VOL.3
Keshi: In Search of a Free Voice
Keshi is an artist, musician, and producer.
His musical style extends beyond Lo-Fi and ambient, spanning genres from R&B and hip-hop to rock. Yet, just a few years ago, he was working as an oncology nurse in a hospital, and his musical journey began in nothing more than a small bedroom.
Keshi often draws inspiration from the ordinary moments of life - sharing drinks with friends after a meal, gaming through the night, or interpreting works of art. He believes that the direction of each person's life is shaped by how we choose to create meaning within the mundane.
To Keshi, no single label or genre can definitively encapsulate his work. In his view, an artist is the sum of everything they love and create. He continues to explore diverse styles and forms of self-expression through the ongoing journey of making music.
Q&A
Q1. What did music mean to you in your youth?
John Mayer's "Stop This Train" was the first guitar piece that solidified my resolve to become a musician - its bittersweet emotion and raw, heartfelt expression deeply moved me. For years afterward, I tried to express myself through songwriting. The initial results were far from satisfactory, even discouraging, but after persevering, everything suddenly clicked into place.
Q2. Where does your creative inspiration in daily life usually come from?
Lately, what inspires and sparks my creativity is listening to new music - especially works that diverge from my usual creative direction. While emotions drawn from life experiences may aid the creative process, true inspiration, for me, must originate from genuinely great works of art.
Q3. Could you share your journey from being an oncology nurse to becoming a singer? Was there a defining moment when you decided to resign?
Music is the only thing I've ever felt truly passionate about. I remember one pivotal moment: after returning home from a hospital shift, I was working on a song when it suddenly hit me - my priorities had been completely misplaced. Here I was, naturally skilled at something, yet constantly letting reasons hold me back from fully pursuing it. I handed in my resignation the very next day.
Q4. Are you free? What does creative freedom in music mean to you?
I consider myself a free person. To me, freedom in music means breaking away from the shackles of expectations and conditions. The only thing that tells me what to do next is my own heart.
Q5. When did you realize that creating music was worthwhile, and that you could keep doing it?
I knew becoming an artist was worth it when I played my first live show. Before that, my creative work had always been confined to the online space. But feeling the energy from the crowd in person - that was a magical moment beyond imagination, completely captivating.
”The freedom of life depends on how you create it.”