Latest / Unsigned518 / Unsigned518 - Episode 205 - Keegan James

Transcript

Unsigned518 - Episode 205 - Keegan James · Unsigned518

• 0:01
  Speaker A: He was born on a Saturday in 73 he loves punk rock music fighting the 13 cabin the dazzle J rock now on the beat guitar with a short with radio back his motherfucking envy Scrolling look at motherfucker, cuz here he comes Andy Scrolling wearing his orange hat.
• 0:27
  Speaker B: 12 unsigned F518 I'm here with Keegan James. How's it going?
• 0:31
  Speaker A: It's going.
• 0:33
  Speaker C: I'm alive. That's how it's going.
• 0:35
  Speaker B: And you know, we. This is the, the first ever interview for the podcast that I've done that's not in the Dazzle den. We are actually in my living room. It's very cozy because it was cold in the den, man. It was like really cold in the tent because after all, it is a garage. And like, I was like, oh, man, I got to get it ready. I got to get ready. Keegan's coming over that. I was like, you know what? Fuck this. I'm like, we're just going to do it in the living room. There's a wood stove. I'll make us some lattes.
• 1:05
  Speaker C: It is, it's very much, it's very much like, I'm Drew Barrymore show.
• 1:09
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 1:10
  Speaker C: Lots of lights, coffee, some mugs.
• 1:13
  Speaker B: Yeah. And it was just simply because it was goddamn cold. And I was like, we are not doing that. It was negative 14 here this morning.
• 1:22
  Speaker C: Really?
• 1:22
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 1:23
  Speaker C: Wow.
• 1:24
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 1:24
  Speaker C: You have that, that wind from the river coming up the hill.
• 1:27
  Speaker B: Yeah, it just, it gets windy. It gets like, super cold and I hate it.
• 1:32
  Speaker C: I'm done.
• 1:32
  Speaker B: I'm done with winter.
• 1:33
  Speaker C: I'm ready for it all to melt.
• 1:34
  Speaker B: Yeah, me too. But we're not here to talk about.
• 1:38
  Speaker C: And, you know, coming from meteorologists, but.
• 1:41
  Speaker B: We'Re here to talk about your music. You have a new album coming out. There's, there's shows coming up. There's actually. I mean, the first time you were on the show was less than a year ago, wasn't it?
• 1:53
  Speaker C: Was it? This whole year has been. I was just having a conversation where I was like, I truly. After August, it felt like the year reset. I don't know what happened this year.
• 2:02
  Speaker B: A lot. You did a lot, like, compared, like when you first came on the show. And again, I may be wrong, but it's about a year ago, like, it was like you were, like, just starting to kind of make things happen. And now you've made all that shit happen in, like, one year. And now we're here to talk about, you know, your album. And I, I, I want to hear, I want to hear basically what's been going on.
• 2:27
  Speaker C: Oh boy, so much. I feel very grateful to have gotten so many opportunities since the last time we chatted. I got to perform at Collar City Pride and oh goodness, I've done many shows with no one youe know, Presents and Shannon Taya and there's just such a wonderful community that's being. Being built here and I feel very grateful to be a part of it and to be here.
• 2:52
  Speaker B: That is true, like the community aspect of it. And you know, especially with like no one, you know, and you and Shannon and Nocturne and you know, Sydney Worthley and Katie Gallagher and like, just like it's building.
• 3:07
  Speaker C: It is building and building quickly. I don't know if you saw Nocturne's viral tick tock about indie whimsical and the response that that got Indie Wind Bazaar event that we're doing on the 13th. I just didn't realize how many people would be interested in entering the room with us. It was really surreal to get that response, I think.
• 3:32
  Speaker B: I mean, people definitely want to enter the room and hang out with you. And I think it's because I'm crazy. Yeah. I mean, a little bit, but like, nobody wants to hang out with someone who's boring and not confident. You know what I mean? Like, your confidence is what attracts people to you. Because like, again, if someone's like, oh, I hate myself, be like, well, you know, more than I hate myself too. Yeah, but be like, well, you know yourself better than anybody and if you don't like yourself, then I don't know if I want to spend my time with you.
• 4:06
  Speaker C: You know what I mean? People love authenticity. It's a very special thing to work on.
• 4:11
  Speaker B: And you know, we were talking before we got rolling, you were saying something about like, how at some of your shows, like, you'll forget like some lyrics or you'll be like, oh, that was terrible. Or you'll hear it back, be like, and. But everybody's always giving you positive because that's, that's part of it. It's not no one, no one fucking wants perfection.
• 4:31
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 4:32
  Speaker B: And I've been in bands where people like strove for that. Perfect. And I'm like, dude, we're playing fucking cover songs in a dive bar. Yeah, we don't need to.
• 4:42
  Speaker C: It takes perfect.
• 4:43
  Speaker A: It does.
• 4:44
  Speaker B: Like, part of the performance is imperfections. Like, if everything was perfect every time, why would I even bother?
• 4:52
  Speaker C: You got to play around with things too. And especially with the music, Even talking to the crowd. You got to play around with things, find out what works, what feels good, what doesn't.
• 5:01
  Speaker B: And it'll change the dynamic. Yeah, you can change the dynamic with two or three words and have an experience that you as a performer have never had before.
• 5:11
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 5:11
  Speaker B: And it like, I don't know, I just, I. There's something about the whole scene of that, you know, is being created that is authentic. It's not auto tune driven. And you know, it's just like it's people doing.
