are the perfect medium to blend emotion and imagery and music. Music strengthens the themes, while the story and the actors lend to what the music offers. I will see films that really strike a chord, and then I’ll strive to find that same emotional impact in something I’m writing.
Kelsey: I think travel is a big one. As PBS always says, it really broadens your perspective! In the last 5 years, I’ve done a lot of traveling on my own, and there’s just something to be said about gaining the gumption to go out and learn, experience new things, understand other people’s lived and labored experiences, and see the wonders of nature. I never return home with a blank notebook.
I know you’ve released several singles this year, including most recently the track “The Fall”. Do you have plans for a new “album” as a follow-up to 2022’s Shapes & Colors these may be featured on?
We actually just finished recording the final tracks for our third album, set to release this spring. We don’t want to give too much away, but we’ll be sharing a lot more about this in the next month! It will include a few of the singles we released, in addition to some brand-new tunes, each written by a different member of the band.
Do you enjoy the songwriting/album-making process? What would you consider your favorite/least favorite aspect of making music?
Kyle: Getting in the studio has been one of the most fun parts about putting together music. We work hard, and we play hard. Our time spent out at Flat Black is split between tracking songs, making contributions to each other’s compositions, and cooking dinners on a Pizzazz.
Kelsey: The songwriting and album-making process is the best part of what we do! My favorite aspect of making music is when we walk away from the studio with finished tracks. My least favorite part is the administrative work – the emailing and social media management has become a huge burden, and it’s difficult to find services that will help you with what you need. But we gotta do it, and it usually pays off, so it’s worth the effort.
When it comes to the local scene, what do you see as the strengths of the QCA? What areas do you feel need improvement?
Frog: Some of the strengths of the QCA are that there are a bunch of diverse and quality musicians that have derived from or still operate within the QC. Music has been a huge part of the QCA culture throughout its rich history, and being centrally located 3-5 hours from some major cities plays a big part in that today. One improvement that I feel might benefit the QC is a few more local venues dedicated to music. Another benefit would be if we had some educational programs and some more established companies running sound and lights. Local bands are always looking for more in this area and would love more professionals to team up with to have a full production. It’s especially needed for any traveling band!
Have any of you played in bands outside the area? If so, how would you compare that experience to the Quad Cities Scene?
Kyle: I’ve had the pleasure of playing with a few different QCA groups that have ventured out of the area to places like southern Texas, northeast Wyoming, Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, PA and elsewhere. The QC has its own identity and community around live music, and I think that all these other places have their own unique communities as well. Overall though, each of these places share a universal love for live music and understand that it’s important to support traveling acts.
What is your favorite local venue to perform at? Are there any spaces, either still going or no longer in existence, that you’d love to perform in that you haven’t had to chance to yet?
Kelsey: We wouldn’t be where we are today without the Redstone Room. I started out playing music at Common Chord as a kid, and I’ve played on the stage there probably every year now, for many years. We work with familiar faces and professionals every time we book a show, and it’s allowed us the opportunity to battle for festival slots, open for nationally touring bands, and headline our own shows. I can’t say enough about how much we value that building and the folks that support it!
Kyle: We are always excited to find new places to put on a performance. This year, we’re playing our first Raccoon Motel gig, and I think all of us are excited to make our debut there. As far as other venues, I think we’d really love to play at Codfish Hollow Barnstormers in Maquoketa. We also have had the pleasure of playing for Chalkfest at Schwiebert Park on a number of occasions and we’re excited to play there again this year.
Last year you put on The Spring Thing, which seems to have been a success. You had mentioned you are gearing up for another big event in March, is this going to be similar to last year’s event, or are you looking to make it even bigger this time around?
Kelsey: We are bringing The Spring Thing back for a second year, and we are absolutely stoked! Last year was such a success (and simultaneously a learning experience in many ways), and this year we are honing our skills as event coordinators and community partners to put on an even bigger event. We’ve got a larger lineup, a bigger venue, more vendors, and additional festival experiences. We’re really glad to be including more youth artists and local bands and musicians that we love too, while also bringing a highly respected Midwest band – Old Shoe. This has become our most exciting time of the year, and we are thrilled to have so much support. Really looking forward to it!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received from another musician? Is there any insight/advice you’d give to aspiring musicians, or even possibly to your younger self?
Kelsey: The best piece of advice I’ve received, that no one really wants to hear (including me), is to get out of your comfort zone. It’s the only way to grow to your full potential, and if you stick to only what you know or what you’re already good at, you’re limiting your own capabilities. Get out and go play!
Ben: The piece of advice I’d give anyone is that it’s not always going to feel good. It’s not always going to be easy. Not everyone is going to like what you put out. You just have to keep pushing forward if you believe in what you’re doing and maintain relentless optimism.
We touched on new music, and the upcoming event in March, is there anything else you have on the horizon that you would like readers to know about?
We have a big year ahead! In addition to The Spring Thing event, we are also releasing an album, and then we’ll be playing shows all year long at new venues and in new cities. We’ve teamed up with a lot of other musicians and bands this year to book shows together too. All the while–always writing and sharing fresh content online. We’d love for anyone reading this to give our social media pages a Like and Follow, and to add us to their streaming playlists. Tell your friends too!
The Textures
Facebook: @thetexturesband
Instagram: @thetextures.official
Spotify: The Textures
Apple Music: The Textures