Unsigned518 - Episode 184 - Keegan James

[00:00:01] Speaker A: He was born on a Saturday in 73 he loves punk rock music fighting the 13 cabin in the dazzle Jazz on the beat Guitar with the short with radio back his motherfucking envy Scrolling look at motherfucker, cuz here he comes Andy Scrolling wearing his or his hat. [00:00:27] Speaker B: Welcome to Unsigned Fire. I'm here with Keegan James. [00:00:31] Speaker C: Hello. How are we? [00:00:32] Speaker B: I am good. And you know, this is, you know, I said it's going to be like an introduction. You know, we're going to. We met what, five minutes ago, literally. [00:00:41] Speaker C: I came in from the dog and I was so excited. [00:00:43] Speaker B: Yeah. And Calvin will be, you know, just for everybody listening. They all know Calvin. He makes appearances. Like at some point during this conversation. [00:00:51] Speaker C: He'S going to steal the interview. [00:00:53] Speaker B: He will be coming in to steal the interview because Katie, my wife, has to leave. And then Calvin has fomo, so he can't be outside. [00:01:02] Speaker C: So we look forward to having him. [00:01:03] Speaker B: Yeah, he'll be in like a. Like a messy hurricane, like pig pen from the Peanuts cartoon. That's what he's like sometimes. But anyway, we're not here to talk about Calvin, but I mean, we could all day. But we're here to talk about you and I guess more specifically you, your music. And, you know, you just released a single, like, less than two weeks ago, right? [00:01:28] Speaker C: I actually think it was like a week and two days. [00:01:30] Speaker B: Oh, okay. So less than. Less than two weeks. If we're going by Price is Right rules, I'm in. We're bringing you up on stage, like, closest. Spin the wheel closest without going over. But yeah, we want to talk about, I guess, your. Your history with music. Kind of like how it leads up to today. You know, whether it's your. Your influences or kind of how you were introduced with music or knew that the music was in you, because, like, I feel like that's a lot with musicians. They're just like, I don't know, it's fucking here, you know? [00:02:02] Speaker C: Yeah. So I've had a very unique life and childhood. I've always been a creative kid. I'm still a kid. I'm 23, but I'm still a kid. And I remember, like, as far back as I can remember, I was not even just like, traditionally, like, oh, I like to draw, I like to sing. I'd be, like, making rock sculptures in, like, the backyard. Or like, we had a creek behind our house where I'd go back there and I would, like, landscape. And, like, I always just had a creative eye and ear. So then when I got to A point to where I started to find love for music. I really just dove in. And I also have really bad adhd, so I was always bouncing from one thing to the next. But my real love for music probably kicked in when I was in second grade. My music class was where I felt the safest. Even though I had a teacher love her, if she ever hears this, I love you so much. But she was so freaking scary and I was so intimidated. But for some reason, her room was where I felt the safest and where I felt most capable. And it was the only room in the school as a kid with ADHD where I didn't feel like I was behind everyone else. And so that was like kind of a wake up, oh, what's the word I wanna use? You know, like those moments where you, like, realize you exist. It was like epiphany or like a, like, gaining consciousness moment where I. It was like, such a jarring experience for someone to be like, you're good at this. Me being, like, me good at something. And. Yeah, so then I always just started singing. I. Oh, my God, this is so messy of an introduction. I also was like a kid that stimmed really bad. I'm definitely on the spectrum. Even though they never got me tested and part of, like, stimming not only, like, things with my hands or things that people could see, I used singing as a way to, like, get out my stims. So I was always singing, I was always making noise. And to some people, it was probably really annoying. But as I got older and the more that I, like, grew into that and using it as a mechanism to cope with whatever is going on in my crazy mind, people started to notice that around me. My teachers, my parents, my family. And when I got into second grade, my teacher started like, like an elementary school idol thing where at the end of class we were, like, sitting around a table and we would all just, like, sing a song or something. And then moving into third grade, my teacher then loved her. She would have me, like, sing at snack time, like, go up to the front of the room, and they would always have me sing a song. And it was like having my own little intimate performance with all the kids. And it was just