• 5:30
  Speaker C: Even the stuff that is like when it comes to the music itself, the stuff that is like produced and not acoustic, it's still very down to earth. Like I don't feel like I'm listening to like no Hate, but like when, you know, like regular pop music that is super synthesized. Like we have synthesized music. I do synthesized music too. But I feel like all of us really strive to keep that core honesty in there.
• 5:57
  Speaker B: Right. And I mean, I don't, you know, nothing really against like technology or even autotune. Like, I mean, you know, I love a good algorithm. There's auto tune in like all of our music. Like there's vocal touch ups, you know. Absolutely. And like there's nothing, there's nothing wrong with that. It's when that becomes the thing that it's a problem. You know what I mean? Like if you're using it to enhance your talent, that's all fine and good. If you're trying to hide the fact that you don't have any talent behind something, that's when it becomes fucked up. But yeah, I really like what's happening and I like kind of being boots on the ground for it, I guess.
• 6:42
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 6:43
  Speaker B: So let's talk a little bit. You know, we can talk about the show that's coming up on the 13th or we could talk about. It's all kind of incorporated.
• 6:51
  Speaker C: We can start wherever.
• 6:52
  Speaker B: Let's just, let's start with the show and we'll roll into the album. So what's happening on the 13th?
• 6:57
  Speaker C: So we have our first ever indie whims show. It has a Galentine's theme themed celebration of friendship and creativity. Basically it's a space for introverts who want to get out and socialize and make new friends. It's very tactile. We're gonna have coloring sheets and crafts that you can purchase for like a very low price. We have designed coloring sheets and everything. But the main event is the musicians that are going to be there, which are myself, Arelli and Shannon Tea. We're all doing original music, going to be performing My new music at the event, because it's a very loving, soft album, and I thought it was the perfect event to debut it at. Yeah. And it's gonna be so much fun that you don't have to pay to enter. It's at September's 2nd in Albany, so it's like, just out of the city, so, you know, there's parking. So you don't have to, like, worry.
• 7:58
  Speaker B: You know, as I get older, that's always, like, the first fucking question. Whenever it's a place I'm not familiar with. Oh, where is that? Is there park? Because if there's not, I may not. I may not.
• 8:10
  Speaker C: I found that it was the biggest draw. That's why I make sure to say, I'm like, yes, there is a big parking lot.
• 8:15
  Speaker B: Yeah, that's perfect.
• 8:16
  Speaker C: We have, like, a photo booth that I designed. These big floral arrangements to go across the top of it. It's very cute, very whimsy. We are going to have some raffles. We're raffling off a flower bouquet and merch. There's really good drinks and food there. I could go on and on. It's going to be so much fun.
• 8:33
  Speaker B: And so how did that idea come about? Because I love the idea of melding music with something else.
• 8:41
  Speaker C: Yeah. So it was definitely a team effort to put the whole concept together. But where it started was around the time that we had done our first interview, I was going around and trying to make friends in the community, other artists, and I was getting coffee with a bunch of people and, you know, trying to gauge. It's like, you know, when you get a new job and you're like, tell me the tea. Like, what's going on? Like, what are your. I love to know what people's grievances are, to know where my place is, like, how I can benefit the people that are here. And as I was getting coffee with these different people and finding out, like, what needed to be improved, what people were looking for, we found that it was that people were feeling very isolated and were having a hard time finding spaces that felt safe for people who were not as conventional as the ones that you might see in typical bars and clubs in the area.
• 9:41
  Speaker B: And I mean, that's also something, you know, that a lot of the gathering and it. And myself, you know, I'm a. Just a, you know, over the hill, I guess you could say I'm in my 50s, or whatever. So, like. But booze is the. The central, like, key to a lot of social events. And if that's not something that somebody is comfortable with or, you know, because a lot of people don't like to drink in front of even other people because they're like, I get a little silly and I don't want, you know, so like, to have just something else.
• 10:20
  Speaker C: Yeah, that's another aspect of it too. We're doing it a little earlier in the night because we don'. Want to compete with anyone else. Like, we want it to be an entirely different thing that fit into the puzzle of what happens in the arts community. So it runs from seven to nine, which is pretty much before any event starts. And we wanted it to be so interactive and tactile so that people like myself who don't go out to drink and party can go somewhere earlier in the night that by the time they're done and can go home and go the to sleep.
• 11:00
  Speaker B: I mean, not to say that, you know, you can't go out drinks while you're. While you're doing that, you know, because that's. That's also a thing. But to have that option.
• 11:08
  Speaker C: Yes.
• 11:08
  Speaker B: And, you know, just like, places having, like, mocktails.
• 11:11
  Speaker C: Yeah. And we're gonna. We have a drink menu that I'm so. God, there's so many layers to it.
• 11:17
  Speaker B: I.
• 11:18
  Speaker C: Again, this is a whole team effort. We have six or seven of us. Erika Rose Nocturne, Shannon Tea Arelli, myself and Hunter Frost have been meeting weekly since November, maybe to put this together. So after I was getting coffee with people, I went to Shannon because she's such a wonderful organizer. And I was like, if I could trust anyone to judge people's characters and figure out who he wanted to be a part of this. To start it up and get the gears. Rol. I knew Shannon was gonna be the perfect person for that. So we all, her and I pulled together a list of people and we went to her house for tea. And then we were drafting up all these ideas. Shannon came up with the name after we all did a word board of different feelings about what we wanted the event to look like. And then we came up with indie whims. Yeah, I think I got a little off track here. Where were we?
• 12:19
  Speaker B: I don't know. We were talking about a little bit about having the other component, you know, just rather than music and booze or like booze and X, you know, having the crafts. Like, I think you had said something like, it'll bring out that. Would you say it's like an introverts?
