Lee McKinney, the talented guitarist and songwriter of the American metal band Born of Osiris recounts his journey from being a seventeen-year-old professional musician to overcoming substance addiction that led to a coma. He offers insightful discussion on developing unique artistic voice, the significance of discipline, parallels between martial arts and music, and the value of quality over quantity in social media. Underscoring the importance of authenticity, perseverance, and maintaining an influential circle of peers, he touches on his signature Kiesel guitar line and encourages others to cultivate their experiences into art.
Episode Highlights:
35:02 Navigating Life Changes and Finding Stability in Music
37:55 The Evolution of a Musician’s Career and the Impact of Technology
50:18 The Balance Between Artistic Integrity and Audience Expectations
52:56 The Role of Adversity in Shaping a Musician’s Career
01:10:41 Rediscovering the Warrior Ethos
01:11:43 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Fear
01:13:53 The Influence of Martial Arts on Music
01:15:18 The Inspiration from Musashi and Martial Arts
01:17:45 The Intersection of Martial Arts and Music
01:20:37 The Impact of Adversity on Personal Growth
Lee McKinney is best known as the guitarist and composer of the progressive metal band Born of Osiris. He produces, records, and engineers out of Osiris Studios. Born Lee Patrick McKinney on April 24, 1989, he grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Lee picked up the guitar at age 10 and knew immediately that music was his passion. To that end, he began practicing up to 6-10 hours a day in effort to become the most he could be at his instrument. Some of his early influences include Randy Rhoads, Eric Johnson, Dimebag Darrell, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Ray Vaughan, Joe Satriani, and more.
You can hear more from Lee on YouTube at: youtube.com/c/leemckinney
