RG: Which guitarists have had the greatest influence on your playing style, and how have they shaped your approach to music?

BK: Two musicians that come to mind who have influenced me as a guitarist are probably a little unconventional. But when I get this question I always think of Paul Simon, and Paul McCartney. My parents played Paul Simon’s Graceland album hundreds of times when I was little and learning music. The richness of the instrumentation and production of that album really helped shape my identity as a musician and song-writer. Paul McCartney is a lefty so obviously I connected with that. But I love his simple whimsy as a songwriter. He makes music fun, and I believe the purpose of music is to make you feel good. Other guitarists I look up to are Nile Rodgers, Trey Anastasio, John Mayer, Mark Speer, Lindsay Buckingham and Sam Beam. I’m primarily a rhythm guitarist, so guitarists that play really well in the pocket inspire me most.

RG: When did you start playing guitar, and do you currently play any other instruments?

BK: My dad taught me to play guitar when I was 4-5 years old. My dad has been a gigging musician for 50+ years. When I was little, I had this toy plastic guitar with only 4 strings. I remember asking my dad to “tune” it for me constantly and he would tune it to the bottom 4 strings of a guitar, and taught me how to play simple chords on it. Eventually, he bought me a kid’s guitar, and I’ve been playing ever since. I played double bass and saxophone in high school, but probably piano is my strongest instrument other than the guitar. I do most of my writing on the piano first, before bringing it to the guitar and other instruments.

RG: How did you first discover the Jake Blade, and what was your experience like the first time you used one on your guitar?

BK: Actually, Justin Behn (lead guitar for The Textures and February 2025 RoughGauge Featured Artist) introduced it to me. Our band played at Summer Camp Music Festival in 2021, and we got the chance to see Umphrey’s McGee. Justin pointed out that Jake Cinninger uses a tremolo that’s a lot more compact and more subtle than a normal whammy bar. I had been wanting a trem that could just provide me with a small pitch warble rather than dive bombs. Being a rhythm player, I’m mostly looking to provide color to chord patterns with tremolo. So when I began researching the Jake Blade, I realized it was just what I had been looking for.

RG: In what ways has using the Jake Blade enhanced your playing or changed your sound?

BK: When I’m playing rhythm guitar, I’m looking for a more subtle flutter in pitch rather than half-step or full-step bends. I keep my bridge on the tight side, and that allows me to sort of shake the Jake Blade during sustained chords to get the sound I’m looking for. I like that it adds color to my playing without making the notes sound out of tune.

RG: What’s your go-to guitar for most of your playing, and what makes it special to you?

BK: I’m left-handed, so I don’t really have the luxury of buying, trading, or trying out different guitars very often. Basically, every guitar I own has been a lifelong purchase for me. In 2023, I worked with a custom guitar builder in Slovenia called Magic Attic to create a guitar perfect for me. I call it “The Falcon,” and it has a handmade falcon inlay at the 12th fret. The specs are a blend between a Strat and a PRS, and it’s a combination of Ash and Walnut. It’s super thin and super light which really allows me to feel it as an extension of my body. I had been using my Jake Blade in my PRS before I got The Falcon, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Jake Blade fit!

RG: Are there any exciting new projects or collaborations on the horizon that fans should look forward to?

BK: Our band, The Textures, is releasing our third album, “Perennials,” on April 20th. You can find all of our music on any major streaming service. We’re also excited to be travelling all around the Midwest this year and getting in front of new audiences.

This Month's Featured Artist

Ben Kays