• 12:40
  Speaker C: Yes, it'll bring out the. It's for the introverts and People who want to make friends and who feel very isolated, people who want, like, something chill to do. Like, I myself have a very short social battery, which is ironic as someone who's a performer. And like, most of my, like, it's getting shorter, too. I wanted something that, like, we can converse, but it's not like, whoa, yeah, you're right.
• 13:07
  Speaker B: Where are we going after this?
• 13:10
  Speaker C: Like, there are people. We actually have table cards that are green and purple. So the people that, like, are there to socialize and everything. The green tables are, like, more geared towards that. But then we'll have a few purple carded tables, which are people who, like, seriously don't want to converse. They just kind of want to exist.
• 13:29
  Speaker B: And they can go like, this is already a lot for me, so let.
• 13:32
  Speaker C: Me do myself so they can go hang out at that table for a little bit of a less social experience if they want that.
• 13:38
  Speaker B: That's great. And that's important. Like having a station, a place like. You know, I don't want to use the word safe space, I guess, because just, like, every term, like, Republicans fucked it up.
• 13:51
  Speaker C: Yeah. I'm also just, like, a little afraid right now that nowhere is a safe place. But we are trying our damnedest.
• 13:57
  Speaker B: Like, a promise. Like, a spot where you can be like, this is me. This is who I am. This is where I am. And everybody here knows that and is cool with that.
• 14:07
  Speaker C: Even the owners of the. Of the venue themselves. Brandy and her husband. Please, God, I hope his name is actually Kevin. Kevin is going to be our security at the door, checking IDs and making sure that everyone comes in is safe and people are behaving themselves. And Brandy really was so down for the idea of this to create. They do lots of different events at September's too. Like velvet visions, etc. Me only knowing one other event that they do. They also. There are other crafting nights that they do as well, but they're very geared towards creating these kinds of spaces at September's 2 and providing opportunities like this to the community. And I feel very grateful that we're getting to partner with them on this.
• 14:51
  Speaker B: That's awesome. So tell me again what the music lineup is.
• 14:54
  Speaker C: The music lineup is. We're opening with Arelli. Arelli is classically trained as an opera singer, and she does her own music that is. Oh, it's like. It's hauntingly beautiful. Her voice is just so sublime and perfect, and she's going to knock your socks off. And then there's myself, who will be doing all of my Music from All He Wants. My new record coming out on the day of the show. And then we will be having Shannon Tea and her band closing out the night.
• 15:29
  Speaker B: And that's the troupe.
• 15:30
  Speaker C: They actually dropped the name the Troop. So the troupe is now Troup Productions, and the band is just Shannon Taya. And Troop Productions is now what is running these events. It is the sound behind it, which is Hunter Frost. I am. Shannon is the CEO. She owns the llc. I am creative director and director of communications. And then Nocturne is our business strategist. Erica Rose is our organizer of operations. Operations manager, I'd say. And Arelli is our creative consultant.
• 16:06
  Speaker B: So out of everybody you just mentioned, only two people have not been on my podcast.
• 16:10
  Speaker C: Really?
• 16:10
  Speaker B: Yeah. Hunter and Arelli are the only two that have not.
• 16:13
  Speaker C: You have to have them. They're wonderful people.
• 16:15
  Speaker B: Totally. And I'm adding them to my mental list. But that's great. I love that the. The entrepreneurship and the. The coming. Like, I didn' that Erica was part of the circle. Yeah, like, you know.
• 16:30
  Speaker C: Yeah, she's been really busy, so she's got her own stuff going on. She's been a big part of it, and she will be there. I believe she is emceeing the night of the show.
• 16:41
  Speaker B: Yeah, she's great, too. Really good. And she just did a. Put a live. Live album on ext, right?
• 16:49
  Speaker C: Yes, she did do a live taping with Chris at wxt. She is so wonderful. I love Erica.
• 16:56
  Speaker B: Yeah, she's great. You remember her, right? Calvin, I have an Erica Rose trucker hat.
• 17:02
  Speaker C: Do you really? Oh, I'm jealous. I'm gonna have to get one.
• 17:05
  Speaker B: Yeah. Calvin wants to go outside. You're gonna have to wait. But I'm in the middle of a podcast, pal. You know, the world does not stop and start at your convenience, Calvin. It actually does. So while I take a second to let Calvin outside, we should probably hear a song from the new album, and then maybe when we come back from it, we'll talk about the new album.
• 17:32
  Speaker C: Of course.
• 17:33
  Speaker B: So what do we want to play first?
• 17:34
  Speaker C: Let's start with Diamonds and Pearls. I've been performing this song for a couple years now. It's really centered around the way that we perform when we first meet someone new. That captivates us, the way that we strive to want to be the best person to get that enamored look in people's eyes and how, you know, it kind of tears us down. Yeah, I'm very proud of this song. It really sticks in my brain. And, yeah, I hope you like it.
• 18:09
  Speaker B: All right, cool. Let's check out Diamonds and Pearls, Keegan James, and then we'll be right back.
• 18:24
  Speaker A: No. Hey. I thought my life was so good Until I saw you I never dreamed of a better world Until I met you Watching you Spending all your time Sipping bottles of wine Slipp In a Cadillac that you don't even drive Give your boy a kiss make him feel reassured In a world where people only purchase diamonds and pearls mmm. I read the book Subjective to good I try to love that neighbor Though I don't think I should Tell me to be patient and wait for the day that the sun will rise on up On a brand new day Where I'm spending all my time Sipping bottles of wine Slipped in a Cadillac that I don't even drive Give my boy a kiss make him feel reassured In a world where people only purchase diamonds and pearl. Sam.