really awesome that my teacher gave me that moment to shine, because I'm sure as a teacher, she could see that I struggled in so many other areas. But that was, like, my moment to really make sure that I had, like, a good day and give me a moment to feel special. And so that, like, sparked my love for Performing and probably having attention. But then the ADHD kicked in and going into, like, middle school and everything, I kind of fell out of it. I started to, like, get into drawing and graphic design and looking back at all these things, even though it's such a messy path that I've taken, it was great because it built up so many different skills. So, like, without having that kind of. [00:06:30] Speaker B: And all creative. [00:06:31] Speaker C: Yes. Getting into so many different aspects of creativity. So, like, now I have some sort of background in knowing how to design my own logos, creating a website, business cards. Like, there's so many other things I feel like people don't talk about that. There are so many other things to being an artist other than just like creating the music. [00:06:52] Speaker B: I mean, if you want to talk about that, I'm so down with that because, like, I do social media for a day job. [00:06:58] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:06:59] Speaker B: And, like, I hear. All I hear is people on social media. And I'm like, do you not understand that you're in control and you get to control it? There's nobody being like, hey, Keegan, this is what we're doing, you know? And you're like, what? That's not me. And they're like, shut up. This is what we're doing. [00:07:14] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:07:15] Speaker B: Even though it's work. [00:07:16] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:07:17] Speaker B: Like. And that's all I hear is people being like, oh, I hate. You know, I hate that I have to be a content creator. Yeah, you're a musician. You're a musician. Music is content. Yes, you are a content creator. [00:07:30] Speaker C: Especially now that, like, with social media, people's. I don't want to use the word attention spans, but, like, the level of material that it takes to keep people interested. The music just isn't enough. You got to be able to build that whole world, especially living in a world that is so God awful. You've gotta give people a place to escape. [00:07:57] Speaker B: You have to shift. [00:07:58] Speaker C: Yes. [00:07:58] Speaker B: Like, you have to shift constantly. What's relevant for a musician to do now? It's gonna be irrelevant in eight months. [00:08:06] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:08:07] Speaker B: You know what I mean? Because people are gonna be doing something different. And yeah, you have to. And if you don't want to, that's fine. But, like, don't blame it on. [00:08:17] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:08:17] Speaker B: The marketing, you know what I mean? Because, like, you have to. Have to do that if you want to be hit a certain level of success. You could be like, me, who's just like, I don't give a shit if we ever get even locally famous. Like, I don't care, you know? Yeah. I just like making music because it's super fun and, yeah, for sure. But. [00:08:37] Speaker C: Going back to wherever the hell that I got lost. [00:08:42] Speaker B: I think you were in, we just. [00:08:44] Speaker C: You. [00:08:44] Speaker B: Your teacher had given you, like, a platform to perform in front of of people and kind of giving you a spotlight, which I think is important for teachers to do, you know, not just, like, the court, you know, I was in chorus or whatever, but there was never a chance for the people with the talent to shine. I was either in the marching band, where I was just a number, or a chorus, where I was a number. So as soon as you said that, I was like, man, I wish more people would do that. Wow, this kid's really good at singing and music and being creative. Let's give them a platform. Because just getting up in front of your fellow students at that age laid out such an advantage at your age. [00:09:30] Speaker C: It created a whole world for my future that they might not even know. [00:09:33] Speaker B: Like, or would have to discover on their own decades later on. Like, you already knew how to open that door. [00:09:42] Speaker C: Yeah. Oh, my God. If I say yeah one more time, cut off my arm. [00:09:49] Speaker B: If you listen back to this episode, you may not have noticed it now, but I say the word like as if I were at a mall in the 80s. Like, yeah, I just said it right there. I say like so much. And sometimes I edit, you know, because I do my own editing. Sometimes I pull. I'm like, holy fuck. I just said like. [00:10:10] Speaker C: Like, you know