Some people are proclaiming the return of the keytar. A few, on the other hand, dismiss the fad as just another momentary fascination with an odd instrument thanks to YouTube and the few geeks who like to write blog posts about it.
It’s hard to tell at this point, really. On the one hand, there is a resurgence of young, fresh bands who regularly feature a keytarist on their roster. On the other, there are absolutely no new keytars being produced with Roland deciding to shut down the AX-7 model in 2007.
These bands think the keytar is here to stay and have carved out an odd niche because it.
Cobra Starship
One of the fastest-rising of the new breed of keytar-infused musical acts, Cobra Starship features keytarist Victoria Asher. Their most notable single is the US-Modern Rock charting song, “Bring It (Snakes On A Plane)”. They’ve released two studio albums and were included in three compilation albums, to date.
Family Force 5
FF5 is a Christian band that plays part electronica, part nu metal and part new punk, calling their style “crossover crunk rock”. Much of their music is lighthearted and catchy, making ample use of synthesizers and power chords. Nathan Currin dons the keytar for the band, along with a helping of other audio instruments, from turntables to percussions.
Mute Math
Playing an eclectic range of genres, from standard rock pieces to noisy electronic numbers, Mute Math became notable for showcasing the keytar via the energetic stage posturing of frontman and keytarist Paul Meany.
Other Notable Acts
A few other noteworthy bands that take to stage with a keytar in tow include Hello Operator, Shychild, Imogen Heap, So So Modern and Love You Long Time. Even Justin Timberlake occasionally played a keytar during his concerts. Additionally, who can forget Borat’s 2007 music video duet with Croatian keytarist Belinda Bedekovic?
While the list of keytar acts isn’t changing the musical landscape anytime soon, they’re steadily growing. Who knows, instrument-makers might even begin cranking out updated versions soon if the demands continues to hold.
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