• 20:21
  Speaker B: All right, that was Diamonds and Pearls, Keegan James. And so let's talk about the album. I guess, like, as a whole, like, was it something that you. You know, because you've put out, like, singles, you've been writing your own stuff, but was it a. I don't want to say a concept album, like you were writing about a fucking wizard on a journey or something, but, like, you know, like, were you, like, I have all these songs that kind of fit a theme. Ish. Or did you say, I'm gonna do an album and then kind of figure out what would fit as you went?
• 20:51
  Speaker C: Definitely the first one. The thing that has stopped me from releasing a collection of songs is that I was, like, so insecure about whether or not the story would be cohesive. And then I started to see a lot of articles and interviews where artists talked more about the idea of defending their work, which sounds more aggressive than, like, what it actually means. So what I did was I had all these songs in my files for years now, and when I wanted to release them as a collection, because, you know, I was kind of, like, getting a little tired of looking at them. I was like, I know I want them to be out in the world, but, like, where? Where do they fit? So I took a couple days to listen through the music and go song by song. And kind of in the similar way that you would do, like, a thematic analysis of a story, I looked at all of the songs, looked at the lyrics, found where the repetition was, and then went from there to figure out what the story was like, what was the story that even I wasn't admitting to myself. I was kind of investigating My own mind looking through these songs, and then that's how I. You know, and that's my story that I came up with. And for me to justify why these songs fit together.
• 22:13
  Speaker B: Right. I like, changing why. Like, you know, the people have said, ask me a question about, like, you know, I've only written, like, a few songs or whatever, but people, oh, what's this song about? And I'll tell them something. And then like, someone else would be like, oh, what's that song about? And I'll tell them something completely different. And, like, they're both true. Yeah, I guess, for, like, lack of a better word, like, yeah.
• 22:36
  Speaker C: And that's something that's so special, I think, about this album is that depending on who you are and the way that you look at it, the story changes. Because in. In the album, I look at things from a perspective of how I might have done something wrong. And I also look at it as a perspective of what someone did that was wrong to me. And that's why I went with the title all he wants is because, like, who. Who is he? Is it me or is it you? And trying to find the relationship between those two statements or questions. And I wanted it to be kind of like a roadmap to closure, for people to, you know, use the music to analyze themselves and their patterns and what they've gone through, to figure out who they are now and how they are better from it.
• 23:28
  Speaker B: And I mean, do you think, you know, you said you want people to, like, to have closure, like, through the songs, like, do you feel. Not a responsibility, but I. I guess, for lack of a better word, but like a responsibility to put out your. Your advice in. In your music or. Or not.
• 23:52
  Speaker C: You know, I don't know that I think that deeply when I am writing. Fair enough. Because there's a lot of times that I sit down and, like, if I really. I have to really feel the emotion in that moment to come up with it, my mind really has to be locked in to something that, like, I can't escape. Otherwise, it doesn't make any sense. And so I don't know that there's an active mission that I'm on with the music. It's more just whatever my purpose is, it's just kind of gonna happen. And then once I see what's happening, then I'll be able to identify it, if that makes sense.
• 24:34
  Speaker B: Yeah, I guess that makes sense. It's almost like. Almost like a confirmation bias on your own.
• 24:42
  Speaker C: Yeah, I love validation, so I. That's what I'm always looking for is like the validation of what I'm doing. Right. That's.
• 24:50
  Speaker B: That's good. And I like that you said, you know, like, the ambiguity of, you know, the he. Is it you, is it him, is it someone else? Because, like, in the end, it kind of doesn't fucking matter because, like, both things can be true. Like, you can have done things wrong in a relationship and you can have been wronged in a relationship, and you can be mad about one, be mad at yourself about, you know, like, all these things are true. Everybody thinks it needs to be this black and white. Like, what happened there. Oh, well, this person was totally innocent and this person was the devil. And like, it's never going to be like that.
• 25:29
  Speaker C: Everything's gray.
• 25:30
  Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah. And I like that you recognize that, you know, it's. It's not necessarily going to be a Wo Is Me song, which I think a lot of, you know, a lot of songs. And you know, again, not to on anybody's music, but a lot of songs are that it's getting a hurt out and it's very rarely saying, well, what did I do wrong? Yeah. You know what I mean?
• 25:56
  Speaker C: And for some people, that's great because if you need to get that sadness out, like, there are people that when they put it out on the page or put it into the song and they release it to the world, it takes the weight off their shoulders. I. My pain comes in waves and echoes. And as the years go on and the ripples of my pain, pain and energy, hit the edge of the pond, they also come back. And that's like a yearly cycle that I've noticed in myself. And so the music writing, it doesn't really cure me of what I've been through. And that's why I look at everything in such a gray aspect. Because if I don't and I simply stick to, like, making myself a victim, it'll just send me into a depression because it doesn't. I never really let it off my shoulders.
• 26:51
  Speaker B: And plus, like, you know, being an older person, I guess you could say that I am. You change so much. Like, you know, how old you're, what, early 20s?
• 27:02
  Speaker C: I'm 23 now. I'll be 24 in a few months.
• 27:05
  Speaker B: Yeah. So I'm 30 years older than you. Again, I could tell you, like, who you are now is not who you're going to be at 33. It's not. Not who you're going to be at 43. It's not who you know.
• 27:18
  Speaker C: Yeah. And I figured that out early. Because even people, if you ask anyone who's, like, known me for a while, they'll tell you that Keegan James becomes a different person every year.
