With an impressive production list which includes Drake, Mims, Kyle Lucas, Add-2, Que Billah, Sacario, Young Blaze, and Lungz, this is definitely no rookie. There are so many great things that I can say about this unique, creative, and very talented producer Keeynote. When offered the chance to interview him, I had to jump on it. I sat and thought about exactly how I would do this introduction to properly introduce him but finally decided to quote the intro to his Myspace page which captured him to the fullest!
“The music business is a fickle industry; here today, gone today. Few musicians are built for the long haul, fewer for greatness… Keeynote is built for both . As a producer, Keeynote’s amassed an impressive catalogue in a short period of time: Promise (Positive Vibes) Drake (Young Money/Lil Wayne), Sacario, Add-2, Jerry Blackwell (9th Wonder) are among his many of his clients. Hailing from
We caught up with Keeynote and this is what he had to say:
24: Ok for those who may not know you, tell us a little about what it is you do?
My name is Keeynote; I’m a producer and songwriter. Personally I consider myself a composer because I aim to create an emotional engagement with the audience like the music score to a film.
24: I see you’re a fellow Virginian like myself, tell me a little about your life growing up and how it influenced, if it all, your musical career?
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Virginia to be honest. I moved to Connecticut at an early age but I’m a southern gentleman at heart. I was born in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. My dad worked over at the Pentagon so I’ve always loved the D.C. area.
24: I was checking out one of your interviews and you stated that you dabbled in art, before you found music. If you weren’t producing could you see yourself being an artist of some sort?
I definitely would’ve gone to school for film or design. I was collaborating with these real estate investors on a clothing line last summer but the deal fell through. I’m a very hands-on person and didn’t have the time to oversee the project.
24: Who were some of your greatest influences in the business?
Aside from Quincy Jones I would say my business influences stem from the world of film and clothing. George Lucas and Ralph Lauren were relentless in their work ethic. Their brands have maintained their relevance and integrity.
24: For all those aspiring producers out there, tell us a little bit about the equipment you use when producing?
I work primarily with Abelton Live. I love the interface it’s very easy to navigate. A producer’s ear is the most important equipment though.
24: I love your versatility. That Skinny Jeans joint and You Got Me track were bananas, when producing a track where do you get your inspiration?
Everything. I definitely identify sounds with images. I set up collages to run on one of my computers while I create. Snapshots of images that spark ideas. I want each song to be a clip from the best movie you never saw.
24: In just a short time, you’ve managed to get artists like Drake, Mims, Kyle Lucas, and many more onto your resume, how does that feel?
I’m incredibly blessed. My faith and God and discipline help me take things in stride. With that said I’m my harshest critic and I expect nothing but the best out of myself. There’s definitely no complacency stemming from those records, they only push my art to the next level.
24: Out of everyone, who did you enjoy working with the most and which track is your favorite?
I can’t say I have a particular favorite. All of the tracks are blessings and all those records are entirely different.
24: So I hear you may be doing some records for former Bad Boy recording artist G. Dep, tell us a little bit more about that?
I’m still handling the paperwork on that situation so I can’t speak on the specifics.
24: What makes you different from other producers? If a person hears a Keeynote track, how will they know without a doubt, that it’s you?
Melody. Melody is everything. Emotion is key. I like to call my music ‘pulse music’ because I create songs like shock therapy. I want someone to immediately have a reaction as soon as it comes on.
24: You said in a previous interview that you’re looking to bring that true musical experience back to the game. How will you or how have you been doing that?
Melody and songwriting. Variety in song structure. Hip-Hop can no longer avoid melodies. Musicality is essential in order to grab the listener’s attention. I started off in church choir and playing piano and melody will always trump atonal wordplay. Merging those two is what makes music so exciting right now.
24: What do you think is the cause of this lack of evolution to the game?
I’d disagree and say that music has evolved tremendously over the past two years. I think it’s evolved out of necessity. When the money disappears, people focus on niche marketing to build an audience. In order to have a cult following there needs to be a distinction in your sound and style. They’ll always be followers but it’s not as easy to apply a formula to project success.
24: Who are (if any) the new, upcoming, local, or underground artists you’ve been working with?
I worked in collaboration with a number of artists for this upcoming Chicago mixtape. Working with artists like Que Billah and Lungz is refreshing because they have the hunger and energy to become a name mentioned amongst the greats.
24: What projects are you currently working on and what can we be expecting from Keeynote in the near future?
Working on a full length project with Dallas based artist Chris Blount. I expect that project drop in early 2010. I have a full length project with an artist named Voyce that’ll drop by the end of the year. I’m producing a demo for a band named Hunting Simon; they’re a bit reminiscent of bands like Paramore. I’m working with a number of singer/songwriters from the folk rock and pop r&b realms.
24: Is there anything that you would like to promote?
Peep my guy Anthony Lauderdale’s lifestyle blog (thefirstwonderoftheworld.blogspot.com)
You can follow me on twitter.com/KEEYNOTE
You can hit me at myspace.com/keeynotemusic
Business inquiries can be submitted to
KeeynoteMusic@yahoo.com
No Comment