Keith Edelman, guitarist and co-lead vocalist of Wither, first picked up a guitar at 16 — a decision that would shape the rest of his life. After working a summer job for his older brother to save up for that first instrument, he dove headfirst into the world of metal. Bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Candlemass lit the fire, and their influence still pulses through every riff and melody he creates today.
Wither quickly became more than just a project for Keith — it became a vessel for his creativity and his emotional expression. “Playing in Wither is my main creative release,” he says. “I honestly don’t know how to answer this question… I could write a book on what it means to be in Wither.” Through the music, he’s found a way to explore themes like grief, mythology, resilience, and depression. While many artists lean on anger to drive their sound, Keith intentionally avoids it, choosing instead to carve out space for more introspective and layered emotional landscapes.
His guiding principle as a musician is simple, but profound:
“Layers of simplicity. The space between notes is more important than the number of notes played.”
This idea runs through his approach to both performance and writing. When it’s time to step into the studio or onto the stage, Keith finds focus in the band’s preparation and chemistry.
“I get into the right mindset by trusting in all the hard work we put into the band… trusting each member to do their job.”
While his roots are undeniably metal, Keith pulls creative inspiration from far beyond the genre. Ambient pioneers like Tangerine Dream, the progressive landscapes of Yes, as well as jazz and classical symphonies — all inform his sense of tone, texture, and composition. That wide spectrum of influence has helped give Wither a sound that feels expansive and distinct.
Outside of the band, Keith has studied psychology and now works with animals, a quiet but fitting counterbalance to the intensity of his stage presence. He doesn’t claim any unusual hobbies, but his taste in media paints a vivid picture of who he is: Army of Darkness is his favorite horror film, Dead Space is his go-to video game, Robotech speaks to his anime side, and he’s immersed in the sprawling lore of the Horus Heresy.
When it comes to musical curveballs, Keith embraces his love for Japanese J-Pop from the ’80s and old country music without apology. “Guilty pleasure” isn’t really in his vocabulary.
Live performance has offered him no shortage of memorable moments — including one that’s become the stuff of legend. During a high-energy show, he and his brother Jeff collided mid-run.
“But instead of slamming to a halt, Jeff hit with so much momentum that I folded forward, and he rolled over my back legs in the air, and landed on the other side, and kept running. It looked like we planned it.”
One of Keith’s proudest moments came when Wither took the stage at The Whisky a Go-Go, a venue steeped in rock history.
“The Whisky is just legendary. I mean, you can feel the ghosts of legends up there! It’s the same stage The Doors played on. You just feel like you're a part of something big.”
What truly sets Wither apart, in his eyes, is the band’s ability to blend influences and stretch across styles without losing cohesion. That variety has helped them connect with a wide audience — fans who don’t just listen, but participate in something living and evolving.
And to those fans, Keith has one simple message:
“Thank you for giving all this a life of its own.”
He keeps a special connection to the song Malkuth, and the lyric that sums it up best for him is:
“Unite, my brothers, I have waited here so long to find you.
Sweet sisters, bind the ties with your embrace.”
For Keith, it’s more than a line — it’s a call to community, a celebration of shared experience, and a reminder that none of this exists without the people who show up, sing along, and carry the music forward.