• 27:26
  Speaker B: Yeah. And that you're supposed to.
• 27:28
  Speaker C: You are supposed to.
• 27:29
  Speaker B: If you don't, then what the is the purpose of any of this?
• 27:33
  Speaker C: I get scared when I've known someone and, like, they have not changed. I'm like, it's because it's weird. I'm like, what? How. How are you still exactly the same?
• 27:41
  Speaker B: You're getting new information. Every minute of every single day doesn't change you. What is happening? You're like, yeah, that's a good point. Like, just like, how could you just see all this and be like, yeah, it's fine, whatever. Yeah, no, I. You change a lot. So, like, I think having that perspective of there's going to be gray area and you're not saying, this is how it is. It's black or it's white. And then in 20 years, you're gonna be like, yeah, what was I thinking?
• 28:15
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 28:16
  Speaker B: I mean, now you at least, you know, you can look back and be like, I was fucking smart when I was 23. Yeah.
• 28:21
  Speaker C: Yeah. I keep. I have, like, 14 journals at home front that I started back in 20, 21. And every once in a while, I go back and I would, like, read through them to see, like, what I was going through at a certain time. Especially, like, in that yearly cycle, if I'm experiencing, like, a feeling and I don't really know where it's coming from, I can go back to, like, what happened around that same time a year ago or a year prior to, like, see what's echoing in the chamber, which can be helpful. But then also, sometimes I read what I was, like, writing, and I'm like, what the fuck? Who are you? What are you thinking?
• 28:51
  Speaker B: I mean, you kind of have to, though. Like, if you're not at least, like, a little bit embarrassed of something, you.
• 28:58
  Speaker C: Know, like, love embarrassment.
• 28:59
  Speaker B: I do, too.
• 29:00
  Speaker C: Such a good feeling, too.
• 29:01
  Speaker B: That's what pushes me. Like, I want to get farther away from that. You know what I mean? Like, sometimes I literally will have, like, this is gonna sound so fucking stupid. I may just edit it, but I have, like, self therapy sessions with myself. Or I'll literally just sit there and try to think of the most embarrassing shit that I've ever done. Just be, like, trying to think of the cringiest person I've ever been.
• 29:24
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 29:25
  Speaker B: And I really try to, like, embrace what was that fucking moron thinking? And, like, it Helps. You know what I mean? It helps me, like, need to leave that guy as far as I can in the past. You know what I mean?
• 29:36
  Speaker C: I think it's also healthy to be, like, to look at that. I will joke around and be like, all right, I'm gonna go my. Go home and send myself into a little psychosis for a bit, and I'll go home and sit on a yoga mat, and I will, like, visualize that person. But then I also will be like, one, what were you thinking? Two, you're so special, and I love you, and everyone else should have loved you.
• 29:56
  Speaker B: I made a. I had made an Instagram post earlier this week, and the caption on it was, you know, because I hadn't been posting for, like, a couple of weeks, and the caption was like, you know, oh, I crawled my way out of the anxiety spiral, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like, the real of it is, is that is 100% what has been going on. Like, it sounded like a joke, but I'm like, no, for real. I've been having the most crazy anxiety struggles of my life.
• 30:21
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 30:21
  Speaker B: And I literally just, like, took everything I could to be like, hey, look at me. Everything's happy. And then I, like, left again. But I'm like, I'm not joking. Yeah. It's wild. Like, and again, how can people still be the same? Like, even.
• 30:40
  Speaker C: Even. Especially right now?
• 30:41
  Speaker B: Even in the last year.
• 30:43
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 30:43
  Speaker B: You know what I mean?
• 30:44
  Speaker C: In the last two weeks alone when I'm 10 people and they're just, like, acting like everything's the same as it has been. I'm like, are. Are you. Are you blind?
• 30:53
  Speaker B: Yeah. I've been having. I've been having, like, you know, and again, I don't know if I mean it. People hear this, whatever. But, like, I've been having a real struggle being, like, what Is any of this important?
• 31:05
  Speaker C: Yes.
• 31:05
  Speaker B: You know, like, and, like, coming up to, like, awards season.
• 31:08
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 31:08
  Speaker B: Coming up to award season. And, like, I'm personally attached to, like, a couple possibilities of winning some awards.
• 31:15
  Speaker C: And I hope you do.
• 31:16
  Speaker B: And I'm like, I don't know if I fucking care.
• 31:18
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 31:18
  Speaker B: Like, not only do I. I mean, I care. Like, I want to.
• 31:21
  Speaker C: He cares. Give him the award.
• 31:22
  Speaker B: Give me the award. But, like. But I'm like, what does any. Like, I get you. What are we fucking doing?
• 31:28
  Speaker C: Like, am I really going to wake up and see it on the wall and be like, wow, the world is healthy and great. Yeah.
• 31:34
  Speaker B: So it's, like, been really weird. So I've been. I've been a fucking weirdo the last couple weeks.
• 31:39
  Speaker C: I get it.
• 31:40
  Speaker B: Like, I don't want to put my face.
• 31:41
  Speaker C: I won't lie. On the way here, I took the long way. I took, like, the back roads on the east side of the river, and I was like, wow.
• 31:50
  Speaker A: I.
• 31:51
  Speaker C: Why? Like, why. What am I even doing leaving my apartment? I, like, I'm at the gym and I'm like, am I really, like, what am I even working on myself for? Like, when there are people starving?
• 32:01
  Speaker B: I feel like that all the time.
• 32:02
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 32:03
  Speaker B: And it sucks because, like, because we have to.
• 32:05
  Speaker C: We have to keep going and keep.
