When his parents gave him a piano at the age of 8, a musical fire was ignited in country singer-songwriter Raleigh Keegan. As he grew older, having to make some difficult but necessary decisions to pave the way of his career, it was Raleigh’s faith in his own self that got him where he is today. Following his critically acclaimed 2021 debut album Clocks Roll Forward, Raleigh is set to release his sophomore album, and first concept album, A Tale of 7 Cities on June 24. Known for writing songs with a personal connection, the new album continues to share his stories to his fans new and old.
We recently caught up with the Ohio native to talk about his musical journey, songwriting and the new album.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
RK: I’m an independent country artist here in Nashville, adopted at birth, raised by amazing parents, played keys early on in life, fell even more in love with music in high school, and finally found country music in college. Now I write, record, and play full time and have for a few years now!
CN: Surrounded by a large extended family – 11 aunts and uncles and over 50 cousins on only one side of the family! – you are the only one who has any musical inclination. In fact, you taught yourself piano (after 1 year of lessons), trombone and guitar. When did you realize that you had this talent?
RK: I don’t know if I ever realized I had the talent. But I think my parents saw it in me early on. I quickly became better at playing piano than my older brother and that continued on through high school where I was 1st chair in the state in jazz trombone. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was strange that I was inclined to do music but ended up playing football in college instead.
CN: Do you have a favorite instrument to play?
RK: I get bored with one and move to another. I am way better at piano but I find guitar to bring out some great country songs.
CN: Sometime in college you heard Zac Brown Band’s Uncaged and realized that Country music was the path that you wanted to pursue. What was it about that album that clicked within you?
RK: My wife was a big inspiration to me by introducing me to Zac Brown Band and many other country artists. There was something about the nostalgic feel to their early records that were so familiar yet distinct. I can honestly say their album Uncaged changed me. I was smitten by trying to make creative country music that stood out from the pack.
CN: Which artists have influenced you both personally and as an artist?
RK: I would have to say musically the Eagles have influenced me greatly. They combine commercial music and artistic music so well, and there is a reason their songs are still being played everywhere. I would also have to say Eric Church is a real inspiration to me. On his live shows he performs with a tenacity that is really hard to beat.
CN: A big part of who you are is that of a songwriter. Can you take us through your songwriting process?
RK: Songwriting is like fishing. Everyday I sit down and go through the process of creating something. Sometimes you catch something great. Sometimes you catch something that’s just okay, and sometimes you don’t catch anything at all. I usually just start playing something on piano or guitar until I like it enough to sing a melody over top of it. There is this weird thing that happens when I know something is good or that I can make something of it. It’s like a tingle in the back of your neck and a feeling of excitement. When I find a melody I like, then I start writing words. A lot of the time I just like to start writing words based on how I feel, even if they don’t make sense. I just let out how I’m feeling and make it make sense to the listener later.
CN: Do you often pull inspiration from personal events in your life when writing?
RK: All the time. Most of my songs are about me personally, or I am character writing about someone I know personally and writing about their story.
CN: As you play both piano and guitar, do you have a preference as to which instrument you use for songwriting?
RK: I like them both for different reasons! When you start writing songs that are sounding the same, switch instruments and a whole new world opens up!
CN: Your determination throughout the stepping stones of your career is beyond impressive. There was a time when you were a personal trainer, and during your lunch breaks you would write, showing such focus to take every free minute of the day and devote it to writing. You also sold your house to fund your first record. This takes not only determination but confidence. How and when did you know that this was what you were meant to do in life, and putting everything on the line – literally – was it a no-brainer to get there?
RK: I am a very all or nothing person. If you ask my wife she would say that I am very good at what I love doing, and very terrible at making myself do things I don’t love (haha). A lot of artists say this but it’s true – the music calls to you, not the other way around. The desire to create music full time would not leave me. I didn’t have any idea what I was getting us into by selling our house to pay for my first project, but we did it anyway and I am glad we did. I was also fortunate enough early on to get affirmation from some key industry people who encouraged my journey. They saw that I was green when it came to songwriting, but they saw the potential that could develop in the future.
CN: Have you found yourself writing more during the pandemic?
RK: Way more!! I was so bored there was nothing else to do haha. It was a blessing in disguise because I really found my self and my style of writing during the pandemic and I don’t think it would have happened that way otherwise.
CN: You recently released your single “New to Nashville” which you co-wrote with Daniel Leathersich and Ryan Brisotti. What is the story behind this song?
RK: It’s a true story. It’s about me moving to Nashville and not having any idea what I was really getting into, but living on the dream of the future. As an artist, it’s pretty widely understood that getting beat up mentally and emotionally at the beginning of your career is expected, but in New To Nashville I wanted to tell my own personal account of that. It’s heartbreakingly true, but it’s also true that Nashville is the city where music dreams are made, and there is a path forward here for everyone, so I ended the song with a verse about that.
CN: The single is also the first release off your upcoming EP “A Tale of 7 Cities.” Each of the 7 tracks on the EP are city- themed. Very cool concept. How did you come up with the idea? Was it planned or did it come together on its own?
RK: When I am deciding on what to do next as an artist, I typically look through my phone of songs I have written and try to start developing a theme for a project. I noticed I had a bunch of city songs and when I was watching Hulu on a commercial break someone said “A Tale of 2 Cities” by Charles Dickens. So, having the songwriter brain that I have, I flipped that title to make it fit with the cities I had written about!
CN: Will you be hitting the road this year to support the EP?
RK: I am hoping to be back in the swing of touring this summer!
CN: When can fans expect to hear new music?
RK: I am already working on the next project, but shhhh, don’t tell anyone.
CN: If you could collaborate with any one artist, who would it be?
RK: James Taylor
CN: What was the first concert you ever attended?
RK: John Mayer in 2007
CN: If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?
RK: Me.
CN: What’s next on the horizon for you?
RK: I am going to keep plugging away at making this dream a sustainable career so I can keep writing, recording, and touring for a living. Get ready, the full concept album “A Tale of 7 Cities” releases in June!!
Mark your calendars: Raleigh Keegan will be taking over our Instagram
Monday, May 9th! Be sure to tune in!
For more information on Raleigh Keegan, visit his website www.