“I’ve worked really hard to try and get where I’m going and any props that I get it still doesn’t get old, it feels great to be embedded within this scene,” he reflects from his studio in the UK, grabbing a quick 20 minutes in between his hectic schedule. “Just being an artist, coming off the back of about 15 festivals this summer and being able to turn up and play to thousands and thousands of people that was my dream,” he continues “just playing to anyone, that was my dream. Being paid for doing the job I love, so having my music out there and having that released I just love it all and doing everything I do, I don’t want it to stop.”
The primary factor to his emergence out of the underground into the public eye is his appointment to the controls of the BBC Radio One drum’n’bass show, replacing the legends that are Fabio and Grooverider. They’re pretty big shoes to fill and Keeley is confident, but not complacent, that he can make the show his own.
“I’m really pleased with the radio show,” he explains “I’ve tried to push as much brand new music as possible, just really focus on the music and play the best tunes. I’m never going to have Fab and Groove’s banter but loving turning up every week and doing the show.”
On top of this, Keeley is the boss of Shogun Audio, the respected label that since 2004 has released artists the likes of Commix, D-Bridge and Alix Perez, many of whom featured on last year’s excellent Way Of The Warrior compilation and so has the credentials required to source and evaluate only the prime tracks for his show. “I try and keep everything fresh by constantly looking for new music from other artists,” he continues “I’m blessed and fortunate to have the record label that I have, so I’m very in touch with everything that’s new and I just try and make sure I’ve got the music to interest and excite people.”
He’s also heading our way to showcase some of those tracks and sounds like he can’t wait, “Aussie audiences are unbelievably clued up considering they’re on the other side of the world from where the heart of drum’n’bass is,” he marvels. “It’s brilliant to turn up and do a two or three hour set, play a bit of everything and people enjoy it so much, the knowledge is amazing.” This huge following for the music is replicated worldwide, with Australia being just the latest stop in an exhausting schedule for the artist. It’s indicative of a healthy environment as a whole. “I think the d’n’b scene is ridiculously strong.at the moment,” he explains “We’ve still got so many vibes and influences going on its great to see them all in the music. Led Astray [his last single, released earlier this year] has got bass music and dubstep influences and I think there has been a lot more cross pollination of genres. If anything d’n’b went a little too drum steppy and dubstep influenced for a bit but I think it is very, very strong at the moment There is a lot of good stuff out there with lots of different styles.”
And the good news is that over the coming months a new release of his own looks to be on the cards. “I have been in the studio non-stop any time I can get in here. With touring and festivals and stuff, its crazy but I’m embedded deep into this album project at the moment which will be due for release hopefully early next year. I’m actually sitting in my studio now, about to begin work on a remix and hopefully some other tunes later, it’s a been a manic few months.”
BY ANDREW NELSON
