Steamboat Springs — Funky, vintage keyboard lines are his trademark, and electronic synth textures are a testament to his inherent need to create more than just new music.

His name is Kyle Hollingsworth, and he’s known for his role as the keyboard player in a Colorado band that pioneered the term jam band, the String Cheese Incident.

Venturing to pursue his own solo side projects, the Boulder-based musician and music producer has played massive shows across the U.S. and has released a few albums, including “Then There’s Now” and more recently, “Speed of Life” with his own group, The Kyle Hollingsworth Band.

Featuring Paul McDaniel on bass, Brian McRae on drums, Dan Schwindt on guitar and Hollingsworth on keyboards, the group will make its way to Steamboat today to take the stage at Schmiggity’s at 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

As a home brewer himself and avid beer connoisseur, Hollingsworth’s show will be part of the Suds N’ Grub after party. The $20 Suds N’ Grub admission will include a wrist band for the show.

Earlier this week, Explore Steamboat caught up with Hollingsworth by telephone as he was out on a bike ride in Boulder.

Explore Steamboat: How is your latest album, “Speed of Life,” different than the music you play in SCI?

Kyle Hollingsworth: The album was was a culmination of touring with my main touring band (the Kyle Hollingsworth Band), and it really was a celebration of collaboration. I came back to my roots with this one. Dave Watts, the drummer, got me playing music when I first moved to Boulder and turned me on to SCI. Musically, it’s different, because I’ve matured from my first solo album. I started exploring how far I could go with boundaries and genres and went from a funk instrumental comfort zone to some pop, ’80s, then back and forth to see if I could pull it all off. SCI wouldn’t necessarily play that type of thing.

ES: When performing out on your own, aside from SCI, how do you intend to constantly create something different than that?

KH: SCI will always be a part of me. Even when I’m doing these solo shows, it’s engrained in what I’ve done. They were a group for 22 years; I was there for about 20. I really enjoyed learning to improvise and bring that into solo shows with the ability to make anything happen on stage. We focus a little more on the instrument edge than SCI does sometimes. When it comes down to it, I try to make it my own as best I can and am literally writing different music than they would ever play.

ES: Even though you’re originally from Baltimore, do you think Colorado directly influences your music? If so, how?

KH: Yes, absolutely. SCI influenced me most, because it’s a band writing as a cooperative, as a unit that works together really well. SCI is based on being involved in hiking and skiing and all of that. The inspiration comes from living in those moments and letting things happen. It’s originally based on us being outdoors and being ready for anything, whether we are biking, hiking, whatever. We bring that to the music more so than a band coming from Baltimore with small clubs and a different edge than out here. Being part of of the outdoors opens the music up.

ES: You’ve been in Steamboat many times. What can audiences expect this time around with your solo project, the Kyle Hollingsworth Band?

KH: I am always writing new material and inventing new, unusual covers to mix up the music. This time around, I am working on some special projects for the band. I’ve been playing with SCI a lot the last month, so it will be nice to get on stage and play some songs people may not have heard as much. This project is a way to have some testing ground to see what is going to work and what won’t. I’m definitely excited to be back in Steamboat and (to) perform live with two sets.

To reach Audrey Dwyer, call 970-871-4229, email adwyer@ExploreSteamboat.com or follow her on Twitter @Audrey_Dwyer1