We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Keyring. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Keyring below.
Keyring, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
I think strangely, it can be helpful to look for what makes you similar to other people in the room when you are the only person like you, as a trans person, I take time to yes survey and at times understand that I’m in a room with only cis people. But at the end of the day we’re all connected by things other than what makes me different too. There is a bit of sheer bravery that is required of me when I’m alone in that way, and sometimes it’s easy to feel like a complete outsider, and for all I know that feeling may never go away depending upon my environment, but also I like to believe that despite this there are always going to be people that understand and see me as who I am regardless.
As it relates to being successful, I try not to let the pressure of the situation take away from the work at hand. For instance if I were in a class taking notes being a learner, I’m a learner and I focus on that fact as what unifies me with other students. Also, that making music is a language that above all at the end of the day, does not care what your gender or background is. I try to find the commonalities that bring people together and humanize the experience of moving through life no matter what room I’m in, and I think that’s why I’ve been effective and successful regardless.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m keyring, and I’m an indie pop artist and producer (cross-discipline, mainly music). At this point in my career I’ve released a healthy selection of singles and a mixtape (Solarpunk) that all encompass my earlier and more recent work over the last three years. I started producing for the first time on Garageband in 2016 and kept messing with it as a hobby until I really started to take writing songs seriously during the pandemic.
Prior to my pivot to pop music and seriously dedicating myself to making music, I spent a lot of time in queer nightlife with drag queens and burlesque performers even helping to put on shows and perform in them myself. Though eventually reached an point where I realized I wanted to be the person behind the music I was performing to, and that my purpose/passion was only partially fulfilled lip-syncing and dancing to others work.
I have a new song called “Infinite Dopamine” coming out on 11/03/23 and another called “Texas Trans Rebel” coming out sometime in 2023 and I’ve been working on them for a while now. I’m super excited to share this new era with my listeners and the world. I’m also planning on performing more as well though I am taking things slow right now because I’m actually also a full-time student currently so balancing my music side with coursework has been a challenge but I’m really handling it well I think. But anyways big thank you to everyone who has supported me so far I love you all so much and I can’t wait to do my best to make ya’ll proud <3.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think the first thing that comes to mind is being self taught, and self teachable. I swear a massive chunk of my knowledge is thanks to a little idea that pops into my head and google/reddit/youtube tutorials. Youtube University is real and I probably have a metaphorical degree or two from that institution. If you’re first starting out making music or doing anything really there are some incredible resources out there.
Second, I think that taking time to rest and self care, also understand that this is a journey not a destination. It’s not always about that big payoff when the thing finally comes out or is finished at times. Sometimes the most joy can be found in the monotony of the work, and I love that I never know when that might happen.
Finally don’t beat yourself up when something doesn’t go the way you planned. I feel like there were so many moments where I would tell myself “this is it this is the one” and then get all hyped about it and then feel a bit disappointed when it doesn’t go my way necessarily, but it really doesn’t matter to me anymore. I can always wake up the next day, write a new song, create a new future for myself. I view my catalog of music as a bit of an archive of my experience and work. And I love seeing how far I’ve come.
Are you looking for folks to partner or collaborate with? If so, describe the sorts of folks you are looking to collaborate with and how they can connect with you if they are reading this and want to collaborate.
Right, so I mean aside from all the lovely pop music stuff, I am a trans person in Texas and watching the news can be scary. I know my experience is just one among many trans folks living in red states right now.
I have tweet notifications on for Erin Reed and everyday I’m certain to stay updated on the current status of the current political war that hangs my community in the balance as a scapegoat. It’s a challenge that honestly, I don’t think I was personally prepared for and a lot of my community also was not expecting this to happen. I personally testified against SB-12 in Austin, TX earlier this year which at the time could have been used if passed to arrest people who are “wearing the clothing of the opposite sex” in front of a minor. Thankfully that language was removed and the bill still remains in the judicial system. But my point here is that a political onslaught has been waged upon transgender people, and trying to survive day to day in this climate, being a student, and keeping up with my musical career has weighed heavily on me.
I really don’t know what I’d do without the people in my life who remind me to keep going, or the music that soundtracks my experience in life at this time. I don’t want to have to “escape” Texas. I shouldn’t have to and neither should any trans person in the south. All of this to say, I’m really invested in my song “Texas Trans Rebel” which I’ve made as a time capsule so that no matter what happens or where I end up down the line. I’ll be able to hold onto a piece of the place I’ve come to call home.
Contact Info:
- Website: itskeyring.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/itskeyring
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itiskeyring
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/itskeyring
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXPvG_AUfVf9fRF9dONLQSw
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/itskeyring
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@itskeyring
Image Credits
-Christian Salinas (Photographer)