We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful KEELIN. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with KEELIN below.

Alright, KEELIN thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

Growing up in a small town in Ireland, it was quite obvious from a young age that my life path would be a lot different than those around me. Something that was an after school activity for my peers was my only focus growing up and my biggest passion. Choosing to study music in college came with so many questions, some genuinely interested, some with judgement. “So, are you going to be a teacher? Classical music, is it? How are you going to make money?” This can get discouraging. It’s so important to drown out those who don’t understand your dream. Never let someone get in the way of you chasing you dream. Never let someone convince you you are not capable of your dream.

I had to take a leap of faith. I had just graduated college and had been live streaming full time during the lockdown, saved up whatever I had, booked a one-way ticket two weeks in advance, left all my family and friends and moved to New York. I had some family here, but no music connections. I was chronically online trying to make connections and after so many sketchy conversations and offers to pull up to studios at all hours of the morning (do not do that), I found 2aminthemorning, my producer who has produced all of my released songs, including my song “All Over Me” which hit 150,000 streams on Spotify this week.

I had always been a fan of singing tv shows and used to audition for them when I was much younger, but I hadn’t really thought of auditioning in the more recent years. I didn’t want to just be a singer, I wanted to tell stories and inspire people through songs I had written myself. One of my friends convinced me to apply to audition for American Idol. I was hesitant, but he reassured me, “You’re not trying to win, you want to be seen. It’s an opportunity”. I sang a soul song for my first producer audition and was told they wanted something “different” and “individual”. I decided to perform my original pop song “Don’t Call Me”, which lead me to perform this song for Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan at the American Idol auditions in New Orleans and earned me a golden ticket to Hollywood. Was I showcasing myself as the type of singer/artist that usually is on those shows? Absolutely not. Did I showcase myself as an artist and was I my authentic self, knowing that I probably wouldn’t be the next winner? Absolutely.

KEELIN, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

“KEELIN is a hot, cool, fun, smart, sexy and humble singer and songwriter from Ireland who moved to New York to pursue a career in being a global pop sensation.”

HI, I’M KEELIN. A pop-loving, confidence-oozing, positive-pushing girlie who loves to make music that makes you FEEL GOOD. Whether it’s setting boundaries with that one person who is playing mind games with you and taking back control (“Don’t Call Me”), wanting to express yourself and embrace your sexual confidence (All Over Me) or you want to celebrate overcoming a dark point and want to solidify your abilities and the power you hold (“Run”), we are in this together bestie!

Instead of establishing the separation between the artist and the supporters, I want to make a connection with those who listen to my music not just by being relatable, but by having a human connection. My dm’s are always open and I love meeting my supporters at my live shows!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

ENGAGE! Of course buying merch, buying the songs on iTunes/Bandcamp etc and buying tickets helps 100%, but liking, commenting, sharing and saving social media posts, sending them to your friends, streaming songs, pre-saving songs before they are released, sharing songs on your story, these are all free ways to support your favorite artists and creatives.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

As someone who grew up different to those around me and struggled with insecurities who now is on a self love journey and is more confident than ever before, getting messages from people who hear my songs telling me that I helped them to feel more confident, my heart nearly explodes out of my chest. I get messages and have people tell me that my song(s) helped them in some way/made them feel something and that genuinely is it for me. That’s the purpose, that’s the reason.    

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/keelinkat
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keelinkat/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/keelinkatt/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/keelinkat
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpvWbSVXFu-oN94HFZC-G4w
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@keelinkat?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits
Emily Hartmann, Steven Galarza, Fremantle, James Nunez