Igor Keller

Igor Keller is the creative force behind Longboat, a band project that blurs the line between solo artistry and collaborative ensemble. While Keller often performs and records much of the music himself, many albums have featured live musicians who, during the recording process, become part of the ever-evolving band known as Longboat. This dynamic approach has allowed Keller to release an extraordinary 32 albums to date—each one pushing musical and conceptual boundaries.

Originally a jazz tenor saxophonist active in Seattle’s rich jazz scene, Keller’s artistic journey shifted with the changing tides of the genre. After a period writing film scores, he found his voice in pop music—not the mainstream kind, but a uniquely sharp, satirical, and exploratory form of pop rooted in strong narratives and bold commentary.

Eschewing typical love songs, Longboat albums tackle themes as varied as wealth inequality, technology, political unrest, and the everyday absurdities of modern life. Keller even carved out space for a niche genre he calls “electronic blues,” releasing five albums under that banner.

Keller’s recent run of releases highlights both his range and relentless creative pace. Word Gets Around (2025) delivered a pointed look at modern life, tackling media overload, economic anxiety, and digital burnout through sharp lyrics and focused arrangements. Later that year, he followed with The Merry Blacksmith’s Song Bucket, an imaginative project that blended jazz-influenced pop, electronic textures, and a playful sci-fi thread while introducing Keller’s first use of a vocoder. In early 2026, Longboat returned with Absentia, a 13-track album examining loss across personal and cultural life, built around a warmer, performance-driven sound shaped by a full ensemble. Now, Keller continues that momentum with Album 35, a new project that brings together electronic elements and live strings to explore stories from the past, present, and future.