NEDERLAND -- AJ Montana Keyser has been writing songs since the age of 11 and playing open mikes since the age of 15. They’ve embraced music throughout their entire life, performing professionally for over eight years.
When Keyser first started releasing songs, they did so under their birth name. Their personal and musical journey changed in July 2022 during a trip to Bozeman, Montana, where they completely embraced their identity and came out as non-binary.
Keyser now performs under their chosen name, including with their band Montana Sand. The band, formed shortly after (and named as a tribute to) that Bozeman trip, features Keyser on vocals, guitar, and banjo; Beth Kammersgard on bass; Chris Wright on drums; and Phil Broste on pedal steel.
The group draws from a diverse range of musical influences, including country, folk, rock, bluegrass, and roots music. In addition to Colorado, the band has performed in Texas, Montana, California, Florida, and New Mexico.
Keyser has always loved collaborating with others, frequently gathering other musicians and book authors together to write songs. For them, performing in a group allows them to bounce energy off each other, creating an environment that can’t be recreated playing solo.
Keyser has continued building their experience performing whenever they can, and they self-manage their solo and group performances. Montana Sand has opened for acts such as Macklemore at Liv Golf Houston, Ryan Cassata and Janelle Monae at South by Southwest (2023 and 2024, respectively), and Khruangbin, Sylvan Esso, and Lord Huron at the 2025 Outside Festival.
Keyser hopes to someday make music their full-time job, but they still incorporate music into their professional life. They studied psychology at Fort Lewis College and pursued further studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver and Front Range Community College. Combining their educational and musical experience, they currently work as a music therapist and educator at the nonprofit organization Song Rise Arts.
Keyser has integrated an intersectional framework into their personal and musical life whenever they can. Montana Sand’s lineup consists entirely of queer people and people of color, so embracing respect and understanding in both their professional and social lives has been crucial to the group as individuals and as a whole.
Ultimately, Keyser hopes that the group can communicate and encourage the same message of intersectionality through their performances, creating an open, accepting, and welcoming environment. While Kelsey recognizes they stand out in a room for identifying as nonbinary, they’ve continued to build confidence in themselves and an audience for their music as they’ve embraced who they truly are as a person.
Montana Sand will be performing at Busey Brews, located at 70 East Main Street in Nederland, on Sunday, August 3, 2025, starting at 2 p.m. To learn more about AJ Kelsey and Montana Sand and find the band’s music, be sure to head to montanasand.com.
