From American Idol to Fatherhood, John K is Ready for First Headlining Tour

John Keyser has always gravitated towards music that sticks to a person. Whether he's writing songs for a rainy day when you need it the most or to supplement the sunniest moments, the artist, known professionally as John K, aims to be a musician you can look back on fondly.

As a child in South Florida, Keyser grew up with drums in the living room and karaoke nights with loved ones. Although he didn't sing as a high schooler, he gained the confidence as a twenty-year-old to start singing solo and fell in love with it.

"I was always playing something like piano [and] singing, but it was never a focal point until much later," says Keyser.

Just two years later, Keyser would be featured in the eleventh season of American Idol, in which he made it to the Las Vegas Rounds. The following season, Keyser reached the quarterfinals and released his 2012 debut EP, From Where I Stand.

Keyser describes the years between 2012 and 2017 as him "recentering" his art, marking his return to music with his new stage name "John.K" and the 2017 song "OT." In April 2019, the singer-songwriter released his EP if we never met, with the title track making the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming RIAA certified gold and platinum in 2020.

"I didn't really understand how a song can [impact people] and what that meant," Keyser reflects. "COVID was the catalyst to shutting things down, but that gave me time to find out what my relationship with the industry and my growing family was."

After collaborations with such artists as Kelsea Ballerini and touring with OneRepublic, Keyser released in case you miss me in 2021 and dropped solo tracks once in a while. In the following four years, Keyser became a husband, father of two and went on a journey to finding faith.

His third project, Salt + Light, reflects on how fatherhood has influenced his songwriting and music. Keyser says when he is home with his family, he is fully present and grounded. When he takes his talents on the road, he is chasing his life-long passion: music. The contrast between spaces, experiences and stories is what makes the album special.

"[Fatherhood] has deepened my relation to music," he says. "My relationship with my kids has allowed me to put a distance between [myself] and the music because I have to switch my brain over to be their dad and I can't be perfectionist mode when they need me to be there for them."

The studio album's first track, titled "Ego Death," was written a day after Keyser got baptized in 2022. Not only did the artist have fun writing the lyrics, but the experience "broke the mold" for Keyser's conception of who he was supposed to be as an artist. Songs like "Honey" and "Love Of My Life" play with different sounds like intimate acoustics, funky bass and sweet harmonies. Yet, at the core of Salt + Light and John K is love's role and impact on society on a daily basis.

"This album, to me, is just the beginning of a totally different way of thinking going to the creative [mindset]," Keyser says.

The Salt + Light Tour: Part 1 kicked off on July 31 in Seattle and comes to Larimer Lounge on Sunday, August 10. Keyser describes the concert as "the best show that I've ever put on [with] high energy, good dynamics and amazing acoustic moments."

"To be three albums deep now and we're just touring for first time, it's an unbelievable city to tap back into," he says of Denver. "I want to make it a staple for my touring career. I hope to be in Denver a lot because I genuinely love [the city] and want to have reasons to come back. Just grateful for the fan base that's building there."

John K, 7 p.m. Sunday, August 10, Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer Street. Tickets are $24.60-$27.60.