The Keyboard Chronicles

Kenny Hensley talks on his career with The Head and The Heart and more broadly. We chat on the story behind the band’s formation, Kenny’s development as a songwriter and player, the democratic approach to maintaining band harmony,  and hear about an on-stage train wreck that most of us will sympathise with.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Kenny’s musical upbringing

A great overview of The Head and The Heart in their own words

Sub Pop Records

The formation of The Head and The Heart

The Head and the Heart – Down in the Valley

The Head and The Heart – Ghosts

The recording of the first (selef-titled) The Head and The Heart album

Perry Watts-Russell

The initial touring experiences touring with bands like Death Cab For Cutie and My Morning Jacket.

How the democratic approach of the band has helped band harmony

Keeping things interesting and creative in a matured band

The Head and The Heart – After The Setting Sun

Kenny’s touring keyboard rig

The Roland FP-7

Kenny’s on-stage train wreck

Tag a keyboard player: Zach Miller, Dr. Dog.

Desert Island Discs: Beatles albums wall to wall (due to a technical glitch we lost Kenny’s audio for a while and didn’t come back to the DSD discussion but he did say in an ideal world it’d be all Beatles albums).

Key links:

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Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Kenny Hensley, The Head and The Heart appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Peter Manning Robinson is a pianist and composer who also has developed his own piano (the Refractor piano). On top of those amazing achievements he’s needed to overcome some major obstacles to continue playing at a high level. We cover all that and more in this fascinating conversation.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Peter’s past 12 months

Peter’s latest album – Excursions

Peter Manning Robinson – Initiation

Peter’s upcoming feature film

A discussion on the good and the not so good of film and TV composition

Peter’s childhood and playing the piano at age 3

The brilliant Ernie Watts and Freddie Hubbard

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

A discussion on resilience, harsh feedback and finding your own space within music

Learning how to tour and perform in a band 

The creative link between cooking and music

The development of tendonitis and the three-year journey to recovery

Professor Phil Cohen

Translating emotions to playing

Development of the Refractor Piano

Peter in action with the Refractor Piano

Desert Island Discs: None – explanation provided by Peter on the show.

Key links:

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Buy some keyboard related merchandise





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Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Peter Manning Robinson, Pianist and Composer appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Cory Henry is one of the most innovative and dynamic players of the past 20 years, and hot off the release of his latest album Devotion, we were thrilled to spend some time getting his perspective on his evolution as an artist, the challenges of being an independent artist, and plenty of keyboard talk.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Cory Henry – Devotion

The making of Devotion

Cory Henry – Make A Way

Key references and inspirations, including Andraé Crouch and Walter Hawkins

Cory Henry – The Revival

The approach to recording Devotion at Henson Studio

Robert ‘Sput’ Searight

Cory Henry – Spirit

The analog keyboard approach to recording Devotion

Thoughts on genres and secular vs spiritual music

Cory in action with Kenny Garrett

Cory’s thoughts on soloing

A discussion on the iconic solo in Lingus when performing with Snarky Puppy

The challenges of being the front-person and the grind of being an independent artist

On singing more and adjusting playing to match

Stevie Wonder playing with Cory on Something Happens

Some thoughts for younger keyboard players 

Desert Island Discs: Songs in the Key of Life – Stevie Wonder, What’s Going On – Marvin Gaye, Voodoo – D’Angelo, 1 – The Beatles, Devotion – Cory Henry

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





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Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Cory Henry, Solo Artist / The Funk Apostles appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Zac Rae has been Death Cab for Cutie’s keyboard/guitar player for more than 1o years, with previous touring or session stints with Macy Gray, Alanis Morrissett, Leonard Cohen and Morrisey to name just four. In addition, Zac has a prolific and ongoing career in film, TV and other collaborations.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

Zac’s past 12 months

Death Cab for Cutie’s latest album, I Built You A Tower

Death Cab for Cutie – Trap Door

Death Cab for Cutie – Riptides

Death Cab for Cutie in action live, 2026

Death Cab for Cutie Tiny Desk Concert

Zac’s musical upbringing

Eileen Rowe – Piano Teacher

Zac’s ‘weird shit’ keyboards and accessories

Playing and touring with Macy Gray and Alanis Morissette

Zac playing with Macy Gray in 2001 at the Grammys

Zac’s keyboard rig with Alanis Morrissette

A memorable on-stage train wreck

Working on Leonard Cohen albums – You Want It Darker and Thanks for the Dance

A discussion on the relationship between guitar and keyboards

Brett Dennen – Hope For The Hopeless

Brett Dennen – Loverboy

Early Winters – Early Winters

Joey Waronker, Luke Reynolds, Zac Rae – Proof

Working with Morrissey

Morrissey – Some Say I Got Devil

Joining Death Cab for Cutie

Love of Benmont Tench’s approach

Death Cab for Cutie – Title and Registration

Death Cab for Cutie – Gold Rush

Zac’s Death Cab for Cutie keyboard rig

Desert Island Discs: Odyssey and Oracle – The Zombies, Head Hunters – Herbie Hancock, Spilt Milk – Jellyfish, The Shutov Assembly – Brian Eno, Syro – Aphex Twin

Thumbnail photos via  the brilliant Brynn Osborn and Joshua Halling

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Zac Rae, Death Cab for Cutie appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.

Ivan Doroschuk has been making great synth pop/rock songs for more than 40 years, and as founder of Men Without Hats remains a live performance powerhouse in addition to regular releases of new material. In this episode we chat on Ivan’s career, approach to composition and his favourite synths of all time.

To listen / watch:


Audio-only: click on the play button in the audio player above, or:

Video: watch the embedded video below or check it and previous episodes out on our YouTube Channel




Discussion topics covered during the show (links will open in new tab):  

The past 12 months for Men Without Hats

Upcoming Australian tour

Men Without Hats in action in 2026

Men Without Hats’ latest album: On The Moon

Ivan’s musical upbringing

The formation of Men Without Hats as part of the Montreal punk scene

Moving to the synth based Men Without Hats we know

Developing the Men Without Hats sound and the ‘no sequencer’ approach

The Korg MS-20

Origins of The Safety Dance

Ivan’s key keyboard player / composer influences

Ivan’s solo album – The Spell

The evolution of Ivan’s home studio

The 1980s version of Men Without Hats’ keyboard rig to today.

The Yamaha QX1

A Men Without Hats train wreck story

Desert Island Discs: Foxtrot – Genesis, Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield, Obscured by Clouds – Pink Floyd, You – Gong, Autobahn – Kraftwerk 

Key links:

Become a member of our YouTube channel and receive extra content

Buy some keyboard related merchandise





Drop us a line via the website, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok or LinkedIn

Complete our audience survey to help us improve!





Check out our podcast guest playlist on Spotify to get a taste of each guest’s creations.
The post Ivan Doroschuk, Men Without Hats appeared first on The Keyboard Chronicles.