• 32:06
  Speaker B: We, like, we have to for our souls, I think. And that's like, we can't. You can't fight without a soul. You know what I mean? And, like, if we're all just going around soulless, like the dumb. That haven't changed in the last.
• 32:20
  Speaker C: If we're isolating ourselves and just thinking about the bad things that are happening, it's not helpful.
• 32:25
  Speaker B: So, like, you know, and Nick Coster from the band Gozer, I don't know if you've heard of Gozer. They're a great stoner metal band. And the. The guitar player is like, one of the kindest human beings I've ever met.
• 32:39
  Speaker C: That's awesome.
• 32:39
  Speaker B: And he, like, sent me a message and was just like, what you do is important because you are giving people even a slight distraction. And, like, what. You know, and that literally, like, it.
• 32:52
  Speaker C: It is very important. I listen to them every day, like, because I have a habit of FaceTiming people, like, back to back to back, because I can't stand sitting in my own thoughts right now. So podcasts have been helping me not annoy people. And so doing things like this and being able to listen to your podcast when I start my morning and feel like there are people in the room with me and knowing that life is still existing and trying to thrive. It is a very good thing to be happening. And I am very grateful that you do things like this.
• 33:26
  Speaker B: Thank you. Yeah, no, I mean, I, you know, like I said, had some. Had some struggle where, you know, and I don't think I was like, I don't know how this turned into a therapy session, but. No, but, like, it was. It was. It was hard. And I think, like, I don't think there's any delusions of grandeur, like, oh, we're fucking international stars.
• 33:54
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 33:55
  Speaker B: Like, you know, we're. You know, we're. We're a small scene within a small scene within a Small scene within a small scene. You know what I mean?
• 34:01
  Speaker C: But it is also growing. So many things are happening at the.
• 34:04
  Speaker B: Same time, but, like, it's important to again, our souls. Like, we need the arts and we need the community, because without it, what would we even be fighting for?
• 34:17
  Speaker C: Yeah. And with that, I say, if you're not down to clown in that way, stay out.
• 34:20
  Speaker B: Yeah.
• 34:21
  Speaker C: Don't come into the room if you're not here with that energy.
• 34:23
  Speaker B: And I've been a little, like, on Instagram and. And I've definitely lost like a couple dozen followers in the last couple weeks. But, like, I've been screaming online and I haven't been screen. And I'm not like a. And this. I. I'm not like a doom and gloom person. You know what I mean?
• 34:43
  Speaker C: But, like, would you say you're like, half glass full?
• 34:46
  Speaker B: Yeah, I guess. But, like, what is happening is. Is wild. And if everybody just pretends it's not happening, then it's going to be too late.
• 34:54
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 34:55
  Speaker B: You know what I mean? And then we're gonna be, you know, like, I may not be the smartest man in the world, but I paid attention to fucking history class.
• 35:04
  Speaker A: How did you not.
• 35:04
  Speaker C: There's a lot of people that I'm like, I'm truly wondering, like, did. Did. Did you take history? Like, did they teach you this?
• 35:10
  Speaker B: They're arresting independent journalists. Like, that is not a fucking normal thing.
• 35:17
  Speaker C: I could go on and on about the things that I've seen online and even, like, from people I know who live out in these areas that are affected. It's. It's bad. It's fucked.
• 35:27
  Speaker B: Yeah, it's fucked.
• 35:30
  Speaker C: Anyway, Cha.
• 35:31
  Speaker B: Anyway, your album, let's.
• 35:34
  Speaker C: So my album is the most important thing happening on the planet.
• 35:38
  Speaker B: I agree with you 100%. It will heal the world.
• 35:44
  Speaker C: Bridging the gap.
• 35:46
  Speaker B: All right, so you've got, like, all these songs that, you know, maybe weren't intended to fully go together, but kind of have like the same narrative.
• 35:56
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 35:57
  Speaker B: At what point did you. I mean, start constructing the actual album? Like, did you start working with someone? I know you do. You were saying you do everything yourself. I do essentially everything.
• 36:10
  Speaker C: Like, front to back. I do independently mastering. I will use, like. I don't use AI in any of my stuff, even when it comes to, like, mastering or any sort of, like, plugins. The only thing that I don't do, because I truly just. I haven't, like, gotten it down to a T is making drum beats. So I use logic and there is a stock plugin that has an algorithmic drummer that has like a pad and you can customize it and there are different, you know, named drummers with different personalities and styles in there. And I utilize that in a lot of my music except for the slower ones that really have simple beats. But if I want something that is really driving the song, I will use that. Just because I don't know any drummers, I'm actively looking for a drummer right now.
• 37:01
  Speaker B: Drummers are. It's funny because they're abundant but they're always usually tied to like fucking seven bands.
• 37:11
  Speaker C: Yeah. So I do everything myself from visuals to instrumentation to composing to lyricism. Yeah. And it takes a while.
• 37:22
  Speaker B: Yeah. And that's. You know, we were saying off air how those are two different skills. You know, most, maybe not most, but a fair amount of skilled musicians aren't gonna know shit about mixing and especially mastering. Cause like mastering is something that I still don't get.
• 37:43
  Speaker C: It's like there are so many factors to look into. Especially don't even like. Don't even ask me about a bus. Like give me a break.
• 37:53
  Speaker B: I swear sometimes people just say that to sound, you know. Oh well, we'll just bus it through.
• 37:59
  Speaker C: Here and add it to the input and the output and then we'll add another bus and I'm like okay, what.
• 38:04
  Speaker B: Are you talking about?
• 38:06
  Speaker C: Yeah, but a Van Gogh myself.
