Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

Just me right now. I sing and play guitar.

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to this? How long have you been around?

I've actually never been in a band before! In high school I tried to form some bands but they never came to fruition, sometimes only practicing once or twice. I was a bit overzealous about the whole thing. I started playing for the first time July 2016, so I'm very new to this.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

The origin of the name comes from my parents who named me when I was born 27 years ago! I thought about changing the name to some quirky word or phrase, but my last name is so different that it sticks out since there aren't a TON of us Kekic's in the world, or at least in the US.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

I write everything! The songs vary in topics. I have one song about arguing with people who pick fights for the sake of arguing. I have another about using social media as a platform to vent while people judge you, rather than help you. I write about whatever intense feelings I'm having at the time. For the longest time when I started, I would avoid writing anything about relationships, love, crushes, etc. In the past few months I've started doing that a little bit, which is how I know the topics will change over time.

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

Pet Symmetry, Hiccup, Coping Skills, Slingshot Dakota, and Girlpool. I don't think you can really hear any of these bands in my music, but they do have some great vibes I could only strive for.

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start playing?

I've been a big fan of The Donnas, Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, and many more indie and DIY bands since I was 13 or so, and The Monkees since I was 10. Music has been in my blood in one way or another since I was a kid, even in school with the flute, so the drive was there. But once I heard Letters to Cleo, The Donnas, Sleater-Kinney, and many other relatively related bands, I felt like everything made sense. I didn't end up playing in front of people until many years later for a multitude of reasons. Going back and listening to the bands I grew up with, plus local bands I love, I was inspired to start going for it. So I did.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

I try to think through the first few words of the songs I'm playing, while breathing deeply to calm my nerves.

What has been the biggest highlight of the your career so far?

I've been very lucky and all of the bands I've played with have been pretty dang great. These shows have been solid, but I have to say the most recent one I played (me, Toma Doe, Soft Girls, Half An Animal at Hive Mind in Akron) was the kind of show I've been missing for a long time. Every band killed it, there was so much cameraderie, everyone was dancing, everything felt unified. Right now, that's what I need and what a lot of people need. It was beautiful. So my biggest highlight so far was finding that feeling, which honestly is what playing shows is all about!

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?

Ohhh boy this is a doosey of a question! Hmm, Sleater-Kinney because I cried when they broke up and cried when they got back together. Girlpool because their music hits me right in the heart. The Donnas because Allison Robertson inspired me to play guitar. Slingshot Dakota because I love Carly and the band represents everything I love in DIY. Hiccup because I love dancing to their music. Half An Animal because their music is like a modern day Le Tigre playing an episode of The Chris Gethard Show's early years. Pet Symmetry because they're the first modern day DIY band I fell in love with when I started going to local shows a few years ago.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I have two shows coming up:

May 20th at It's a Kling Thing in Akron, OH with Personal Space and Runaway Brother
June 11th at Mahall's in Lakewood, OH with Forth Wanderers and Shannen Moser
I have a bandcamp, http://kekic.bandcamp.com. I'm currently working on an EP so I can replace those pesky demos with some better soundin' tunes!