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Doug Keith-The Interview

Not sure who Doug Keith is? Come along with me to find out while I get to know Doug and hang out for a bit.

Doug Keith, an exceptional artist and performer, is set to release his new full-length, The Lucky Ones, on March 30th, 2010. The Lucky Ones, an 11-song collection on indie imprint The Village Label, vividly showcases Keith’s strengths as a guitarist and songwriter, capturing significant emotional truths in every song. His voice is soulful and smooth…like a great cuppa coffee. My personal opinion is that Doug isn’t just a musician, he is an exceptional storyteller.

The material on The Lucky Ones ranges from the acoustic starkness of “We Left Everything,” to the surging electricity of “The Lucky Ones,” to the buoyant textures of “Skip James Radio.” His simple-yet-poignant lyrics are layered over soaring instrumental arrangements that are expertly tailored to create distinct aural atmospheres. The link connecting each track is Keith’s weathered, knowing voice, and the results are nothing short of breathtaking.

Although The Lucky Ones is only his second full-length solo album, Keith is no stranger to the studio or the life of a touring musician. Music has been his passion for years, and it shows in the beauty and intimacy of his current work. Keith started his career playing bass with punk trio The Gods Hate Kansas, and went on to play with several other punk/avant-garde bands, including noted noise-rock combo Up the Empire. But Keith always worked on his own material, releasing a four-song EP and half of a split 7″ single under the name The First Person to See an Elephant. Here’s to Outliving Me, his official solo debut in January of 2009, was the first release under his own name and his introduction to international audiences. With The Lucky Ones, Keith delivers a moving batch of songs that are a worthy follow-up - and natural progression - to his stunning debut.

You can also find Doug Keith traveling around playing select US tour dates:

02/10: Pittsburgh, PA @ Howler’s Coyote
02/11: Columbus, OH @ The Treehouse
02/12: Ann Arbor, MI @ Hathaway Hideaway
02/16: Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
02/20: Louisville, KY @ Sunergos Cofee
02/22: Winston-Salem @ Wake Forest Radio in studio session
02/22: Winston-Salem @ The Garage
02/26: Greensboro, NC @ The Green Bean
02/27: Chapel Hill, NC @ The Cave

ThePost-ItPlace.com (TPIP)
Doug Keith (DK)

(TPIP)When did you know that you wanted to be a singer?

(DK)When it started, I really wanted to be a guitar player more than anything else. I started playing when I was 10 or so. I didn’t sing anything at all until I was about 15 or so. I remember being able to sing and play fairly early on, I never really struggled with that, I just didn’t really try singing until I was about 15. I really started singing when I realized there were things I wanted to sing about. It came more out of writing songs than anything else.

(TPIP) How did you come about writing your very first song?

(DK) My older brother has always been an amazing writer and when I was just starting to play guitar, he did to. He got together with his friend in middle school and wrote an entire 90 minute tape worth of songs about everything. Some of the songs were funny, some were sweet and some were just attempts to see how far out they could go. I probably listened to that tape more than he ever did. I remember realizing that you can write a song about anything you want from that tape, so I started to. I honestly don’t remember what was the first song I wrote, but I wrote about everything, skateboarding, my hometown, what my parent’s did for a living, girls, riding bikes. Pretty much everything I was doing around 14 & 15. I worked at a pizza place when I was 15 and I wrote quite a few songs on the way to and from work. I’d think of something walking home and try and figure it out when I got there. It’s kind of how it works for me now.

(TPIP) When did you first know you would record an album?

(DK) I’ve always recorded. As a kid, I went from asking for a motorcycle to asking for a 4 track for Christmas year after year. I never got either one. Recording has always been part of playing music for me. I recorded my first album when I was in high school with a band I was in at another kid’s house. I have just always recorded. I really enjoy the process.

(TPIP)Was it hard to get the gumption to take the leap into recording?

(DK) No, not really. I think like anything, you have to ease your way into it a bit. I started out recording on cassette tapes on my dad’s boom box. Then I found their reel to reel and could record two different things on two different tracks since left & right were separated. Then I learned that you could play the reel to reel tape backwards while you recorded another take and get some crazy sounds and on and on. I used to have the approach of doing things as fast as possible and not over thinking song lay out or approach. I would record something and regardless of mistakes, what have you, leave it as is because I was trying to capture a moment. With my recent solo records that way of thinking has changed to trying to capture a song which has been a great shift to make.

(TPIP) What has been your biggest obstacle as a musician/singer/songwriter?

(DK) For me it was deciding that I wasn’t going to join or start a new band, but instead focus on playing my songs with whoever I wanted to, whenever I wanted to. I’ve played in a lot of bands and I really like that, in fact I will probably do it again in the future at some point, but at the end of the day, I like playing the guitar and singing the songs I wrote however I feel like doing it.

(TPIP) What advice would you give to others that want to be a musician/singer/songwriter?

(DK) You get a lot of ‘no’ trying to be a musician. Sometimes from places you’d never expect. You get knocked down a lot. You just need to get back up and keep pushing.

(TPIP) What is your favorite song that you have written/sing and why?

(DK) That’s a tough question because each song has a story or situation behind it and it really just depends on my mood. I guess I’d have to say whichever one I’m writing at the time.

Thanks to Doug for his time, inspiration and for allowing me to get an early preview of “The Lucky Ones”! I love the album, it stays in my player 24/7 and has become my new favorite. I highly suggest that you check out Doug Keith the first opportunity that you get. The CD will be available on March 30th so be keeping an eye on his website for more details. And don’t forget that you can see him live on his tour.

Tags: album, CD, doug, keith, lucky, music, one, song, tour