• 38:09
  Speaker B: How did you learn all that?
• 38:12
  Speaker C: I am a big tinkerer. I started with GarageBand when I was in high, sorry middle school when I like first got an iPhone and I was always recording like with my wired headphones and making acapella songs. And then when I got into high school I got my MacBook which I'm still using. I've had this MacBook for 11 years now. And I was learning logic like very slowly because it's a heavy, a heavy software. And then last year or the year before, don't remember. It all feels like the same month. I took a three month course at Blue Sky Recording Studios in Del Mar. Lord, if I can remember the name of the man who was teaching the course. But it was like he was very analog focused. So when he went into teaching us how buses and plugins and mastering worked, he did it all the like old way. And that helped me be able to like apply it into. Because everything I do is midi. I only play keyboard and I sing. So if I have any other instruments and I don't know anyone who plays it, I have to result to midi. So that's where I got boost in my skills. And being able to have a little bit more of a knowledgeable tinkering session to look at things and be like, I remember him talking about that and being able to figure out how they fit together a little bit more. And, yeah, that's how I got into it.
• 39:51
  Speaker B: Yeah, that's interesting. So, like, composing, you know, because I know a lot of people. Do you know where I was like, oh, you know, I use the acoustic guitar. Do you start with like a simple. You know, being that you're a keyboard player and can do the chords and the melodies. Is that kind of where everything starts, is on the keys?
• 40:09
  Speaker C: Sometimes. Sometimes it starts with a beat. Sometimes it starts with, like, a singular chord. Like, I'll hear a singular chord and then be like, that's something. Sometimes if I'm not using my full 88 key and I'm using a smaller MIDI controller, I will start with a melody. It really just like, once I hear a minor thing that, like, strikes me like a. Like a needle right through the. Like a lawn dart in the head. That's when I start building on it. I have a big folder in my computer of archives and potentials, and when I have an idea, it starts, and then I put it in the potential folder. And then if I feel like it's something I want to build on, it'll get moved into the priorities. If it's something that does not stick with me and I lose interest in it goes to the archives.
• 41:04
  Speaker B: So are you someone that works on a lot of different things at once, or are you like, oh, I got this idea, I'm going to work it to completion and then go on to the next idea. It's kind of. It kind of sounds like you have.
• 41:15
  Speaker C: A lot of, oh, I work on like 10 things at once and I just. Because I get frustrated when I'm doing all this myself. If I'm working on one thing and then I go like, like ear blind and I stop noticing, like, differences, especially if I'm trying to master something or mix. So I will jump from project to projects and do, like, little bits at a time, which takes longer, I won't lie.
• 41:40
  Speaker B: And do you, like, switch hats, so to speak? Like, when you're, you know, you compose everything and then you're. You're a musician. Keegan, once you're, like, mixing and mastering, can you, like, take out that ability? Be like, oh, that's me playing that and look at it objectively, or are you kind of, like, a little more forgiving because it's yours?
• 42:00
  Speaker C: I think when it comes to composing, I definitely have a different hat on. Like I'm not thinking about vocals at all when I am making the track behind it. Because singing and playing piano at the same time is so fucking difficult for me. At least just doing the bass and.
• 42:23
  Speaker B: The, the higher parts on the keyboard for me blows my mind. And then add singing it.
• 42:29
  Speaker C: And I, and I taught myself how to play piano. And so when I'm making the accompaniment track and then putting everything on top of it, I'm not really thinking about the lyrics. I'll have scratch vocals that keep going in, but sometimes like I'll be recording vocals and keep changing things in that realm right up until I'm like ready to mix. And even sometimes after I've mixed it, I'll hear something and be like, oh shit, I didn't notice that. And then I'll go back and change it again.
• 43:00
  Speaker B: So at least it's got to be easy that you're your own subject. You don't have to call anybody back into the studio to do punch ins or whatever.
• 43:06
  Speaker C: And I feel like guilty when I, if I were to hide. And I've never done it, so maybe I, maybe I'm wrong and I just, just have this fear in my head. But if I were to hire someone to do something for me, which this seems like hypocritical because I use the logic plugin for the drums, but if I am hiring like a producer to do a track for me, I just feel like I wouldn't connect to it because I would feel like it doesn't belong to me. If that makes sense.
• 43:41
  Speaker B: I mean, that does make sense. And like even using like logic plugins, whatever, you're still controlling it, you're still in charge of the, of what happens.
• 43:49
  Speaker C: And you know, and I can separate it and like fully alter it afterwards. It's just kind of like a guide in a sense.
• 43:56
  Speaker B: I mean, I used to use, you know, we were talking how I'm doing an acoustic show next month or whatever and I haven't fucking played an acoustic guitar and sang in front of people in years, maybe 10 years. And I have a little drum machine that I operate with my foot and everybody gives me for it because it's not, you know, it's not a real drummer. And I'm. I think I might actually bust, bust it out and, and use it at the thing. Because even though it's, you know, it's, it's dynamic. I can change everything with my foot, but it, it helps, helps my confidence.
• 44:30
  Speaker C: Yeah.
• 44:31
  Speaker B: You know, and I know it's a silly thing, but it helps with the confidence.
• 44:34
  Speaker C: No, I think that's. I think that's perfectly fine.
• 44:36
  Speaker B: So I don't. I don't see anything wrong with using drum beats that aren't.
• 44:41
  Speaker C: Thank you. I love validation. Thank you.
• 44:43
  Speaker B: No, I'm validating you because I went through it for years and, and as an audience, people would love it. They'd be like, that was really cool, like, with it, you know, but any musician would be like, that thing. It's not a real drum. Cool. Well, then maybe get me a real drummer to luggage drum set and set up.
