KEEPVIBESNEAR INTERVIEW: East London’s KeepVibesNear continues to cement his place as one of the most exciting voices redefining modern Soul and R&B. The Romford-raised artist, known for his unique “Noir R&B” style, fearlessly pulls apart the rigid framework of masculinity, using his unmistakable, raw voice to explore themes of love and vulnerability. Get familiar…
What five words define your sound?
Romantic
Emotive
Calming
Introspective
Therapy
Tell me something unique about your creative process
My creative process really isn’t that special. I feel a lot and I try to make the creative journey as natural as possible. I don’t want to hear the beat before, I’d rather be there from the first drum, first chords so I can feel something. Once I find something I run with it. That’s the therapy for me finding the words I maybe didn’t know I wanted to say until you’re confronting them.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
If people had to hear one of my songs first I would say ‘Yellow’. I think it paints a good picture of what I do that sets me apart.
What inspired you to make that song?
‘Yellow’ came from a feeling of warmth. Comfort in a time and person. The feeling of indulging in it and letting it hold and care for you. It’s a song that I think really portrays the feelings it talks about. You can almost paint the picture yourself.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
I challenge myself to be more vulnerable every time I write music. For me it’s therapy and it’s interesting because the words come from thought but sometimes subconscious. A lot of my songs are conversations with self. And that’s a hard thing to think those conversations are visible but that is part of the processing and growth of it all for me.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
Obviously the summer and festival season is always interesting. You do big shows you can never gauge who is there for you and you think the worst. I’m confident but I’m starting to realise I’m as insecure as any of us in some aspects and I always think who is actually going to know me or be here to see us or know any of my words to songs. But last few festivals and shows have surprised me every time, particularly opening for Loyle Carner in Hamburg last year and @ Forwards Bristol this year.
What is your favourite song to perform?
Acoustic it would be ‘Love Jones’ or ‘Yellow’ because I feel acoustic music with the space and freedom and control is me in my element and I’d love it if everyone gets a chance to see me live in that way. With PA or live band it would be ‘Late Night Drive’ which is one of those songs that just gets the room interested and feels effortless every time.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’
What’s the meaning behind your name?
My mum calls me Kevin.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
If I didn’t do music, I think I would be working somewhere in music. Before I ever wrote a song I’ve always been obsessed with R&B, music culture and the industry in general. Or i’d be training as a calming relaxation masseur.
What’s success to you?
Success to me is fulfilling a dream and enjoying the way there. Had a big change of perspective last few weeks which have further underlined how short and fickle life can be. My idea of success is chasing a dream, and putting out the best energy of yourself to you, your people around you to achieve that and whatever you can along the way and to look back on it when you’re dead and know you achieved something.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
To be real, I think I’ve just had a few things in my life that have not made me change direction but re-centre my hopes, wants and needs. Been in a place to look at myself and reflect and look at self and things for what they actually are.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
Keep in touch @KeepVibesNear on everything. Love & blessings.
