The World of Keshi: A deep dive into the vibrant identity during the golden hour of youth

“I understand more than ever why they say that your twenties are the best era in your life. It is like how I had almost three different lives during that period,” Keshi reminisces. To him, it isn't easy to choose one most memorable moment because everything was dreamlike, either as a normal person or a humble young artist who wrote gentle songs that went viral on SoundCloud from his bedroom. During that time, Keshi talks about his fame as though it was only legit when he participated in Late Night With Seth Meyers alongside his teammates, on the same day that he performed at the legendary Radio City Music Hall, in New York. “I feel like I was at the peak of what I worked hard to achieve, as if all the decisions I made in my life happened right at that moment. When it ended, everyone sat in the hotel’s lobby to watch our performance on TV. Even when we were exhausted cause we just performed at the most iconic place, no one wanted to miss this broadcast debut. That is one of my fondest memories.” – Keshi shared.

In 2020, Keshi used to share that he felt like his music had become “no fun” and “lost its authenticity”. He felt lost and did not know where to go. Yet, with the support of producer Elie Rizk, Keshi sought changes in his music and rediscovered his passion, as well as a new direction for his music. Regarding this rough patch, he says: “The pressures that I have to endure never fade but I feel like I am no longer the only person to carry that weight.” 

Although Keshi is trying to grasp a life where many things are uncertain as a young musician with a unique and emotional sound, he is not letting that prevent him from rising upward. The album Requiem will be out September 2024 marking the maturity in Keshi’s music. The album has a more grandeur vibe and is tailor-made for performing on stage. Keshi also noted that his writing skills have been much improved after years of performing. He also poured his heart and soul into the vocal performance of this album.

Right now, with the number of international fans he has, Keshi has found a way to balance his personal creativity with attracting millions of fans through dissecting deeply relatable personal pains and experiences, including struggling with being exposed to the public eyes, deciding between his multiple identities to find his calling, moving far from home to pursue his dream, relying on fame to overcome self-doubt, sincerely connecting with someone, as well as sensuous moments, among many others.

Up until now, Keshi’s music has matured and is ready to conquer bigger stages. His artistic visions have been slowly realized one concert at a time. This is an arduous journey that Keshi details: “At every intersection, my idea about a live concert always gets diminished because there is no way I can tour without getting into debt. No artist in the world would not want to produce music on large scales if they could, but to strike a balance between what is meaningful and practical, between production cost and creative vision, it is the most brutal “ritual” in any touring process.”

Moving from intimate performances to big stages, facing crowds with over 20,000 people, the performer must mentally prepare, especially when they are the type of artist who starts by writing hit songs in his bedroom. From this private space, Keshi shared that he was nervous when he first stepped onto the stage, but after so many performances, his anxiety dissipated. This is solid evidence proving that he has matured as a performer. The performing experiences also impact the way he creates new music in Requiem. Each song on the album is designed to create memorable, emotional moments that keep people reminiscing.

So, right now, is Keshi still worried about his future?

“I will only be more anxious (smiles). It is like I am on a rollercoaster that only goes higher and higher; however, we can always enjoy the ride.” – Keshi muses.