when YouTubers used to do, like, the cut thing, where mine would. [00:10:15] Speaker B: Mine would just look like. People would be like, it's something glitching. [00:10:19] Speaker C: I'm dead. [00:10:19] Speaker B: Every time I say, like, yeah. [00:10:25] Speaker C: Oh, God. Okay, let's get back on track. So anyway, child. Yep. So I felt like a pretty cool cat when I was in elementary school. Middle school. Not so rough. Sorry. A little bit more rough. [00:10:40] Speaker B: Right? Right. [00:10:42] Speaker C: Chorus was still my safe place, even though it wasn't what I was planning for my future. I was a superstar in middle school. They. The chorus teacher that I had in sixth grade, everyone hated. Like, he was just so mean, but I was his favorite. [00:11:07] Speaker B: Oh, wow. [00:11:07] Speaker C: And that always ended up being the situation. All of my teachers disliked me, at least in, like, how I felt they did. But the teachers that everyone else hated, specifically the art teachers, loved me. [00:11:23] Speaker B: It could just be that you're taking their specific focus seriously and none of. [00:11:27] Speaker C: The other and no one else did. It was just such an interesting experience to be a child and not be at all in the same world as everyone else. So then I was always getting solos in chorus. They always wanted me to have my own performance of. My first song that I sang on stage was an Ariana Grande song. It was called Piano. It was deep into her first album. Not at all one of the hits. But I remember I hit this high note near the end of it. Cause back then it was like I had a little squeaky little voice. And the whole audience blew up. We had a huge auditorium. And I remember my parents afterwards. Cause I was such a quiet kid at home. I kept to myself. I was outside, I was in my room. I was just, you know, playing with toys. I didn't really allow anyone close to me to like, know what was really going on in my mind. So then when they came to that performance and they saw me shine like that, they were like shocked. They had no idea that that was something I was even really interested in. Cause it was something that I specifically kept at school. And I like lived this double life when I was a kid. [00:12:55] Speaker B: Is that something like, did they. Were your parents or anyone in your household, like musical? [00:13:02] Speaker C: No. [00:13:02] Speaker B: Yeah, See, I can relate to that as well. Cause it was the same thing. [00:13:06] Speaker C: I think secretly my dad is. He was a DJ before I was born. [00:13:11] Speaker B: But there wasn't like a piano. And you'd sit around and do sing alongs or anything. [00:13:16] Speaker C: Not that they participated in. We always had wacky shit. I always say that growing up, I felt like I was in an episode of Family Guy all the time. Like my dad would come home with the most random shit. All of a sudden there's an organ in the dining room. When I was in kindergarten, he came home with a goddamn limo. There was just this old lady who was an alcoholic and would pay people to drive her around. And she was getting old and she was selling it. And my dad was like, a limo, Cheap. [00:13:46] Speaker A: Let me buy it. [00:13:47] Speaker C: It was like coming home with the fucking Peter copter. It was. It was such a crazy childhood. I love. I feel so grateful. So, yeah, like there were instruments around. There was always like a guitar in my dad's closet. And I'd like fiddle around. I don't know how to play guitar. I would just like on it. But it was always in my presence and it would like those things in the house always called to me for some reason. And perhaps it has to do with all those other things. But regardless, moving forward. After being a middle school star, I got into high school and then really needed to start working on my social skills. And the music program in my high school was not that great. So I turned into theater and theater was wonderful for me at that time in my youth because it helped me work on extended thought as a kid with ADHD who did not know where my thoughts began and end. To finally have something tactile for me to not just like read through a book in English class that I could not focus on. It was not only that I was reading through a whole libretto, it was paired with having to dance at certain spots and turning words into song and really understanding specific bits of it in a kinesthetic way. [00:15:11] Speaker B: And it constantly makes you think of a whole instead of just like, you know, you're like, I gotta do this and I gotta do this, and then this happens and then this happens and this, this happens. And like, because I'm like, I'm fucking old. I'm in my 50s. So, like, you know, when I was a kid, it was like the 70s and 80s and like, I'm