A CONVERSATON WITH…Donovan Keith

After a few misconnections, we were able to get “the man that never stops moving”, Mister Donovan Keith to sit down with us here at Amplify the Noise to discuss songwriting, striking out on his own, what instrument scares him the most to learn and more.

ATN: I have to ask, after listening to your entire catalogue, who hurt you?

DK: No humans or animals were harmed in the making of this music catalogue. (laughs) My last album and many of my songs over my career have dealt with human disconnection, which I believe to be the root cause of many of our societal problems. I think we spend too much time on the victimhood or who is to blame, and far less on “why” we are hurt or feel hurt. I think the real answers are difficult to accept, because they tend to stem from our own bad choices.

ATN: You were the frontman of Soul Track Mind until 2016, what made you want to strike it out on your own?

DK: I had to disassemble the project I initially started because I was working in a toxic environment with a sociopath. It took me a long time to realize it, but ultimately it crippled my creativity and enthusiasm for music so much that I had no choice but to go on my own.

ATN: Most of the articles I’ve read had one thing in common to say about you, “the man that never stops moving” for people who are just discovering you, is there a story behind that title?

DK: I can’t remember where it originated but it came from either an article or something a fan said that resonated with me. On stage I’ve always been known for my infectious energy, but off stage I’m constantly working toward something either another album or travelling somewhere. Currently I’m working on accompanying myself on piano and ukulele. It is a real struggle to find a balance because moving too much causes erratic playing, but I’m so used to moving on stage that it feels awkward not to.

ATN: How old were you when you wrote your first song?

DK: I had written poems and did some creative writing in school so I imagine something back then was likely written that I’ve forgotten about, but the first actual song where I had written it and subsequently wasn’t until my college days.

ATN: Was that the moment you realised you wanted to do music as a career?

DK: I started in Theatre as an acting major so it wasn’t an obvious realization. It was a slow magnetic pull. Stage performance is still where I live, but the emotional connection of music was what pulled me in. It’s so much more simple and direct. Acting is sort of staging make believe to convey emotion. Music “is” emotion. You can move a person more musically in three minutes than what it would take a stage production an hour and a half to do. The more I sang in small karaoke bars and talent contests, the less acting appealed to me. But it wasn’t until I began to write and play my own music that the change was official. It’s much easier to scratch out a living with music than to struggle as an actor when the words and emotions were my own and not Neil Simon’s or Shakespeare’s.

ATN: What failure led to your biggest success?

DK: I don’t know. I don’t think success is something tangible that we can actively define. I could reference opportunities I had or artists I’ve opened for, shows I’ve played, but success to me seems subjective and tied to afterthought. I’m still grinding in the trenches so it’s like asking a soldier how the war was won when it’s still going on. (laughs)

ATN: With your “be comfortable with uncomfortable” attitude and risk taking – what has been the biggest take away or inspiration for you?

DK: Growing up in poverty can give you perspective on life and teach you independence. I think because I was raised in an environment where I had to often fend for myself, it allowed me to operate with a mindset that people seeking stability and comfort don’t have. The risk and discomfort is where all of the sense of life truly is. Can you reference any story you’ve heard or told someone that didn’t involve discomfort? It’s at the heart of comedy, romance, tragedy, suspense, etc. Comfort isn’t worth talking about or listening to.

ATN: Soliloquy isn’t an easy word to say let alone sing, how did the word find itself in your latest single?

DK: I know after dramatic events I talk to myself out loud. With arguments or breakups we often replay the moments in our heads, talking to ourselves wondering what we would’ve said differently with more maturity and reflection. I began writing with what became the first few lines visualizing an actor on stage delivering them by himself as a Soliloquy. It’s not a word I’ve heard used in a song before and it speaks directly to my Theatre background. Those words ‘Heartbreak Soliloquy’ immediately inspire feelings and visuals without any music or lyrics. I wanted to convey the emotions of breakups and past relationships in a song without the usual whinging that’s common among the style. It definitely seems to be resonating with people.

ATN: On a recent story in your Instagram you mentioned you might be travelling to Europe for several shows & learning to play new instruments, which instrument will be the most intimidating to learn?

DK: Definitely guitar. That may take me a while before I’m comfortable playing on stage. Right now I’m playing a little piano and ukulele and those have easier learning curves to be functional. But I’ll get there.

SAME 3 QUESTIONS WE ALWAYS ASK

ATN: Artist / band that you feel is the most underrated and why?

DK: I would say collectively Austin, Texas musicians and bands are underrated. Having spent the last 15 years in the city I can say the talent level there is high. Austin bands and artists should have more pride and reject the big corporate music industry more but they lack the self belief and arrogance that the big music industry possesses. Texans are generally laid back, humble and more realistic by nature but sometimes to their own detriment. They often let the big business from Nashville, LA, or NY come into town and walk all over them and that’s frustrating to see.

ATN: Artist / band that you would like to collaborate with and why?

DK: Emily King is one of my favourite current artists. Musically we’re very different, but I love her lyrical and vocal ability. One of the few artists today that isn’t copying anyone and has developed their own voice.

ATN: Artist / band that you would like to tour with and why?

DK: Nathaniel Rateliff. That seems like a perfect audience fit for my style of energy and performance.

Watch and listen to “Heartbreak Soliloquy” below