When my son Oskar was born in early 2023, it rocked me to my very core. I spent the first night in the hospital staring at him in his little clear-plastic bassinet while a slow-churning panic attack kept me up all night. I had no idea what it would feel like to see this tiny being and feel the weight of my responsibility to keep him safe. The first few weeks of no sleep and constantly watching over him were equal parts exhausting and rewarding. I’d be frustrated but then see his little green eyes look into mine and I’d be flooded with love and affection. I wrote Don’t Look Down about that time, wrestling with how many emotions that came into full-view, seemingly out of nowhere. 

Production-wise this was somewhat of a breakthrough, with the drums being the first I was able to record myself in my home studio and gave me the confidence to record everything else there. I’m so excited for you to hear this and there’s a lot more music coming soon. Go Dads!


Don't Look Down

Different Planets

Ghosts of Neighborhood Dogs

Ghosts of Neighborhood Dogs (feat. Jordana)

No Sleep

Mother is the Real Jesus

The Arrival

Before You

Hand Me Downs

Waiting Room

Fever Too High

Almost Angels

Kelcey Ayer is a Colombian-American artist based in Los Angeles. In 2024, after spending 20 years as a co-founder/singer/songwriter of indie-rock veterans Local Natives, in addition to his brooding side-project Jaws of Love., he decided to walk away from both projects to embrace something new. For years Ayer felt split down the middle between these two projects, but once his son was born in early 2023, everything changed. The experience of becoming a father seems to have stitched these two sides of Ayer into one whole, new person. The result is Ayer's first EP under his given name entitled No Sleep, released on July 18th, 2025. From the passing down of stories to his newborn son about dead neighborhood dogs, to the sleepless mania every new parent shockingly discovers, the EP covers the horrifying realities, minuscule details, and daily bursts of endless love that comes with fatherhood. It's earned praise from venerable outlets like Uproxx, Consequence of Sound and Line Of Best Fit, in addition to spins on KCRW, 91x, and WXPN. With much new music on the way, Ayer is excited about his future as a solo artist, as well as a dad.

Kelcey Ayer

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