pretty sure I was ADHD, like. But like, they were just like, you're fucking weird, kid. You know what I mean? So, like, all the things you're saying, I'm like, holy fuck. Yeah, I could totally, 100% relate to that. [00:15:44] Speaker C: It was. I was so passionate about theater. I thought that was gonna be my future because I was just so in awe of the way that I could see that, not only for me, that it was such a good place to build community because you spent so much time around this random group of different people and all of a sudden you had to be like, lifting them up and you're changing in the same room together. And it was so intimate and kind of weird. Theater's kind of weird, but it really pulled people out of their shells. And I thought that was so special. But then Covid came around and Covid was a crazy thing for everyone. I feel like every time I ever hear anyone talk about their life, they're like, yeah. And then Covid. [00:16:34] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:16:36] Speaker C: It was such a traumatic experience. [00:16:40] Speaker B: It was a nightmare, everyone. It was a nightmare. [00:16:43] Speaker C: Yeah. During COVID we obviously theater came to a halt. There was no having that many people in a massive space like that, nor that close on stage. And without that in my life, I was like, holy fuck, what am I doing now? And then to get a little dark for a moment, I had a little near death experience at the, like, middle of COVID where I was at some, like, gorge out in Canajoharie, and I got swept away in the current and I went through a waterfall and it was really scary. And I miraculously caught a rock with my hand just flailing and it stopped me from going over the falls, which created a little bit of a mental spiral for me. So then without theater and then having that experience. And then my family was also moving at that time. They were moving down to Florida. So I was in this massive transition period where I'm only 18, people are going to college. It's Covid. My family's moving. I almost died and my biggest passion that I had in my life wasn't there anymore. So I'm like, okay, what do I do? And that's when the roller skates happened. It's so adhd. It's so funny. All of a sudden I became a huge disco freak. Big roller skating energy. I was obsessed. And then I found a new realm of music that I was loving. This disco funk genre just really called out to me. And I remember when I was little, I was loving that earth, wind and fire sound. You know the movie awesome Powers, Goldmember, of course obsessed. So when I started roller skating, that kind of came back around. And then I ended up performing professionally as a disco dance skater with Nile Rogers team. There was this big disco event in New York City called Discoasis and it was curated by Nile Rogers and this Broadway production company. And I ended up getting cast as their swing and their dance captain, which was super exciting. Like so freaking random. Like, how did I go from being the kid that sang in front of the class and wanted to be a graphic designer to all of a sudden I'm a fucking disco roller skater? It was another just character building moment and helped me work on my like, more social skills, etc. [00:19:41] Speaker B: God, I hate those fucking motorcycles. I'm like, really? Dudes? I'm trying to fucking record in here. [00:19:51] Speaker C: Don't they know that I already can't keep a simple thought? Yeah. So the whole roller skating thing happened. It brought a new layer to my personality and gave me a new hyper fixation to deal with. And that also consumed my life. I didn't think it was gonna be my end all be all. I always was like, this isn't my top of the mountain. I always knew in my mind that music was where I was coming back to. So then when I was living in the city at that time and I was working for Discoasis at home, I go back and I'd start writing songs again. And I remember the like first song that I wrote when I was living in the city. And then I was like, jesus Christ, where's my piano at? I need it right now. And I felt it like, call back out to me. And I knew that when that contract was done, I was ready to, like, really follow my true personal legend, my destiny. This is what I've always known I wanted to do, and I was finally ready to jump into it. So here we are. You're probably wondering, Keegan, how did you end up in Albany? I don't know. I don't know how I got here. I went back to Florida for a little bit, and then I came up here to do choreographing for a children's theater with one of my friends, and I just never left. [00:21:21] Speaker B: Oh, wow. [00:21:22] Speaker C: And I grew up in Amsterdam. I don't know if you knew that. Just a little ways past. [00:21:26] Speaker B: Okay, I