• 44:59
  Speaker A: Like, I can't pay people. I'm so poor.
• 45:01
  Speaker C: How am I gonna be like, can you carry all these drums and play and practice and I have no money to give?
• 45:06
  Speaker B: Be like, no, just take this thing that's the size of a guitar pedal that has inch output, and then I'll use that and it'll be fine.
• 45:13
  Speaker C: And like we were saying earlier about the combining the synthetic components with the core.
• 45:21
  Speaker B: It's accentuating the talent.
• 45:23
  Speaker C: Yes, it is.
• 45:24
  Speaker B: It's hiding the talent.
• 45:25
  Speaker C: Yes. It's like I couldn't come up with an analogy, but you know.
• 45:30
  Speaker B: Yeah, I get it. And with that, if you ever need any, because I've been playing the fuck out of some acoustic guitar lately. So if you need an acoustic guitar player or a bass player, I will. I'm your guy.
• 45:40
  Speaker C: I. Thank you.
• 45:40
  Speaker B: I got you. Because that. My actual instrument was always acoustic guitar until four years ago I switched to bass. And then so now, now I'm technically a multi instrument, multi hyphenate.
• 45:55
  Speaker C: Andy Skillen.
• 45:57
  Speaker A: Yeah.
• 45:58
  Speaker C: All right, well, cool.
• 45:58
  Speaker B: Well, you know, we gotta kind of wrap things up because, you know, I guess we'll do breaking news on the podcast, but I'm. I'm gonna do an article on you for print for Metroland. And we're actually going to do that interview since you're here. We're going to do that now. So we'll wrap this up with. With another song off the album. So which one did we want to play?
• 46:21
  Speaker A: So this next one's going to be.
• 46:23
  Speaker C: The closing track of the album. It's called Nostalgia. It's really centered around peace and presence. I wanted to have a sonically happy ending to this record. And I think it really encapsulates what it feels like to be in a good place mentally and to just be at peace.
• 46:42
  Speaker B: Nice. I love that. And what was it called?
• 46:44
  Speaker C: Nostalgia.
• 46:45
  Speaker B: All right, well, cool. And the album comes out on the 13th.
• 46:48
  Speaker C: February 13th, same day as Indie Whims.
• 46:50
  Speaker B: Yeah. So you're getting. You're getting a sneak preview of this, so make sure to check that out. But right now, let's check out Nostalgia. Keegan James, they'll be right back to wrap it up.
• 47:07
  Speaker C: Hey.
• 47:11
  Speaker A: Tastes like supper in the afternoon Stretching in the sun to a country tune this is all I want manifesting small There's a rainbow shining in my head Making everything look better Than a red sunset set on a lake once new In a time when I knew how to focus, how to smile how to look in the mirror and tell myself it's going to be all right. How to listen, how to talk, when to give myself a hug. Cause there's no one there to give me love. There's a singer standing on the stage Thinking how it's super crazy how much things can change in a month or two. There's a boy looking in my eye Making sense of all the crazy shit that's in my mind but the pain's gone now as he's showing me now how to focus, how to smile how to look in the mirror and tell myself it's gonna be all right.
• 48:56
  Speaker C: It'S.
• 48:56
  Speaker A: Gonna be all right oh, and just listen how he talks, how he'll give me a hug Cuz all I need is just a little love hey, man. It'll be all right wow. It's going to be all right.
• 49:46
  Speaker B: That was Nostalgia with Keegan James. And Keegan, I want to thank you so much for coming out and doing this. It was really cool. Like, I was a little nervous again that the den was so cold. And I was like, yeah, it seems weird doing it in the living room, but it's okay.
• 49:59
  Speaker C: I live in an apartment. It's fucking freezing.
• 50:03
  Speaker B: It's nice and cozy in here.
• 50:05
  Speaker C: It's actually a lot warmer here than it is ill.
• 50:07
  Speaker B: I'm not in the fucking Denon. This is fucking freezing in there. But before we go, I want to give you a chance to say what I refer to as your gratitudes.
• 50:18
  Speaker C: I'd like to thank the sun for rising. I'd like to thank you for the latte. It really is keeping me alive right now.
• 50:25
  Speaker B: Yeah, you are welcome.
• 50:27
  Speaker C: I'd like to thank.
• 50:30
  Speaker A: My body for.
• 50:32
  Speaker C: Moving and being able and for my car for getting here safe and for everyone who's a part of the music community, everyone who's nice, you know, not the mean. You off? I. I actually. I want to thank the positive affirmations that I did in the car on the way here.
• 50:58
  Speaker B: That works too.
• 51:00
  Speaker C: Yeah. And if you're a listener, someone especially who comes back to my music consistently. I want to thank you and say thank you. Sorry, my brain's really getting fried. Yeah, I think that's all I got. Thank you for having me. Thank you for letting me chat about myself and doing a little impromptu therapy sesh. I love them. Hell yeah.
• 51:24
  Speaker B: All right, so he is Keegan James. I am Andy scullin. This is unsigned 518. I'll see you on the road. Unsigned 518 is produced and hosted by me, Andy Scullin. New episodes are available every week wherever you stream podcasts. If you'd like to help support the show, please like and subscribe wherever you are listening. Or you can. You could buy me a coffee@buymeacoffee.com unsigned 518 if you would like to advertise on the show, send me an email at unsigned518mail.com and to be a guest on the show, reach out to me through Instagram at unsigned518. Take care of one another and I'll see you next week.
• 52:10
  Speaker A: And sculling.