“I was born in a prison, and given up for adoption… It was a heck of a start…”

The opening act of Raleigh Keegan‘s story sounds like the plot of a movie, full of intrigue, difficult decisions, and twists of fate. But you’d never guess it when you meet him. He is a singularly calm, thoughtful, and dedicated person whose focus is always on his work. “I was adopted by a lovely family, and they are my mom and dad,” he says, crediting them for his current stability and work ethic, “I don’t really have any questions about it. [It’s] how I grew up. My birth mom made such a great choice for me. I have an absolutely wonderful life because of what she chose. There’s no weird bitter feelings.”

Keegan’s adopted family raised him in Cincinnati, with all the opportunities a kid could ask for. “My parents were awesome. They allowed us to do a lot. They bought me my first piano… [got me a] trombone in 5th grade. I was that weird kid. I played football… but I’d leave practice early to go work on my trombone or my piano.” That conflict between convention and art would become central to his life. “I was a personal trainer for a year, but I knew I shouldn’t be doing that. When I was supposed to be teaching squat form, I’d be thinking up organ solos.” Before long the move in to music became an obvious next step, and he overhauled his entire life to make it happen.

“I’m an all or nothing guy. When I really want to do something I go after it. I quit my job, sold my house, made a record, and googled my way to Nashville,” he says of his journey to music city, “I built a social media following, got hooked up with a bunch of great people.” Keegan’s currently available output consists of his single ‘ Lookin Like That,’ and the following EP ‘One of These Days‘. His sound reflects a myriad of influences, and resolves itself in a form that feels musically familiar, but lyrically distinct. “There’s bits of Tom Petty, smidges of Zac Brown, smidges of new country,” he says in describing his sound, “There’s James Taylor in there, some John Mayer… hopefully my own thing too.” Listening to his work you hear something you feel like you recognize, that you already know, but his words, while irrefutably imbued with the persona of “the country man”, feel more introspective and emotionally in touch than many of his male contemporaries. He’s a classic country troubadour, but with a modern sensibility and masculinity. He knows who his audience is, but fights the pull to pander or talk down to them. “When we were recording we chose elements of old country and new country,” he says in response, “It wasn’t really conscious, we just played stuff we liked.”

Keegan’s work continually reflects his need for development, both personal and professional. “I want to be in the room. Try out new things. And be with a producer who’s willing to do that,” he says. “I’ve been freaking out to get new music out. The wheels don’t stop turning, hey there’s a song idea right there. In 2017 I worked 16-17 hours a day doing everything for my career. I would book, write, do shows, plan travel, do press, every facet. I would do anything to make it work,” though he concedes that being able to direct his energy has allowed him to be less frenetic. “Having a team… it’s allowed me to step in to the creative space and stay there. I’m an entrepreneur, I will do it all myself if I have to. But it’s amazing to see a team come together and do it well.”

With the support system he now has, Raleigh Keegan has had his wheels greased, and is ready to roll. “I [was] recording this December… I’m really proud [of] the new songs. I think they’ll really connect with the people I’ve already connected with and I think they’ll reach new people too… I think there’ll be more to this next EP,” he goes on to add, “It’s kind of stripped down as opposed to before. And as opposed to some modern country. That said, more to it production wise. If that makes sense.”

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about this up-and-comer is how quickly the narrative of his early life fades into the far more fascinating one about his personal development. While an open book about his life, Keegan never plays it up for drama, and instead allows it to fuel his own capacity for acceptance and emotional maturity. Revisiting the story of his birth mother cements this even more. “I met my birth mom, two years ago… I messaged her on Facebook, said ‘I think you might be my mom’. Couple of days later we were at a restaurant,” he says of the experience. Perhaps due to the proliferation of these narratives in films and soap opera, you might expect this to be the moment of an emotional unravelling or self-destruction, instead Keegan took it as one more opportunity for a positive, affirming experience. “My [adopted] mom is my mom, but I’m glad [my birth mother] is in my life now,” he smiles as he describes her, “We look just like each other… [and] she’s doing a lot better. She’s a plumber. Really good one. She comes to my shows sometimes. It’s pretty great.”

In fact, the only thing that seems to complicate Keegan’s capacity for good grace is his need for creative fulfillment. “A lot of people they push me… they see me as a certain way. As a face. They want to sell me a certain way. Inside me is more,” he says of the difficulties of the music industry, “I have more to say. I’m not just a face. I see myself and I feel a different way about myself. Sometimes I don’t feel pretty on the inside or the outside, but I don’t get to say that.” His frustration is palpable and natural, but his candidness about it only stokes more curiosity as to what his future holds. “I think music is best when you’re free to let something happen. I try not to think in constraints. I like being free to see where it goes,” he says, resuming his own version of Southern-tinged zen. If his life thus far is any indicator, it seems those opportunities will be presented to Raleigh Keegan very soon.

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