Meet Kenji Lancaster

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenji Lancaster.

Hi Kenji, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I had always been into music since I was young, specifically the drums. I didn’t really get into actually playing and studying music until I was in high school, around when I was 17. I had dropped out of school my Junior year so that I could attend classes at Pima Community College and I also joined the Tucson Jazz Institute (TJI) at that time.

TJI exposed me to people who were my age but played music at a much higher level and going to college led me to meet more people and become more independent. My teachers John Black, Brice Winston, and Scott Black at TJI pushed me to learn about the drums and become a better musician, as did my peers and friends who were in the program with me.

I was able to play with musicians like Terell Stafford, Christian Mcbride, and Sherman Irby which taught me a lot about musical experience. During my second year there (my senior year of high school) the pandemic cut the year short and none of us could really do anything. I was fortunate enough that I lived at home, my parents worked from home, and I was able to make money doing Instacart to pay for school.

I also used that time to practice a lot, and as venues started to open up I found myself being called to work as a professional musician. I was exposed more frequently to professional musical situations, met other musicians, and gained a lot of experience. The time I put in practicing over those couple of years, and the experiences I had a working, recording, and networking gave me many opportunities today that I’m very grateful for.

One example is doing this interview! I am also able to go to school next year at the U of A as a Jazz Performance Major and meet many people that I’ve learned from and looked up to.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There were of course some challenges, mostly personal or mental ones. I’ve had feelings of regret for dropping out since that restricted me from applying to many scholarships. It was also hard to start so late in the game compared to many of my friends who had started playing much younger than me.

I think there are also negative emotions that a lot of working musicians can feel like inadequacy, self-deprivation, regret, etc. It’s also hard to feel like you’re working hard enough, that you’re getting enough gigs, that you’re working towards the right goals, or that my playing is good enough. I haven’t really overcome any of these thoughts.

The pandemic was tough since I didn’t have any opportunities to play music, but in some ways, it was good for me because I was able to focus solely on practicing the drums. The struggles I face right now have to do with getting more work and playing the music I want to play with the people I want to play with.

Getting my name out there is also something I’ve struggled with, I’m not the best self-promoter.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a musician and I play the drums. I play as a freelance musician playing jazz with musicians around town and I’m in a pop/rock duo with my very close friend from childhood called Midnight Milestones. We recorded an EP last June called Visions Past.

I was also able to record two records with TJI, a trio album by Jonathan Hines called Wonderland, and a record with TJI friends (Denali Kauffman & Andrew Gioannetti) called Cactus Rose and another album by Autumn Dominguez called Sunflower Seeds coming out this month!

I’m very proud of all these. I’m proud that I was able to start later than most people, work hard, get into a scene, and play with the people that I look up to as mentors. I think that the way I play drums sets me apart from others.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
A lot of things make me happy.

A cloudy day makes me really happy, almost as much as a rainy day. Good food and good music also make me happy, as well as spending time with my family, friends, and my girlfriend.

My cats make me happy too. Doing something new, like this interview, going to music school next semester, or playing music with new people makes me excited for the future and happy.

Contact Info:

• Email: lancasterkenji@gmail.com
• Website: kenjionolancaster.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenjilancasterofficial/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHlZWJq3Vv7Q9l1abE_G8WQ
• Other: https://linktr.ee/midnightmilestones

Image Credits
Carson Redmon, Nolan Veneklasen, and Miranda Rico