David Keenan is a songwriter, musician and composer who originally hails from Dundalk, County Louth on the Irish border. He is currently releasing independently through his own label Barrack Street Records.[1]
David Keenan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Dundalk, Ireland |
| Genres | Folk, Poetry, Indie, Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Composer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Website | davidkeenan |
Early life
editDavid Keenan is an Irish songwriter and musician. Early life in Dundalk where he grew up between the family home and his grandparents house is where he first absorbed stories, music and poetry and nurtured a need to express himself. After failing most of his final year exams in secondary school and having spent time working in nightclubs and bars he decided to take the ferry from Ireland to Liverpool, busking by day, soaking up gigs by night the then still teenager developed a deeper sense of life experience and human nature, all of which went into a constant stream of new songs and writings.[citation needed] After a stint living in London resulted in a mugging and some creative frustrations he returned to Dublin with determination and began relentlessly playing live while releasing EP's through his own label Barrack Street Records. A musical tribe spanning two generations of Irish musicians grew around Keenan which led to the release of "Evidence of Living" in 2018 followed by tours in the run up to the recording of his debut album "A Beginner's Guide to Bravery" in 2019. In September 2019 Keenan signed with Irish Independent label Rubyworks Records[2] before the release of A Beginner's Guide To Bravery, which reached number 1 in the Independent charts and was the biggest selling Vinyl record in the country during the week of its release in January 2020.[3] The release was marked by headlining Dublin's Olympia Theatre which later became the concert film and live album "Alchemy & Prose".[citation needed]
Musical Career, writing and influences
editShortly afterwards Keenan moved to Paris as artist in residence in the Centre Culturel Irlandais, where he wrote and later published a collection of Poems entitled "Soundings of an Unnamed Bird". It was also during this time of pre lockdown isolation and introspection that stirrings of a new album began to take hold and having returned to Ireland once again, plans were put in place to record what later became his second studio album "WHAT THEN?" with American musician / producer Jonathan Mooney (Other Lives) in Black Mountain studios, just outside his hometown of Dundalk. "WHAT THEN"? was released in October of '21 to critical acclaim and is widely considered a maturing record where Keenan grew both lyrically and musically. Keenan has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, North America and his native Ireland, building a reputation for incredible, personable, live performances where nothing is left behind. He has lived in Barcelona since 2021.[citation needed]
Keenan released four EPs on his own label, Barrack Street Records, named after a place in his hometown Dundalk, including Cobwebs, Strip Me Bare, Strip Me Bare Vol. 2, and Evidence of Living.
Keenan recorded his debut album, A Beginner's Guide to Bravery, in Hellfire Studios on the outskirts of Dublin over the course of seven days. It was released on 10 January 2020, debuting at number 1 in the Irish Independent Albums Charts. A Beginner's Guide to Bravery became the biggest selling vinyl album during its week of release.[3] Keenan's debut was described as "a remarkable record" by NPR,[4] "Thrilling" by Sunday Times and "A marvellous album, and a labour of love" by The Irish Independent. Keenan played a sold out Olympia Theatre in Dublin the week of the album release, captured on film it would later become concert film and live album "Alchemy & Prose". Keenan published his first collection of poetry "Soundings of an Unnamed Bird" in 2020[5]
Keenan released his second album, What Then?, on 15 October 2021.[6] The first single from the album, "Bark", was released on 10 June 2021,[7] followed by "Sentimental Dole" on 16 July,[8] "What Then Cried Jo Soap" on 19 August of the same year.[9] To promote the album, Keenan toured the United States with Rodrigo y Gabriela in September 2021.[10]
Having released his latest “Crude” & “CRUDE BOYO” records in 22 & 23
Having played his biggest Irish headline to date in The National Concert Hall, Dublin this September (23)
He’s currently developing a fourth studio album due for release in 2025 as well as a documentary film with filmmaker Paddy Hayes.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRL [11] | |||
| A Beginner's Guide to Bravery |
|
1 | |
| What Then? |
|
||
| Crude |
|
29 [12] | |
Extended plays
edit| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Cobwebs |
|
| Strip Me Bare Vol.1 |
|
| Strip Me Bare Vol.2 |
|
| Evidence of Living |
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| Snakes & Ladders/Full Stop |
|
References
edit- ^ "David Keenan". Rubyworks. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "David Keenan Joins Rubyworks". @hotpress.com. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ a b "David Keenan fastest selling album". 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "New Music NPR". NPR. 20 January 2020.
- ^ "Live Review". 20 January 2020.
- ^ https://twitter.com/davidkeenanmuso/status/1397990990518972421. Retrieved 21 September 2021 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ Newsdesk, The Hot Press. "David Keenan shares new single 'Bark' from upcoming album "WHAT THEN?"". Hotpress. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "New Releases of the Week (23 July 2021)". The Journal of Music. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ O'Neill, Peter. "David Keenan drops 'What Then Cried Jo Soap' video ahead of new album and tour". Hotpress. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "David Keenan Hitting The Road With Rodrigo y Gabriela". antimusic.com. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
- ^ "Discography David Keenan". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 18 November 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 November 2022.