was just about to ask. [00:21:28] Speaker C: Yeah. Wonderful little town to grow up in. Very diverse. Lots of different characters that live there. So then coming back here, I never thought that I was gonna come back to the Capital Region. I just was always someone who needed to jump from thing to thing, that I was like, I can't live in one place. It's not. I didn't think it was possible, but then I met Shannon Taya, and Hunter Frost, and I literally met them when I performed at the Troy Farmer's market for the first time. I was so anxious, so, like, scared to be there. I felt like people talked so highly of the farmers market that when I got there, I was, like, desperately trying to, like, find someone to tell me where to go. And my boyfriend that I was there with, we were looking for the organizer, and he went up to the tent where Shannon was singing and was like, I'm looking. We were looking for Aaron, the woman who runs it. And my boyfriend goes up, and he's like, we're looking for Shannon. She looks over, and she was like, me. And I was like, no, guy. We're not looking for Shannon. Hi, Shannon. We're looking for Aaron. And ever since then, we were like, besties. We went and got coffee after that, and we just realized we had such similar goals, and we just clicked so instantly. [00:22:49] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, that's how you came on my radar is through Shannon. [00:22:52] Speaker C: Yeah. I owe so much to them. Shannon, Hunter, the whole troupe. I don't know if you know that. I, like, am their official opener. Whenever they do shows and they need an opener, I'm their first call. I'm also their designated dog sitter. [00:23:08] Speaker B: Nice. [00:23:11] Speaker C: But, yeah, they have been teaching me so much about the local community and how to be an artist in this community. I don't. I don't know. It's such an. It's so hard. An interesting thing to be an artist and find people to connect with because we're all so different. [00:23:40] Speaker B: Yeah, but we're not, you know, like out the outlets, the artistic outlets are certainly different. And I guess like, personalities could be different. But in this scene, what I found more than anything is that a community has been built by people who are not the same except for their mutual respect for each other. [00:24:03] Speaker C: And like, that's so true. [00:24:04] Speaker B: That's all it takes. You know what I mean? It's like people can be different, but be like, well, I respect that person when that person respects me. And so we like each other. Like, it's just like, I don't know, like a couple of fucking random animals in the woods that you're like, is that a, you know, a hippo and a lemur hanging out together? Like, what's going on there? [00:24:24] Speaker C: You know? Like, that's so true. [00:24:25] Speaker B: They just like each other and that's. That's all that is, you know, so. But I think that's kind of special to this area. [00:24:33] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:24:34] Speaker B: Because I've definitely seen scenes that are not. [00:24:38] Speaker C: It's really wonderful here. It took me quite a long time to get in to find where the people were at. That's the hardest thing I've found about. I don't know if it's like this everywhere. It could totally be like this everywhere. But when I came back and I decided I wanted to really dive into music, I couldn't find the scene. I didn't know where to go. I didn't know where to. [00:25:10] Speaker B: That makes sense. [00:25:11] Speaker C: And it's not just music that's like that here. I hear it from everyone that I talk to. They're always saying like, yeah, I just feel like there's nothing to do here. There's no community. And I was like, no, you're wrong. We just. We can't find each other. [00:25:23] Speaker B: Yeah. That's what I'm trying to do here, you know, is help people find each other. [00:25:28] Speaker C: I'm so grateful for this and for being here and that you do this. Yeah. And that was a very messy and gap filled story of how I ended up here. [00:25:41] Speaker B: And I'm a musician, but we should hear a song. We're gonna hear the single that just came out nine days ago called Keegan's Lament. So why don't you tell us a little bit about the song before we hear it? [00:25:58] Speaker C: Keegan's Lament, I wrote two years ago after I was done with Discoasis when I decided I was going back in music. In a point in my life where I was feeling very lost. You know, every time a dream comes true, you have to figure out what's going to be next for you. And that was so scary. And I was going through a breakup and I was having a conversation with my friend, just really, like, trying to get down to the root of, like, what the hell had happened. I was