Success is not a one-size fits all metric. Fortunately, Keithian knows this exceptionally well. As an award-winning filmmaker, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, the New Orleans-raised musician has learned that achievement is all based on perspective.
From fighting for support on a major label to penning songs for some of music’s biggest names, Keithian is forging his own path. Now flourishing as an independent act, the talent has found his groove. Earning top ten placement on the R&B music charts with “Chance?” and several television appearances to his belt, including Fox Soul, Keithian is R&B’s gem waiting to be put on full display.
Currently on the road with Vedo on The Mood Swings Tour, I caught up with him to discuss the tour, his EP Green Clouds, new singles “Ways” and “Bullsh*t,” as well as his journey as a newly independent artist. Read the full interview below.
One of the things I love the most about your story is that you haven’t felt confined as an artist. Artists are now rejecting the idea of ‘I need to be signed to a major for me to feel successful.’ Could you tell me about your experience formerly signed to a major and as an independent artist?
The difference is getting a chance to do everything you’re saying – to explore. When I was with a major, it was like, ‘Hey, we have no money,’ or ‘We don’t have the right person.’ When I was signed, the president of the label left. Then my A&R team left. Even though I wasn’t doing anything, they told me at the beginning, ‘You should do it this way. You should do it that way.’ Then they kind of left me. So I realized, you know what, let me step out of this. Let me refocus on what it takes me to be who I am as an artist.
I started to find my brand. I connected with a producer that I enjoy working with instead of working with plenty of them. Then just start churning out the way it feels. Now, we just make sure we put out the records that make sense. We are always analyzing how the music feels or where we should go next. The maneuvering is a lot faster. I would be interested in going back into a deal if it makes sense. If the label allows us to continue doing what we’re doing, quite frankly. In my opinion, labels are just banks and marketing machines.
Another interesting thing about your artistic journey is your love for songwriting. Each of your songs comes from such a vulnerable place. And I can imagine how stepping back into that every night when you’re on stage could drum up so many emotions. So tell me about your journey as a songwriter.
My journey as a songwriter was out of innocence. As a kid, I didn’t know that other artists didn’t write their songs. I just thought that that was a part of being a singer. What was interesting and more challenging was involved with the label. I was working with writing camps. You’re just writing what you feel, and at the end, someone picks it up. Maybe. Maybe not. And for me, the way I’ve always written is literally from inspiration.
Whether it’s from me or just someone next to me, I put my feelings into a song. Then it goes to be pitched to Rihanna, etc. If she doesn’t feel the same, I’m like, ‘What am I doing this for?’ Writing with different artists and producing feels good because you can feel their energy. I’ve been learning to do that way more than I ever did in the past.
So my newest music, I tell my family and my friends basically like if you ever really want to know what’s going on, listen to the lyrics. And that’s like a beautiful thing – reliving them, especially. Right now, while I’m on tour, every night is the best feeling ever because it’s kind of a secret revenge as I’m looking at the audience.
With that said, we have the writer strike going on in Hollywood. And then we have everything with AI, like Chat GPT. What are your thoughts on that?
Technology’s always going to be there. But what’s weird is that technology doesn’t emote emotion, you know? So, I feel that might happen, but in the end, there’s a certain emotion that happens with songwriting. I don’t see or can understand a future where AI can emote emotion. Labels want to use AI. They’ve already signed the AI rapper and had to get rid of the rapper because of the controversy. They’re just going to put themselves further back, quite frankly.
Speaking of emotions, you just passed the one-year anniversary of the release of your EP Green Clouds. How has the project been received so far?
Really good! I’m not kidding you. I’m still buzzing off this session, that feeling or whatever, aka green clouds. It’s funny because it’s a legendary album for me. Personally, I was going through so much stuff. I think this was the first time I really wrote how I was feeling. When I mentioned that, I put those names in it; there are names in that EP.
So, it was released as a sort of therapy session related to the passing of your brother, Malcolm, who was a longtime collaborator. How has that grief process been for you and your music?
My brother Kendall, and then my brother Malcolm. Malcolm was my longtime mixing and mastering engineer. I knew them as a teenager. I lost both of them in the middle of the project. I was just in a dark place. People sometimes say, ‘Oh, you should take a break.’ But we do this for work, and it’s therapeutic.
It makes sense to continue to record it. To put my real emotions and how I’m feeling into the music. As we were mixing and mastering, we mixed two songs, and Malcolm was a part of it. But then he passed in the middle of one of the last few songs. We talked to him on Monday and found out he passed on that Wednesday. It was insane.
That’s why it sits so well with me. The project’s cover is like I’m rising. I’m floating. It’s angelic to me. It feels like it’s a halo over me because of them. That’s forever going to be a turning point.
Speaking of turning points, let’s talk about the single “Ways.” So what was the inspiration behind it?
‘Ways’ is straight up with exactly what you said. I’ve been feeling ways – straight up. It’s like the beginning of a relationship. It’s kind of like this is where I’m feeling we’ve been doing all this fun stuff, but I have been feeling ways even though we’re trying not to be there.
What about your new song, “Bullsh*t?”
Bullsh*t is, I think, the climax of the relationship where you’re like, ‘This is bullsh*t.’ So, I’m probably going to get a phone call when the rest of this EP and all the rest is music start coming out. I don’t know if she can cuss me out. I don’t know what she will do, but all I can say is…this is your fault.
You’re currently on tour with Vedo’s The Mood Swings Tour. How did that come about?
That was all my manager! He reached out to me with the opportunity to tell me, ‘I think we’re going to go on tour with him.’ It happened just like that. I think it was perfect. I think the timing is great. Vedo is incredible. Everybody on the tour is a music person. True music lovers. We just finished the fourth show and were all cool collectively collaborating already. Like so backstage. We’re singing, and I’m looking over here, and Vedo is singing, and I’m like, wow, ‘I just saw Vedo last year with Usher and Eric Bellinger.’ It’s just really inspiring.
Earlier, you hinted that a new project is in the works. What’s next? Is it going to be another EP? Amount of songs? When can we expect it?
You can expect this soon. We’re in the process of completing it now. We were at the studio the night before last adding to it. So we’re doing right now, just going through this tour and finishing it up. Getting a feeling with the fans, then we’re going to decide. You’re going to get something at least every month.
Do you want more of Keithian? Be sure to connect with Keithian across your preferred social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok. To listen to Keithian’s EP Green Clouds continue below.
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