New Audio: Kiefer Teams Up with Tony Stone, Erick The Architect and CARRTOONS on Soulful, Introspective “NewLevels NewDevils”

Los Angeles-based acclaimed pianist and producer Kiefer Shackelford, a.k.a. Kiefer was raised in San Diego by parents, who were both aerospace engineers and keen pianists, who both influenced him in their own way: His mother taught him at a very young age how to read music and play piano, starting with simple Bach minuets. His father was a huge jazz head, and a fan big fan of Blue Note Records in particular. who released albums by Sonny Clark and Gene Harris.

Shacklelord would endlessly listen to Kind of Blue and after reading Miles Davis‘ biography when he was 13, he knew that he wanted to become a jazz musician. During high school, he studied jazz piano with a local teacher and went to attend UCLA, where Blue Note recording artist and legendary guitarist Kenny Burrell, who was head of the school’s jazz program, became one of his tutors throughout his studies.

After completing his studies, Shackelford signed to Stones Throw Records, where he quickly established his musical identity and gained attention with a series of releases including 2018’s Happysad, 2021’s Between Days and 2023’s It’s Okay B U. Adding to a growing profile, he has collaborated with Dr. Dre, De La Soul, Pete Rock, Anderson .Paak, Terrace Martin and a growing list of others. He’s also a member of the collective FATHERS with Ben “CARRTOONS” Carr, Nate Smith and producer Kenneth Blume, who recently released their self-titled debut on Blue Note.

2026 will continue to be a busy year for the acclaimed pianist: His fourth album, and Blue Note Records debut, the Kiefer, Shibo, and CARRTOONS co-produced Memory Bomb is slated for a September 25, 2026 release. The album will feature guest spots from Tony Stone, Erick The Architect, CARRTOONS, Nate Smith, Walter Smith III, Cisco Swank, Relyae, Rae Khalil, Moonchild‘s Amber Navarn, Planet Giza, and more.

Long considered one of Los Angeles’ best kept musical secrets, Kiefer has been described as a musician, who doesn’t just play keys with his fingers, but his soul. He’s a truly gifted artist, who has actively redefined that sweet spot between jazz improvisation and hip-hop beat making through a distinctive musical style, which he calls “Over The Breaks,” which reaches new heights of creativity on Memory Bomb.

The acclaimed Los Angeles-based artist is a believer in embracing new inferences and new styles through collaboration with others — and that’s where the journey to his first Blue Note bandleader album began. His first priority was to get his two best friends — CARRTOONS and Shibo — to co-produce the album with him, as they completely understood his sound, his harmonic sensibility and both are extremely adept at drum programming. The innovation through collaboration mindset extended to the inclusion of a talented cast of vocalist, rappers and musicians in interesting combinations, The result was something new and exciting while still sounding like a Kiefer-led project.

The album’s title, Memory Bomb is a poetic and metaphoric way of saying a dream. For Keifer, there are three types of dreams/memory bombs, the sort you experience when you sleep, the wishful longing type and the ambitious type — and those themes populate the direction of many of the album’s songs. Throughout the album’s runtime, there is a lyrical feel with the album’s material telling a story. It’s wistful, poetic and groove-driven, centered around the sensation of being in a dreamscape. And because of the material’s improvisational moments, the story changes every time the listener listens to it.

Memory Bomb‘s first single “NewLevels NewDevils” features Tony Stone, Erick The Architect and CARRTOONS. Tony Stone and Erick The Architect trade introspective, seemingly lived-in verses beneath a strutting, warm and soulful, groove-driven arrangement that effortlessly bridges neo-soul, jazz and hip-hop with a looping, twinkling piano figure paired a supple bass line, twinkling synths and boom bap beats. The song is one-part nostalgia, one-part waking from a half-remembered dream.

Kiefer recently announced a Fall North American tour that will kick off on October 1, 2026 following the inaugural Over The Breaks, a new festival curated by the pianist and producer that will take place at the Lodge Room in Los Angeles on September 18, 2026- September 19, 2026 featuring a line-up that includes GENA (Karriem Riggins + Liv.e), CARRTOONS, Luke Titus, Shibo, and more. Find more info at kiefermusic.com. The tour includes an October 2, 2026 stop at Elsewhere. Check out the rest of he tour dates below.

KIEFER – TOUR DATES:

Sept. 18-19 – Over The Breaks – Los Angeles, CA

Oct. 1 – Arts at The Armory – Boston, MA

Oct. 2 – Elsewhere – New York, NY

Oct. 3 – Songbyrd Music House – Washington DC

Oct. 5 – The Drake Hotel – Toronto, ONT

Oct. 7 – The Alluvion – Traverse City, MI

Oct. 8 – Bop Stop – Cleveland, OH

Oct. 9 – Sleeping Village – Chicago, IL

Oct. 10 – Icehouse – Minneapolis, MN

Oct. 13 – Dazzle – Denver, CO

Oct. 16 – Nectar Lounge (Earshot Jazz Festival) – Seattle, WA

Oct. 17 – Star Theater – Portland, OR

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