feeling very blindsided. And I am also a huge people pleaser. So, like, trying to finally say to myself, like, no, I didn't do something wrong. It's actually, you're the fucking problem. [00:26:47] Speaker B: Yeah, that's. That's a powerful realization to come to you. [00:26:51] Speaker C: And. And I don't have a lot of spaces where I feel like I can comfortably complain and not feel bad about it. And that's kind of what music is turning into for me. Even though that's not what my dream was, it's not what I saw for myself. I've always wanted to just be like a positive light ray of sunshine where everything's okay. [00:27:15] Speaker B: Your complaint could be somebody else's ray of sunshine. Oh, you're just saying. [00:27:20] Speaker C: I love that. Yeah. So this song, as it's titled Keegan's Lament, is like, me finally showing that I've had enough. Yeah. I hope they like it. [00:27:34] Speaker B: All right, cool. Well, let's check out Keegan's Lament. Keegan James. And we'll be right back. [00:27:44] Speaker C: Oh, boy. [00:27:48] Speaker A: Oh, you don't need to clear the air Cause there ain't a cloud in my sky. Baby, I think you need a moment to purify your mind I don't need. [00:28:01] Speaker C: Excuses and I don't want to hear you cry. [00:28:05] Speaker A: Cause I'm a doing more than survive I' ma thrive in the moment I wanna believe that you care but the empathy you're feeling Is really about how you look in that mirror. [00:28:22] Speaker C: Why don't. [00:28:23] Speaker A: You try to let that sink in? Oh, you're saying kickin please don't hate me though I was bad to you? I don't want you to move on despite the pain he made. Cause you will prove fucking who? Mmm, that's too bad for you. Oh, and you're so selfish? I don't wanna hear your words? You don't talk like I'm human the one that you hurt, yeah, it's unspoken and I'm gonna tell you why? If you throw away my heart Baby, you do not deserve my mind no, that's for me. My mind is for me. It's an oasis Nothing like where we met it's where the sun is always shining and I'm feeling my best it's where I keep my tools fill my fuel and therapy will help me get rid of you from this island where my palm trees sway Where I jump into the ocean and I wash my cares away Baby, I don't forget I just remember when fate took you away I found summer in December Baby, that's for me, that's me. Oh, my mind is for me so hard being me so hard, baby, nothing like me, you better believe. [00:30:45] Speaker B: All right, that was Keegan's lament. And so, Keegan, that is the second single that just came out, you know, a week ago or so as. As we're recording. And then you have another single that came out sometime earlier in the year, around Valentine. So I guess, tell me, like, when did you make that switch to be like, you know what? Now I'm writing these songs, I'm recording these songs, and I'm releasing them. [00:31:10] Speaker C: Yeah, I produce my own music, I write my own. I do everything on my own. And so back a couple years ago when I was down at my parents and I was starting to really get into the depths of how to even begin producing your own song, I was just kind of playing around. I was trying to figure out what I wanted my themes to be, what I wanted to sound like. And even that is still something that's always evolving. I feel like you just. You can't do that. [00:31:47] Speaker B: Yeah, you have to put it out. And then, you know, maybe 10 singles from now, you'd be like, all right, now I'm starting. Starting to get. Yeah. [00:31:54] Speaker C: So I had released a couple singles that are no longer streaming services. Not that I thought they were bad, but I was just like. It felt very non cohesive, non representative. [00:32:10] Speaker B: Of what you were. [00:32:11] Speaker C: And I didn't want people to search me and find that and then be like, wow, it was fucking God awful. So when I got to Mr. Monroe, which is the song I released on Valentine's Day, it was something that just flowed out of me so easily. I feel like I literally wrote it in a night. And I had started taking audio engineering courses down in Del Mar with. I think it was Blue Sky Studios. I could totally be wrong. I forgot the name. But he helped me figure out how to really craft the sound I was looking to get with that piece. And because it just flowed out so easy and felt so connecting to the emotions that I needed to get out and let go of, I was like, this. This is what I want to start with. It was the first song that I really found, like, a creative vision, a world around. I did, like, this whole video photo shoot in the Capitol in Albany in, like, this black jumpsuit. And the lore behind it is kind of shady. Like, I. I'm not gonna air myself out here with it, but it was my first time where I found