Former My Dear Disco Guitarist will take the Stage at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival

by Amanda Slater

“I love music. I would like to play it for my whole life. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it,” says Theo Katzman, singer/songwriter and former My Dear Disco guitarist.

Katzman comes from a long line of musicians. His father, Lee Katzman, was formerly a studio trumpet player in

“I’ve always been more of a songwriter, and I didn’t feel like I was really able to get that kind of sound out with the band.”

Los Angeles and a member of the Tonight Show band. And his mother, although not a professional musician, sings. His grandfather played principal flute in the Detroit symphony, and his grandmother was a concert pianist.

Despite his musical roots, Katzman says, “I wasn’t one of those kids who grew up at age two playing guitar. I didn’t start until later, like most kids.”

However, he says that his upbringing “instilled a love for [music] that I can’t quite seem to get away from.”

Katzman attended the University of Michigan, where he majored in jazz and contemplative studies. He says that he pursued a degree in music with the primary hope that he would meet some “great musician friends”—which he did, in the form of Tyler Duncan and Christian Carpenter—co-founding members of the band My Dear Disco.

My Dear Disco eventually reached seven members, solidified the band’s signature sound and began gaining momentum, eventually performing alongside bands such as the Dave Matthews Band and Wilco at 10,000 Lakes Festival. However, over time, Katzman began to consider breaking off from the band to pursue a solo career.

“I had a bit of a different aesthetic direction. I love electronic music, and I love dance music, but I’ve always been more of a songwriter, and I didn’t feel like I was really able to get that kind of sound out with the band,” he says. “Eventually I decided that I needed to take a leap.”

Katzman departed from My Dear Disco and headed into somewhat uncharted territory, pursing a solo project that he has been nurturing for the past year.

“I’ve been doing gigs here and there and made a few trips to the east coast. I went to Wisconsin. I’ve visited the Midwest and Chicago. Rockwood Music Hall in New York was awesome,” he says—although he says that he still considers the Ark in Ann Arbor to be one of his favorite venues.

“I think we take it for granted because it’s a local venue, but it’s an awesome place,” he says.

Thus, it’s no surprise that Katzman is looking forward to performing at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival.

“I’m totally excited, to say the least,” he says.

Katzman has yet to record a full length solo album (he currently has a four song EP featuring solo acoustic guitar and vocals that can be purchased at shows), but says that he hopes to release such an album in the summer or fall of 2011. However, the songs that are featured on his EP are both peppy and catchy, with a positive vibe.

“I’m a percussive guitar player, which gives [my music] an upbeat feeling. I’m also a pretty happy person, despite attempts at being less that way in order to be more of an artist or something,” he says.

Katzman’s positive vibes seem to spill over into his everyday life as well. He teaches drums, guitar and bass at the Ann Arbor Music Center, where he says that he enjoys being around the youth.

“I like to be around and work with kids in music. That’s a joy for me. I have a four year old drum student who is really very good,” he says.

He thinks that giving back, particularly when it comes to education, is very important and directly affects virtually every major issue.

“I had some really good teachers, and I know it made all the difference. […] I aspire to inspire in that way,” he says. “I want people to know that they have an outlet in music. I think it’s definitely pointed me in the right direction several times in my life when I could have probably done other stuff that would have been not so cool. I think [music] can change your life for the better. And the more smiles we have out here, the better.”

Katzman lives in Ann Arbor, which he says he enjoys.

“I think Michigan, and in particular, Ann Arbor, is a really friendly, welcoming artistic community of people who are optimistic and participatory,” he says. “I feel that the arts in Ann Arbor are inclusive, so it’s a great place for people to exist creatively and find what they want to do and pursue.”

And, he says that other than the Ann Arbor Music Center, his favorite area hangout is Washtenaw Dairy.

“They have the best doughnuts in the world. I’m talking real, fried cake doughnuts that are deep fried, but not overdone—just perfect, melt in your mouth,” he says. “I know that they are the best doughnuts. Few things have as much certainty for me.

Katzman will be playing at the Ann Arbor Folk Festival on Friday, January 28, where he says he is going to “put it all out there” during his performance. He will also be playing his first headlining show at the Ark on March 11. For more information, or to listen to some of his songs for free, visit www.theokatzman.com.