Sound of the week Pt. 55: KeKe

vor 2 years

Each week, OOR Studio reaches out to various artists, musicians, and those with all-around good taste.

THIS TIME, IT’S ALL ABOUT SELF-EMPOWERMENT!

This weeks playlist comes from artist Keke. She was born in Vienna, studied jazz and got intro rap rather by accident. She is currently one of the most exciting artists in the Germany. KeKe’s diverse musical influences also make for her special sound, she switches from hard rap to soulful vocals and back to rap again. The musician breaks with structures and expectations and gives many women strength and acceptance. The singer and rapper fights against common ideals of beauty and makes it clear that no one should tell a woman what she should or shouldn’t do with her body. She celebrates diversity on all levels and also stands outside the songs for empowerment and freedom.

You grew up in a small Austrian town, studied jazz and got into rapping rather by accident. Can you tell me how this accident looked like?

One of my close friends and producer STSK asked me if i wanted to rap on a track and i tried it and luckily it worked out.

What were your first points of contact with music and to what extent might impressions from your childhood have had an influence?
I remember enjoying singing and performing around the house since I was like 5 years old or something but I don‘t remember a specific reason why i started to do that.

Who is KeKe and where does the name come from?
My name is Kiara and a friend of mine calls me K. So it kinda happend by accident. And who is KeKe? Gosh i have no clue I let you know if I find out…

This year you released the single Thick, what is the background of the song and its title?
I wanted to do a track that I would have loved to listen to when I was a teenager. I wanted to do a song that celebrates beauty and people who are discriminated against and underrepresented.

“Thick‘ is a song for all those who don’t fit into the current ideal of beauty and for all those who are still seen and celebrated far too rarely”

How do you feel about the rap scene and what impressions you get from it?
I love Rap but I‘m not really in the scene I live far away from everything and do my own thing. But I got to know a lot of cool and inspiring people in the rap scene which I‘m really thankful for.

You are kind of a representation for feminism and also self-love, to what extent do you identify with this and how do you feel about it?
Honestly I just do me and I‘m vocal about things that are important to me. But I don‘t want to represent anything. I make mistakes, I learn. I am not perfect and I don‘t want to put pressure on myself to be a role model.

Do you want to stay with rap in the future or try out other genres again?
I will dive into different genres which i‘m really excited about.

If there was one thing you would want a new listener to understand about your music, what would it be and why?
I want you to feel seen and empowered.

Last Friday, KeKe has just released her new single DMs and has also announced her new EP for the end of November.