Kenny Kakaty is a 20-year-old musician from Nashville, Tennessee. Kenny grew up in Saratoga Springs, New York, but has also lived in San Diego, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Marco Island, Florida. He moved from Marco Island to Tennessee, where he is studying music business at Belmont University. He is currently a sophomore and makes money as a gigging artist. He plays on Broadway with his band, Cay and Co.
What first got you into music?
“I first started playing music at age four, when my parents signed me up for piano lessons. When I was eight years old, the number one item on my Christmas list was a guitar. On Christmas morning, I woke up to a Fender Squier Stratocaster. I soon fell in love with the guitar, and took lessons from Jay Dizacomo, commonly referred to as “Diz,” for about 6-7 years. Since then, it’s been my greatest passion.”
Who inspires you to write music?
“My original inspiration was John Mayer. I’m really a fan of his guitar-playing style, his songwriting, and his singing. My biggest guitar and songwriting inspirations currently are Gregory Alan Isakov and Marcus King.”
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
“When I’m writing alone, I write mostly soft, acoustic content, but when I’m creating music with other songwriters, I usually put down jazzy licks with my electric guitar for them to write over.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process varies depending on if I’m alone, or with another artist. When I’m alone, I sit in the dark, come up with something on the guitar, and then write lyrics over it. If I’m with another musician, or in a circle of writers, it’s usually in a writer’s room, or at someone’s house. In Nashville, everyone in a writer’s room gets an equal split, or equal percentage, whether they put in all the work, or only put in one word. I’ll come up with a lick, riff, or progression on guitar, and then Cay, my partner in music, will write lyrics over the top.”
What instruments do you play?
“I began playing piano at age four. I took drums in third grade, but I would not call myself a drummer. I’m very comfortable with the guitar, but I’ve also played mandolin and banjo on several tracks now. I can pretty much play anything that’s got a fretboard. Aside from gigging with my band, I have also played guitar at church, and have performed the National Anthem at numerous events. ”
How did your band form?
“When we first played at Ole Red, we didn’t even have a band. I was at work, when this singer, Cay Aliese, asked me if I could assemble a band to play a four-hour gig starting in thirty minutes. Ole Red, Blake Shelton’s bar, had reached out to Cay because someone had canceled on them at the last minute. So I called up a buddy of mine, Bryston; Cay found Chris, a drummer; and we seized the opportunity. We played a four-hour set, not having ever played together before. Now, we play there every month. Our band is now called Cay and Co. Our bass player is Miles Connor, and our drummer is Caleb Houston. They’re both incredibly talented. The lead singer is Cay Aliese, a 25 year-old vocal powerhouse with two kids. She’s supporting a whole family with the music we’re doing. She’s awesome.”
What do you feel like your strengths are as a musician?
I consider my strengths to lie in the areas of musicianship, musical arrangements, creativity, and live performances. I also enjoy working and collaborating with other people, whether it’s on stage or from a creation standpoint.
What is it about music that makes you passionate?
“There is an atmosphere created when one connects with another through music. There’s a bond that forms while you’re playing, almost as if you are in a bubble with the other musicians.”
What is your favorite Nashville venue to perform at?
“My favorite Nashville venue I’ve performed at is called The End. I played a one-off with Jack Hazel, a keyboard player. We also had a saxophone player and an organ player in the band. It was a packed small venue with over 60 people in this tiny little area. We rocked the house. My other favorite is Tin Roof, in Raleigh, North Carolina. We’ve played at multiple Tin Roof locations, including Raleigh, North Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nashville, Tennessee, Delray, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky, Columbia, South Carolina, St. Louis, Missouri, and Lexington, Kentucky. Ole Red and Tin Roof are the main venues that we perform at. We’ve also played at Layer Cake and DawgHouse Saloon in Nashville, and Hotshotz Bar & Grill in Smyrna, Tennessee.
What is your favorite guitar that you own?
“When I was ten, I was gifted a Godin Session. It was the second guitar I had ever owned, and was built similar to my first guitar, a Stratocaster. I named my new guitar Lisa, and even wrote a song about it. Over the summer, I locked myself in my room and spent eight hours a day working on honing my craft. That summer marks where I first fell in love with the guitar. My favorite guitar is now a black 1996 Fender Stratocaster, with a black pickguard and a maple fretboard. Its name is Ava.”
What are your goals, music-wise, for the next 10 years?
“My main goal is to make a living playing music and pursuing my passion. I envision myself going on tour with a notable artist. I would like to find a comfortable way to live, where I can play music during the day, and come home to my future family in Franklin, Tennessee each night.”
Are you planning to release music soon?
“I have plenty of new music coming in 2024. I plan to drop an EP with some nice acoustic content this year. I am currently involved with songs that were written in writer’s rooms that will be released soon, with artists like Cay Alise, our lead singer, and Kaitlyn Dorf, whose father wrote songs for George Strait. Liam Von Elbe, one of my best buddies in Nashville, has some new music coming out that we’ve worked on together. I am working with some awesome producers and shopping songs to a variety of artists, so I am confident there will be new content released in the upcoming months.”
What advice would you give for budding musicians who want to get their music out there?
“Don’t wait. Keep trying. It’s all about repetition, putting the time in, and honing your craft. Put content out there as much as possible. Say yes to everything. Take any opportunities you can get.”
Contact or follow Kenny Kakaty on:
Music Instagram account- kenny.kakaty
Facebook- Kenny Kakaty
