I just really have always loved rock and roll over everything else. I really love how free it is. You’re not really set to having to adhere to a set of rules with the music. You’re allowed to go in any direction.
Rock & Roll has been extremely popular from the 50’s until the 2000’s. But with the rise of Hip Hop, Pop, and electronic dance music, it has seen mainstream decline. But some observers have cited that Rock & Roll may be on the verge of a comeback. The frustration and turmoil of the past few years align well with the message of angst, protest, and rebellion that rock & roll conveys. In this interview series called “Music Stars Helping Rock & Roll Make A Comeback” we are talking to music artists, music groups, and music producers who are helping Rock & Roll make a comeback.
As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Krantz.
After leaving his home state of Iowa, traveling the world, touring over 200 days per year with a band called The Effects and opening for bands such as the Kings of Leon, Shinedown, Foreigner, and the Toadies, Jeffrey Danger made the decision to “live the dream” and eventually landed in Nashville. He hit the studio between tapings of MTV’s music competition, American Supergroup, where he eventually became a finalist in the competition. Following the release of his self-produced solo album, Krantz joined forces with Erik Theiling (bass), Tee Tallent (keys) and Adrian Flores (percussion), who he met on the Broadway circuit. Together they bring a psychedelic/pop/rock edge equipped with an in-your-face attitude, intertwining provocative lyrics and authentic, no-holds rock and roll. Krantz embraces frantic ecstasy and introspective depths, alternating between crazy antics, a dash of face paint, and a meaningful look within. The new record takes on several personalities, drawing influences from pop to reggae to artists including The Beatles, Weezer, and T Rex, among other golden age rock acts.
Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us a bit of the ‘backstory’ of how you grew up?
Thanks so much for having me! Honored to be here and hope ya get a good read. Well I grew up out in small-town Iowa, and felt kind of like I was a weirdo there because I was into the Beatles and songwriting while everyone else was into Nascar and working out. Eventually found some fellow weirdos though and played in some fun bands and all that.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
Well, I grew up with music around the house all the time (my dad is a drummer,) but when I watched the Beatles Anthology for the first time, I knew what my life was going to be about.
Are you able to share a story with us about what first attracted you to Rock & Roll in particular?
I just really have always loved rock and roll over everything else. I really love how free it is. You’re not really set to having to adhere to a set of rules with the music. You’re allowed to go in any direction.
Can you tell us the most interesting or most funny story that happened to you since you began your Rock & Roll career?
Well, once I was looking at the Ramones exhibit when I was on the road at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame and turned to see I was standing right next to Tommy Ramone, so that was definitely interesting. Also, once we left our merch guy at a gas station without his phone and didn’t realize until we were a good 40 minutes down the interstate…he wasn’t that mad though, luckily.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
Well, I’m not sure if I’ve reached the level of success I’m striving to achieve quite yet, but I’d just say keep at it, and never stop writing.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
Well, I have to mention my lovely girlfriend, Teal, who is my biggest fan and helps me stay motivated. For my summer single, “Beach (Moonlight Rendezvous), my good friend Betsy helped me get it recorded, and let us use her private beach for the video, so that was a big help!
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?
I’m in the middle of recording a whole new album that should be out in the Spring. I’m recording at a studio here in Nashville and it’s being produced by Wyatt Whit. I’ve self-produced pretty much all of my work, so I’m having a lot of fun working with a new producer who is putting a new spin on my sound.
Are you able to summarize the message of Rock & Roll in a sentence? Why do you think that message is more relevant now than it’s been in a while?
It’s tough to do in one sentence, but for me, rock ‘n roll is the best way to express myself. From lyrics to just the vibe of the music, you can say and express so much. I love the human element to most rock ‘n roll that is getting lost to computer-generated sounds, but I have high hopes it’ll come back.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.
No one really told me what to expect when I started, so that’s kind of a tough one for me. I guess I’ve been told the music business is 90% rejection, and that’s definitely true, but that wee 10% makes it all worth it.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)
It’s going to sound very cliche, but unconditional love is huge. If we could just not judge anyone and have love as well as feel loved by everyone else, the world would be a better place. Everyone can have different views or feelings about certain things, but that doesn’t need to affect feeling love for them.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
John Lennon said, “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘Happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” I realize as I get older how much more important it is to be happy than things like having money or material belongings. You can only decide your own happiness.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Paul McCartney for sure! I’m such a huge Beatles fan (as well as a lot of Wings and solo Paul). Get me lunch with him though, because the Brits eat weird stuff like baked beans for breakfast I hear…
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow me on my socials and all the music streaming services! Find me at krantzmusic!
This was very meaningful, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Thanks again so much for having me! I really appreciate the love!