Interview: Eunice Keitan
Eunice Keitan's international upbringing and eclectic musical background are unmistakable in this Canadian singer-songwriter's work, which tastefully blends Alternative R&B/Neo-Soul and World Folk influences. Eunice spent her childhood moving around the world with her family. This nomadic life exposed her not only to many cultures and musical traditions but also to the harsh realities of everyday people. The observance of these struggles uncovered her awareness of the effectuating force of political and social issues on people's lives. These issues surface as themes in many of her songs, where she explores mental health, equality, and social change.
Preview Eunice Keitan’s Music!
What led to you becoming an artist?
I had always been a creative/artistic kid. Sometime around 13,14 years old I started writing songs to process the challenges and instability of my life at that moment. Making music made me feel complete and gave me a way to connect immediately with others through a shared experience. I love a lot of art forms and have dabbled in a lot of things, but nothing makes me feel the same way as songwriting. For that reason, I always say that music chose me.
What inspires your music?
I’m often inspired by honest and compelling stories. The message of the song is really important to me and it’s what usually dictates my musical choices. While I’m primarily a neo-soul artist, I also love to explore old folk recordings to discover interesting sounds and rhythms. I have a special love for field recordings and how intimate, raw and unique each recording is. All these little quirks like floorboards creaking under the instruments, or hearing the breath and vocal subtleties add another layer to the musical story and I try to emulate that organic feel in my work as well.
Who are some of your influences?
My influences span various genres. Joni Mitchell was a big one for me growing up. It was in my dad’s collection and she continues to teach me a lot about the craft of songwriting. I love D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, and all the essential neo-soul artists. Another big influence for me is Jeff Buckley. The honesty in his work and how present he is in each delivery has always stayed with me.
What are some of your favorite memories from your career?
If I’m being honest, I’d say that it’s a highlight every time I release a song that I believe in.
What have been some of the greatest challenges of your career?
Since I’ve been making music since I was a teenager, my perspective of the music business is definitely more realistic than when I started out. I’ve had time to make a lot of mistakes and to also define what success really means to me. There have been a lot of challenges but perhaps one that I’m dealing with now is how to rise above the noise. There is so much of everything and in a world of social media it’s hard to keep up and adapt…but I’m learning.
Which of your songs/eps or albums is your favorite? Why is it your favorite?
The current EP I’m about to drop is my favourite! I love it because it’s quirky and different from the neo-soul you’d expect. It reimagines Southeast Asian traditional instruments in a neo-soul context and really helped me to understand my identity, artistic vision and the kind of music I wanted to put out into the world. ‘Smoke and Mirrors’, the last single I released from this project, featured a kulintang and bansuri flute as well as a unique vocal arrangement inspired by gamelans and gongs from my Southeast Asian heritage.
What are you most excited to bring to your fans in the next year?
I’m always working on new ideas and creative concepts. I don’t want to give too much away as I want it to be a surprise when I release it. But I am working on a lot more music and unique experiences to go along with it.
What are your goals for this upcoming year?
Write more, release more, play more festivals, make more genuine connections!
How can your fans best support you right now?
I’m on all the things, so you can follow and stream my music on all your preferred platforms! Reach out if you want to!
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