Photo credit of Keenan Te, Taine Noble
Keenan Te is a product of TikTok and not so much in a “haha bro, cool stunt” or inane content (you know the kind…) kind of way. His content is born out of sincerity and some kind of consistency: each piece of content has him flexing his vocal pipes set against somewhere picturesque and damn, can the boy do a rift. With his latest single Passing By, here, Te takes us through the artistry of his sound. And that, is before we count in the one million followers he has amassed.
Hi Keenan, for those unfamiliar with you, can you pitch yourself in 10 words or less?
I’m a singer, songwriter and Tik Tok creator from Australia!
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Do you think being a social media sensation helps or hampers your work? Or do you embrace both the good and the bad?
Having an audience on social media has really helped my music career and it’s opened up opportunities that I’ve always dreamed of! It obviously comes with challenges but I’ve been really blessed to have a good experience being on social media in terms of the hate some people receive.
Just out of curiosity, what is the strangest DM you’ve ever gotten?
I love when people DM me because it’s great to be able to connect but I’ve definitely received some weird messages. I’ve had a few people asking me to marry them, haha.
Is Dependent your first single? What pushed you to finally make music?
Dependent was actually the third single I put out! But it’s definitely the first single that I feel truly represents me as an artist and is a sneak peek of the type of music people can be expecting from me right now! I’ve always wanted to release my own music and I’m so grateful that there are so many people that love listening to my songs!
Can you tell us an interesting story behind one of the lyrics then? Perhaps, the one that resonates the most with you.
It came to me in the middle of the night and I finished writing it in around 20 minutes! I had been reflecting on past experiences I had gone through where I felt like I couldn’t move on from someone but at the same time knowing I had to. I’m really glad that people have been able to relate to it as well.
What would you describe your sound as then? How do you think perhaps, you’re doing it differently from your contemporaries?
I would describe my sound as chill or sad pop ballad with influences from R&B and alternative music. I have so many stories to tell and things to write about, so my own personal experiences that I put into my songs set me apart from others.
What about Passing By then? What is the genesis of the song?
The idea of Passing By actually came to me in a dream! I had a dream that I was writing a song, and when I woke up I remembered a small part of it. That day, I finished the song and I’m super happy with how it turned out. It’s essentially about reflecting on a past relationship and also the thoughts that run through your mind after breaking up with someone you care about.
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What do you hope for people to feel then?
I hope the song helps people reflect on their own experiences and I know that many people will be able to relate to it. Whenever I’m feeling sad, for some reason sad songs are really comforting to listen to so I hope that it can be something that comforts people and helps them through the healing process.
Lastly, out of curiosity, what is your #1 song on your Spotify?
My favourite song changes weekly but right now, I’m loving Leave Before You Love Me by the Jonas Brothers!
Once you’re done with this story about Keenan Te and Passing By, click here to catch up with our September 2021 issue.
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