If you like rock, metal, or are just looking for a new artist to listen to, then Gavin Kennedy is your guy.

With the release of his debut album, Sunchaser, Kennedy works to bring progressive rock more to the mass music circuit. Not only does he play a variety of instruments, but he has the technical knowledge to also produce and mix his own music. He worked collaboratively with Adam "Nolly" Getgood, known in the metal and bass/guitar world, on production and he even had Dan Mumford, who's done artwork for Harry Potter and Star Wars, create his album artwork. I got the chance to ask Kennedy a few questions to get to know him and his music a little bit better:

Question 1. How do you think being surrounded by record company executives for the first two years of your life shaped you as a musician?

Answer: It's been great having so much expertise surrounding me in Nashville, but one thing I'm quite proud of, pertaining to my first album Sunchaser, is how truly independent the project was from start to finish. Although it was initially very challenging to bring together the experts that ended up working on the album, not having any requirements or mandated objectives throughout the process allowed for an uninhibited creative exploration throughout every step, and I believe the relaxed environment as a result of this, contributed hugely to the success of the final product.

Answer: For any musician, the fact that we live in a day and age where you can educate yourself to a marvelous extent and record a studio quality album out of a bedroom is incredibly exciting. I think all of this potential has allowed a lot of DIY creators to take an idea from conception to a finished product all by themselves. To me, this DIY mentality is such a great way to tap into creativity that is very honest with self and develops those ideas so that, when the time comes to work with others, you have a very clear vision of what the creation is meant to be.

Answer: I think my "sound" is actually something I am still in pursuit of, but in terms of finding my genre, I've always preferred to just appreciate good music, regardless of type. I think I tend to be drawn toward the progressive music scene more than others because it seems to be the most genre-less genre; I've always loved the massive variety of sounds and influences, and that's something I try to incorporate into my music as well.

Answer: Yeah, it was amazing! To be honest I've always appreciated the idea of learning from mentors and getting as much real-world experience as possible; it seems to be what works best for me, so I was so excited once opportunity started presenting itself during my gap year. It's very hard to summarize everything I've gained from my mentors, but one common thing that is shared between all of them is an unbelievable work ethic. It's not just showing up and doing your job, but pushing yourself to bring out something within you that you didn't know was there.

Answer: Working with Nolly was as awesome of an experience as I could have ever hoped for and more. Honestly, it was more fun than it was "work" for me, and I learned so much from him by going through the entire recording process with him. His professionalism made the experience and product more than I could've done so by myself.

Answer: Honestly, anyone taking anything away at all would be amazing to me. Since the entire album is instrumental, I think it's wide open to use and interpretation, so whether it be something to muse over or just a hype song on the way to the gym, any time this music spends with people would be a huge honor for me.

Question 7: What is the best thing you've taken away from curating this album?

Answer: The list of great things the past two years have given me truly goes on and on, but to summarize it concisely, I think I've grown massively as a creator and musician, and I'm forever grateful to have met and befriended the amazing people I've had the privilege to work with along the way.

Answer: No matter where you are in your creative development, I think it's so important, to be honest with yourself and keep trying things until you find what works. I believe the purpose of creation is to reflect the creator, and the more honest you can be with yourself will get you closer to finding your creative self.

Whether you're a fan of progressive rock or not, Kennedy's spin on it is one you'll be blown away by.