We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zachary Keely. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zachary below.
Hi Zachary, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Pursuing any passion can always be a risk. Most people set aside their true passions because of how much of a risk it truly can be. You could risk your job, home, relationships, and financial stability. When I first started my career as a musician I knew there would be risks. But at the end of the day my passion is my passion for a reason, and in my heart I knew I had to fulfill that desire to make my passion more than a dream. I have always played music but when I decide to fully pursue music I took a risk and I nearly lost everything trying to make it happen. I used to make really good money as a chef all over Tucson and I treated music more like a hobby on the side. I found myself kinda down all the time. I would day dream about playing music. Constantly writing songs in my head. So one day I quit the restaurants and put all my focus in music. I sacrificed steady income and stability over the years to make my dream work. Have lost all my savings, sold most of my belongings, lost my home, and lost relationships. Sometimes you gotta ask yourself is chasing your passion worth the risk. Is it worth losing Soo much? To me, yes..it has been worth every damn moment. My life has made a 180 and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m chasing my true passion in life and I feel far more fulfilled then ever. I have traveled, seen the world, met amazing friends, found true love and peace in my soul. Don’t be afraid of taking risks to pursue that which is most fulfilling to your true self. As far as we know we have one chance at this life. Spend it taking risks to make your passion a reality
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Zachary Correy Keely known professionally as ZeeCeeKeely. I was born in Tucson Arizona in September of 92. I was raised in a music loving family. The radio was always playing or we always had an album playing. When I was a kid my parents took me to all kinds of concerts all kinds of legends from twisted sister to Tom petty and almost everything in-between. I was inspired. My aunt played drums so Everytime I would go to her house all I wanted to do was bang on the drums. That’s really where it all began. One Christmas around the year 2001 I got my first drum set and I played every single day. After we moved into a more dense neighborhood my playing seemed to not please our surrounding neighbors. I started showing some interest in other instruments Soo the Christmas of 2003 got my first guitar. Neighbors were probly much more pleased with that choice. As the years went on in school I would practice daily on guitar, learning my favorite tunes and figuring out how to truly analyze music. Fast forward a bit to middle school. Was really obsessed with playing music but now I wanted to see what it was like to jam with other people. So one of good friends got his first bass and we met a really tight drummer that went to our school. We got together and jammed and felt a feeling that none of would realize would be a feeling we desire for the rest of our lives. All the up thru highschool we played together, owning parties and school events, even playing shows at full size venues already. Coming into young adult hood we all started goin our separate ways as musicians. We had different taste in style and direction so we moved on. Over the next few years I played in multiple bands. Usually playing guitar and dabbling in harmony vocals. Was in some really fun projects that were promising, made some big steps in my music career along the way. I had always been kind of a writer on the side, creating my own melodies and writing lyrics and poems. So one day I thought to myself “well what if I just try to play the music i write with a band and see if it sounds any good” so I hit up musicians that I have worked with over the years that were also just really cool people to hang with too and gave it a shot..the crowds loved it and we had such a good time playing the music. We had no idea what would come from it though. Months started goin by and we’re gigging all over AZ. I was hit up by someone who’s been a huge fan in the scene and saw us perform one show and asked if would sit down n have a chat with him about music. His name is Jeff. So we had lunch one day and he offered to book us he said he truly believed in my music. My lyrics were meaningful to him Soo I said “what the heck whatever we can do to grow”. I had no idea that would lead to playing some of the greatest shows and festivals I could imagine sharing the stages with some of the most influential and inspiring artists of my life. Since we have released an album, videos, singles, art, and toured all kinds of places. It’s had ups and downs. We have felt on top and we have slumped down to ground one but we have never stopped trying to share this music and every member I have shared the stage with past and present are all a huge part of where we are today. I wanna share music that can help the world. Music that can inspire people to take care of each other, take care of our planet, and to stand up against injustice and hated in this world. Never stop growing.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
COVID. I can tell you that COVID destroyed a lot in the music world. Tours were cancelled, shows cancelled, everything shut down. So many bands quit or couldn’t come back from that. We were one in a handful of bands that fought really hard to keep engaging with our fans. Putting on virtual shows and bringing as much music to people as we could cause the world really needed music. One thing I can say is during that time I wrote some of my favorite tunes that we play. So there is a blessing.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Support the little bands too. Buy tickets and merch. These big headliners will always have great crowds and I dont discourage seeing them. But if you get the chance to check out the young talent coming up there is so much new music out there that is incredible and meaningful! Balance is key. The world needs art in all forms and there’s always new art being created. Art can bring us happiness in the darkest times. People may not list it as a necessity but can you see a life with out art and music? I can’t
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zeeceekeely.com
- Instagram: @zeeceekeelyofficial
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/zeeceeofficial