artistic expression in a way that was subtle and felt very detailed. And I was so proud of it that I was like, I think I'm ready now. So I released that one, and I really got a good response out of it, and I felt very good. And that's where it began, I guess. Nice. [00:34:10] Speaker B: And so, you know, writing, like, your own song. And like you said, you're obviously. I'm certainly not gonna ask you to air, like, you know, the meaning behind it or whatever, but, like, having a song where the meaning behind it is so deeply personal to you and, like, those lyrics make so much fucking sense to you, but are ambiguous enough where just somebody listening isn't going to, like. There's something about that that I like. [00:34:37] Speaker C: That it leaves questions, but also gives room for the listener to build their own story on. [00:34:43] Speaker B: Correct. But no matter what they decide that they think the song is about, it's already lifted off of you. [00:34:50] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:34:50] Speaker B: You know what I mean? [00:34:51] Speaker C: I'm like, oh. They're like, who is Mr. Monroe? And I'm like, wouldn't you like to know? [00:34:59] Speaker B: And like it? [00:35:00] Speaker C: Only he knows. [00:35:01] Speaker B: It is funny. Like, you know, when people interpret something and they. And you just cannot get it out of their head. Like, I had, like, one of the songs that we released. Like, my band released. I wrote, you know, and I wrote the lyrics. And he was like, who? You know, who's the girl? Who's it about? I'm like, it's not about a girl. He's like, who is it? And I'm like, dude, it's not like I wrote the song. Like, I know. [00:35:24] Speaker C: Cool. [00:35:25] Speaker B: Especially when an old boss at work. [00:35:27] Speaker C: It like, gives you a place to, like, not take it so seriously, too. Where it's like, yeah, I wrote this song. It could be about this. But also, I just kind of wrote it because it made me vibe. [00:35:39] Speaker B: Yeah. And plus, that way you can, you know, write songs that mean absolutely fucking nothing. [00:35:45] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:35:45] Speaker B: That mean nothing. [00:35:46] Speaker C: That you're just like. [00:35:51] Speaker B: You're like, I've just embodied a character and threw out some shit. And people will look for a meaning in that. And that's great because it does allow you to get your own emotions and your very specific feelings about. Very specific feelings or about specific people out without having the negativity into the world. [00:36:12] Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. And I love that it's a good place to be able to get this pent up aggression out while also conveying. [00:36:24] Speaker B: And like I said, you know, your, your complaint could be someone else's race. Like literally your angst and the shit that you went through can help somebody else. And it's not putting negativity out in the world. Even though you're speaking about a negative experience, you're like, I don't know, maybe I'm getting too fucking philosophical. [00:36:46] Speaker C: A little too Rick and Morty here. [00:36:47] Speaker B: Yeah, right. No, I love local music. Podcast. Podcast. But. But yeah, I, I think that's a cool way of looking at songwriting. [00:36:55] Speaker C: Absolutely. [00:36:56] Speaker B: Getting shit out. But we are sort of running out of time because I do have another guest coming in and we talked a lot, which is fantastic. It's fantastic. And it's a great, it's a great sign of a good episode when there's a lot of talk. I love it. I love it. That's why we're here. But we want to hear the song before we go, Mr. Monroe. It's called. Right? [00:37:16] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:37:16] Speaker B: All right, so let's check out Mr. Monroe Keegan James. And we'll be right back to wrap. [00:37:36] Speaker A: So many days I don't remember many dinners I don't talk about you. [00:37:44] Speaker C: Bursting. [00:37:45] Speaker A: My own bubble brain is yelling through the drugs that I use I say the number at the same time look into my blue eyes Stick to all my rituals and hope he doesn't die. I just wanna scream I just wanna be in control like where does he go? What does he tell you about me? Mr. Munro left me alone at the party. One thing for sure, no diamond can replace your heart. Where does he go? What does he tell you about me? Mr. Monroe left me alone at the party. One thing for sure, no diamond can replace your heart. [00:38:37] Speaker C: You keep it under pressure because the status quo is your motivation. You tell me that we're through and. [00:38:48] Speaker A: You be taken on your long vacation On a mission And I'm so goddamn angry On a mission. I wish