Kelly Deasy Partners with Veteran Touring Agent Todd Walker to Form New Independent Booking Agency Outer/Most

A passionate member of the Chicago music community for nearly a decade, Kelly Deasy has announced a partnership with veteran touring agent Todd Walker. Together they have formed Outer/Most, a new independent booking agency.

“It’s so important to put smart, young, forward-thinking people around you to perpetuate new ideas,” says Walker.

Deasy has spent the last three years at Paradigm Talent Agency after a year at The Windish Agency prior to their merger and has a background in music programming, event production, artist management and coordinating national and international tours for a range of artists. Deasy represents Chicago artists like Kweku Collins, KAINA and Tasha, who will join the roster at Outer/Most.

Beyond his new role as founder and CEO, Walker will serve as an agent to a boutique roster of innovative artists, including musician, composer and producer Nils Frahm, six-time Grammy winning jazz bassist, arranger and composer Christian McBride, sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar and multi-instrumentalist and producer Ólafur Arnalds. Walker previously joined The Windish Agency in 2012, where he became a senior agent heading the company’s performing arts department. Since The Windish Agency’s merger with Paradigm Agency in 2017, Walker has greatly expanded the agency’s range of bookings for left-of-center artists.

We reached out to Deasy to speak further on why Outer/Most chose to establish in Chicago. “Chicago is a breeding ground of talented artists and hardworking people in diverse creative fields. Whether it’s a first step in building someone's career or a lifelong home, the city’s music scene is constantly evolving and developing game-changers in the industry. For the last 9 years, this city has given me the opportunity to learn all sides of the industry from venues and promoting shows to artist management and independent labels. We live in a major touring market with artists and their teams constantly coming through time and time again. It’s important to build the agency presence in Chicago since it’s such a big market in an artist’s career. I want to be a part of encouraging more music companies to take up shop here and strengthen the significance of this city across the industry.”

Deasy went on to talk about the three Chicago based artists on the Outer/Most roster. “Kweku, KAINA and Tasha have each stood out to me for different reasons over the years but they all share an ability to defy traditional genre labels and create unique spaces for their perspectives to be heard. That’s the exact type of artist I’m most attracted to and what Outer/Most is built upon - supporting artists who color outside of the lines and create impactful art. The fact that they all forged their path as artists in Chicago is a testament to the environment here that continues to grow emerging artists that become recognized on a national level.”

Also joining the team as Director of Operations is 20+ year industry vet Amy Butterer, who has spent the last four years at React Presents (also as Director of Operations) after 18 years as an agent at The Billions Corporation. Deasy and Butterer will operate Outer/Most out of Chicago while Walker remains in Boston.

Full Outer/Most Roster & Spotify Playlist:

Æ MAK, Anoushka Shankar beachtape, Christian McBride, David August, Draco Rosa, Dustin O'Halloran, Efterklang, Flor de Toloache, Gigi Masin, Huerco S, Joep Beving, KAINA, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Kiasmos, Kweku Collins, Madison McFerrin, My Brightest Diamond, Nils Frahm, Ólafur Arnalds, Partner, The Revolution, Rodrigo Amarante, Roo Panes, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tasha, Tawiah, W. H. Lung, Whyte Horses