It's been a "gradual" journey for Keshi, from oncology nurse to music star, as the "Soft Spot" singer shared with Bru during a wide-ranging talk inside our Los Angeles studios. Set to kick off another leg of his Requiem World Tour on Friday, July 18, Keshi first shared how he got here.
LISTEN NOW: Keshi with Bru
"I went to the University of Texas at Austin, studied nursing for 4 years, graduated, went back to Houston and worked at the Texas Medical Center for a couple of years," Keshi recounts to Bru. "I got lucky, signed in 2019, and here we are today."
"When we're talking about it, it makes me realize just how long and sort of gradual the journey has been for me, which I'm so grateful for because it's always been very organic," he admits. "I still very much feel like I'm on this gradual, pushing the rock up the mountain top and everything, but I really feel like I've earned my stripes and I've taken the time, and learned at every step of the way."
"It was really frustrating to not do the thing that I thought that I was good at and I was like, 'no, I think I can do it,'" he adds, sharing that there were contentious moments with his parents when he wanted to leave his career in nursing behind. But in the end, Keshi's drive was unstoppable, and his parents couldn't help but see it. "I had a really rough day at work and then I came home to my mom and I was like, 'I can't do it anymore.' She's like, 'go do it. You can go do it.'"
Now the singer is celebrating the release of his second album, Requiem, and is about to embark on the third leg of a massive tour, set to play some of the most sought-after stages in North America.
"I feel like I take a lot of pride in my musicality," Keshi says. "I've curated a sort of set and performance and live show that focuses heavily on musicianship and arrangement and pocket and feel and groove and making sure that every band member that I have on with me is a shredder and has a moment to shine."
For tickets and more information on the Requiem World Tour, visit here, and check out the full conversation with Keshi and Bru above.