you'd say you hate me. The universe turns to a poor like where does he go? What does he tell you about me? Mr. Monroe left me alone at the party. One thing for no diamond can replace your heart. Life where does he go? What does he tell you about me? Mr. Monroe left me alone at the party. One thing for sure, no diamond can replace your heart. Replace your heart, replace your heart. No diamond can replace my heart. Replace my heart. Nobody replace my heart Baby, where does it go? What does he tell you about me? Mr. Monroe left me Let me me alone at the party Baby, diamond can replace your heart oh, yeah, babe, where does he go? What does he tell you about me? Mr. Monroe left me alone at the party One thing for sure Blood diamond can replace your heart oh, you keep. [00:40:42] Speaker B: In depression that was Mr. Monroe, Keegan James. And Keegan, I want to thank you so much for coming out and doing this. It was a really fun episode. I haven't laughed this hard on an episode in a while, so that's like. [00:40:55] Speaker C: I love to hear that. [00:40:56] Speaker B: Thank you. That's really fun. But before you go, I want to give you a chance, like I do with all my guests, to say what I refer to as your gratitudes. So the microphone is all yours. [00:41:06] Speaker C: Well, first, I want to thank the Recording Academy. I'm kidding. I want to thank. Obviously, I've talked a lot about Shannon and the troupe and Hunter Frost and their dogs. Truly, biggest, biggest gratitude to them I will never forget. I was literally in a manic cleaning episode in my underwear, standing on the counter, like, reorganizing my dishes. And she called me and was like, we're doing this Taylor Swift theme tour, and our other performer had to drop out because she. I don't know if she broke foot or something. I don't remember, but she was like, any chance you'd be interested? And I was like, okay, hold on. I'm standing on the counter right now, but give me, like, 10 minutes to change and I'll come up there to rehearse. And they were so, so loving and welcoming. And I'll never forget the first time I showed up at Shannon's house for their band rehearsal and just how happy they were to have me there. And that was something I felt like I hadn't felt in a really long time. And I just will always be so grateful for the doors that they've opened up for me and the spaces they've made for me to feel so welcome and for everyone that they've introduced me to. Same thing with DJ Fearless. No one, you know, presents I've. Most of the shows that I've been a part of here have been with him. Yeah, he's a great dude with Shannon and just such a wonderful guy. I want to thank you for having me. This is my first, like, media appearance that I've done up here, and I'm so. I was thrilled. So I want to say thank you again for being okay that I woke. [00:42:44] Speaker B: Up late, totally, totally fine. And that's the best thing about doing this out of my garage on a Sunday. You were like, oh, my God, I'm so sorry. I'm going to be a half hour late. [00:42:54] Speaker C: I woke up and I. It dinged on my calendar that it was like half hour to the interview and I was like, holy shit. I was praying. I didn't know where this town was. So when I saw that, I was praying that it was like 15 minutes away. So thank you. Thank you for bearing with me in my messy brain. [00:43:16] Speaker B: No problem. [00:43:18] Speaker C: I just want to thank everyone who's come to the shows and who has been so kind and supportive and who has said kind words to me and I want to throw out there that if you ever see me in person and I am not as bubbly and loud as I am right now, it's probably because I'm incredibly anxious and you can talk to me and I will be very grateful for everything. Thank you for listening to Mr. Mund. Oh, we x t they played my song the day that it aired. I marched with them in the pride parade. They are awesome. [00:43:52] Speaker B: I love them. [00:43:52] Speaker C: All wonderful people. Yeah. Thank you so much, everyone. Thank you to Calvin for being my emotional support. Next to me on the couch. [00:44:03] Speaker B: Yeah, he does that. All right, cool. Well, he is Keegan James. I am Andy scullin. This is unsigned 518. I'll see you on the road. [00:44:12] Speaker A: Bye. [00:44:14] Speaker B: Unsigned 518 is produced and hosted by me, Andy Scullin. New episode Episodes are available every week wherever you stream podcasts. If you would like to help support the show, please like and subscribe wherever you are listening. Or you could buy me a [email protected] unsigned 518 if you would like to advertise on the show, send me an [email protected] and to be a guest on the show, reach out to me through Instagram. Signed 518 take care of one another and I'll see you next week.