Meet Kennedy Kole | Fingerstyle Guitarist, Performer, Music Producer & Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kennedy Kole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kennedy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My name is Kennedy Kole, creator of KK Productions. I’m a live performer, music producer, and teacher who specializes in fingerstyle guitar, and is based in Greenville, SC. The goal behind KK Productions is to provide a selection of high quality music-related services within the local community; Greenville and other surrounding cities in Upstate SC.
LIVE MUSIC – Performing at restaurants, cafes, wedding venues, and other events is beneficial for all parties! Restaurants and cafes benefit from live music because the occasion brings in new customers, as well as keeps existing customers entertained. Wedding venues and other private events benefit by serenading guests with relaxing background music that will make the atmosphere eternally memorable.
LESSONS – Trained by multiple guitarist experts with backgrounds in classical, jazz, bluegrass, rock, and more, I believe that everyone should feel included, no matter their age or musical taste. Depending on the style of music the student wants to learn, I tailor my teaching approach to best fit their needs.
MUSIC PRODUCTION – In 2018, I began recording my guitar performances, which is how my journey into the music production field started. I soon began taking lessons from a local professional producer/mixing engineer which kickstarted my skills with recording, mixing, and working with the industry-standard software: Pro Tools. Since then, I have worked with other musicians, produced podcast intros/outros, and created music for advertisements.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart as a performer is the captivating niche that is fingerstyle guitar. People often have a preconceived notion that guitar music is merely strummed chords or repetitive riffs. Fingerstyle is so much more: A complex ensemble of chords, bass notes, lead melodies, and techniques that borrow from every genre.
When it comes to teaching, what sets me apart is that I’ve been trained by experts in many different genres. So regardless of a person’s age, experience, or musical preference, private lessons (which I teach both online and in-person) can be tailored specifically to what YOU want to learn. In our modern age, there’s a seemingly unlimited supply of teaching resources. Though many are helpful, it can be an overwhelming and time-consuming pit. Private lessons are the solution to this, as they’re the most efficient way to target YOUR specific needs and wants as the learner.
I’d say one of the most common challenges I face is judgement because of my age. Being a relatively young performer, producer, and teacher means that some people are initially apprehensive. Once I am able to demonstrate my skill and experience to them, however, that apprehension is put to rest.
I want the world to know that even if your progress seems minimal, if you challenge yourself and remain consistent, you’ll one day impress even yourself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Downtown Greenville is an amazing place to bring friends and family because it’s a relatively large city with plenty of things to do, and yet it avoids feeling like a hectic, bustling, unkept city. I always love taking friends to downtown destinations including the unique food court of Gather GVL or classy restaurants such as Urban Wren; both of which I’ve had the pleasure of performing at. Persian restaurant Pomegranate on Main is a favorite of mine as well. You’ll likely see busking musicians and street performers throughout Downtown Greenville, which is how I got my start years ago, so don’t forget to show some support! Biking throughout Unity Park and the trails within Greenville is a favorite activity as well, which includes plenty of cafes, shops, and beautiful views along the way.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
FAMILY – First and foremost, I’d like to give credit and thanks to my parents, James and Holly. It’s well known that the music industry is a path full of struggle and hardship. Despite this, they have been continuously supportive of my career choice.
FRIENDS – There have been times when I’m performing live and a familiar face will unexpectedly show up to attend the gig. It’s a truly special feeling when friends make an active effort to show support.
MUSES – Fingerstyle guitarists, such as Eddie van der Meer, are the ones who sparked my drive years ago, inspiring me to take my guitar skills to the next level. Music production icon, Andrew Huang, is another massive inspiration for me. Taking classes taught by him was an experience that significantly accelerated both my skill and passion for the field.

Website: https://kk.productions

Instagram: Kennedy Kole (@_kk.productions)

Youtube: Kennedy Kole Productions (@kk.productions)

Image Credits
Photos by Davey Morgan Photography
Logo by Violet Sanders