Keria Paterson (KMTP)

Where are you from?

I'm based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

Was there music around you when you were growing up? How?

Music has always surrounded me. My mother taught me the piano as one of my first instruments, and I continued learning through primary and high school. She also had many musician friends, so I grew up around them as they were writing and performing.

When did you start making music? How has the music you make changed over time?

I began creating music by myself after leaving high school around 2015, although I was always writing in bands throughout high school. I played a lot of drums in bands, contributing mostly to that aspect of writing, but I also provided input in other areas since I played guitar throughout high school as well.

You participated in Smokefreerockquest... how was that experience for you? Do you have any advice for this year's participants, or young musicians in general?

Participating in Smokefreerockquest was an absolute blast and a high school highlight. My high school, Kaipara College, aimed to have the most entries each year, so nearly everyone got involved in some capacity. My advice is to practice confidence in front of a crowd, master your songs, and then practice them even more! Once you're confident with your songs and performing for others, you'll have an amazing time.

You have played on some major stages and had great media coverage of projects you've been involved in... is there any part of your musical journey that stands out as particularly special/a favorite moment?

Releasing my first album was a significant milestone. It was an exhaustive yet rewarding process. Planning the entire release with my label, Sunreturn, and producing some amazing merchandise were definite highlights.

When you're writing, what do you start with? What is your process from beginning to end?

I typically start with my acoustic guitar, experimenting with various open tunings. Once I find a tuning that flows nicely, I stick with it for a few songs. I aim to develop a few solid sections on the guitar, with lyrics usually coming later, requiring the right headspace to flow.

How do you choose what songs to release?

Recently, I've been compiling songs for another album. I favor writing songs that offer some contextual structure and flow throughout an album, so I always try to determine the best structure for the songs I write.

What are two things you have learned along your journey, that you would tell yourself if you could go back in time?

First, don't write songs just to sound like everyone else. Write songs that you want to write, for yourself. Second, your "put a chorus pedal on everything" phase will end, and it's for the best, haha.

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