We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dylan Keawe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dylan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Music truly saved my life and I can’t imagine wanting to give it up. As creatives and as humans in general, I think we all wrestle with self-doubt. I’m constantly filtering out negative thoughts and reactions to allow myself to be present and accept situations for what they are. But there are absolutely days (that sometimes turn into weeks) where I question my progress and future. When the pandemic hit and shut down the touring industry, before that I was making a living as a touring freelance keyboard/guitar player. I was also preparing for my first self titled EP to release and had my own tour lined up and, of course, had to cancel all those dates. It made me question if it was the right time to release the music, or if I’d be able to line up that tour again when the shutdown ended. Then when touring started being possible again, half of the places I had lined up were not able to last through the shutdown, and that was also discouraging. But I have always been resilient and have been able to make some short runs happen, along with releasing a few singles and my first full length album in addition to that initial self titled EP. So while I did question everything and carry some self doubt always, I would never let that lead me away from music because I am so sure it is what I want to do. I am not deterred by the difficulty of the career choice, or the rarity of large scale financial success. I think that has always been the case since I was younger and I would tell everyone that I was going to be a professional baseball player. So I am no stranger to people saying that what I want to do is a one in a million chance.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a reggae/soul musician as well as a hired touring/studio keyboard player and guitarist. I have been working with different artists in the American reggae scene and also have had the opportunity to showcase and perform my own music on these tours. When not on the road, I perform solo as a one-man-band using looping to give me a full sound despite being solo. In addition, I have an incredible band that supports me on bigger shows that need a full band! What I believe sets me apart is my willingness to work and continue pushing myself to improve. I’ve always believed that in order to get where you want, you must earn every step. That’s one quality I always strive to bring, no matter the situation, there is always something to learn if you’re willing to work for it.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

There’s so much to learn about how NFTs can be implemented into the music industry. My understanding is very limited, but from what I can see, there are an infinite number of ways artists can incorporate them into their worlds. In terms of simple visual aspect, I’ve already read about some artists having special NFT visualizers synced to their live performances so that concert attendees get that exclusive content live in action, which I think is an incredibly creative way to use the content! In terms of business, the way I understand is that the real value of NFTs are in the smart contracts, which the creators can create to include any number of things. For musicians creating NFTs, things like exclusive VIP access, tickets for life to any concert, access to exclusive unreleased content, would be an incredibly valuable addition to a smart contract. Again my understanding is very limited, but it seems like there are a lot of different uses in many industries for NFTs to have very real value!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn is to take every opportunity that comes your way. I was a firm believer in this when I first started performing as a hired keyboard player. I believed that the only way to create more opportunities for myself was to accept every single offer that came my way. But I learned quickly that juggling too many projects, while trying to stay on top of everyday life at home, is a quick way to burn yourself out. From double booking myself, to not scheduling enough time for sleep, eating, and driving. I would also struggle to remember all of the different material for each project. When I learned to properly schedule myself and be realistic about my limitations, my stress was eased tremendously and the projects I am apart of now I am able to approach in a much clearer mindset.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dylan-keawe.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: Instagram.com/dylankeawe
• Facebook: Facebook.com/dylankeawe
• Twitter: Twitter.com/dylankeawe
• Youtube: Youtube.com/dylankeawe

Image Credits
Photos taken by Vanessa Silva at the ‘All For Love’ official album release party at The Holding Company in San Diego, CA in April 2022.