Poolbar Festival 2026: Kiefer

Kiefer is a central figure in the diverse independent music scene of Los Angeles. His sound fuses various modalities of Black American Music, from jazz and R&B to hip-hop and electronic music.

Kiefer grew up in San Diego, California, immersed in jazz by his father at a young age, and later experimented with hip-hop-inspired beats in high school. While studying jazz piano at UCLA, Kiefer got his education in beats from attending shows at Low End Theory and collaborating with other artists in the scene.

Hard-hitting beats, complex jazz voicings and sentimental melodies all fed into Kiefer’s debut, Kickinit Alone, released on Leaving Records in 2017. Soon after, Kiefer signed to Stones Throw and released two LPs: Happysad (2018), and When There’s Love Around (2021).

Outside of his solo work, Kiefer has recorded with artists such as Drake, Kaytranada, Sir, and Terrace Martin, and produced for Anderson .Paak on his Grammy Award winning record, “Ventura”.

Kiefer at his core is both emotional and an optimist, which is why his songs resonate on a wide spectrum of emotion. His ethos is about feeling encouraged, empowered, and full of gratitude, reminding listeners through his music, “this is a beautiful life.”