LoudLife had a small talk with DJ Keeq (UK) at the 2nd Floor club in Prague.
I’m glad to welcome Keeq to Prague’s club 2.floor, how are you and how are you enjoying Prague for the second day already?
I’m doing great and I enjoyed the party at club OX yesterday, am I saying that right? Meduza was playing. Anyway, today we went to the Christmas market and that made me enjoy it even more. So it was crowded, lots of people everywhere, but since I have great guides here, you took me through shortcuts where you could.
Yeah, you’re right, you have the best guides here. You came to Prague to treat us to your tech house and afro house set here on the 2. Floor venue. Are you looking forward to your gig in Prague?
Absolutely, this venue is super cool and I like intimate venues with character and here it ticks all the boxes. I am buzzin.
You’ve been on the scene for quite a long time, but you’ve had a really long break. How did your music career start? Why did you take a break and what made you to come back?
I always wanted to be a DJ. When I was very young, before I was a teenager, a local club had DJ lessons and I used to go to them and work my way up. I played for about 10 years and really enjoyed it, but I decided to give it up. I felt too old for it even I was only 28. Maybe I shouldn’t have done it. But after Covid, a friend talked me into playing and those gigs convinced me to come back. It was about a year and a half ago and suddenly I’m back in the Czech Republic.
How do you perceive the difference? What was it like before and what is it like for you now? There are so many new trends. How do you look at it after such a long break?
To be honest the biggest difference I perceive is in social media, and I admit I’m not as proficient or active in social media as I need to be. Music has changed a bit too. It used to be more techno and now it’s going more into house music.
You mentioned that playing at major gigs brought you back into the scene, tell us more about that.
The gig that convinced me to come back was the first one after Covid when I played On The Beach in Brighton with my hero Carl Cox, it was so amazing, my home crowd, friends and family, the sun was shining and it was the first day in England that you could officially party. I can’t forget standing there on stage, it was a really special moment for me and I wouldn’t say I’ve had any better. I said to myself, I can’t give up now.
It would be a big mistake if you did! Aside from the legend Carl Cox, you’ve played alongside big names like Eric Prydz, Adam Beyer, Paul Oakenfold and many more. Are you a good friend with these guys as well?
We meet quite often when we play and when our paths cross I’m always very happy. I have a lot of friends on the scene and when I meet them they always give me some feedback and good advice, which is valuable to me. They can also tell you if you’re going in the right direction or if you have tracks you want to present. It’s good to have those connections.
What good advice you would give to those DJs who want to kickstart their career from a professional’s perspective?
I think for me the best thing to do is to break down everything into realistic stages and try to see a map in your head that works. Visualize something manifest it and then do it. So for me, it was first getting to a good label which I was fortunate to do with Circus and then when you get into a certain circle, your music and your profile, your name will start to appear with other people you look up to and inspire you and in that point you can maybe reach out to them, be able to get responses and mutual respect which if you are not heard might be difficult to do something, so that was my plan to try to get on the label which was the Circus for me. It was the start and I did my first release, actually my first two releases on Circus. Then they wanted me to expand my reach and that worked and I could book into other labels and then from there it´s easier to grow and hopefully people know, who you are and you can reach out to people and they come back to you.
You are a great producer and you have collaborated with many famous artists like Blondish. What else do you plan? Can we expect something special from Keeq in 2024?
2024 will be very busy with releases. I aim to have at least one track per month. Many are my own but I have also collab with Blondish again. My first release will be on the label Adesso I released on them before it´s Junior Jack´s label and that is a collaboration with LA artist Talon
Another collaboration is with Miami-based Calussa, a new one with Franky Wah, which we are still developing. I have an EP by Danny Serrano, who I already had an EP this year, but this one would be on Stereo Production, which is DJ Chus label in Spain and I am excited about that. I have an EP coming out on Nick Curly’s label 8BIT which is supper cool and I also have plans for my own label. I have a few tracks signed and I have also collaborated with an amazing band in Brighton King Kuda. We have two tracks that would be released maybe 3rd and they are really exciting. There are many collaborations out there but I feel like next year will be my 3rd year and certainly will be the busiest.
Besides the production next year, are you planning some big shows? Where would you invite us?
I have plans for Asia, going back to the USA again, Australia tour, and the UK of course. I do On The Beach in Brighton every year, that is my hometown thing, and it is something I am so proud of. Watching it grow is a beautiful thing.
When you say “Loud Life” what does that mean to you?
Expressing yourself, when I am DJing It’s like loud life so that would be the answer.
Thank You Kieran!
KEEQ BIO
Bursting onto the scene in early 2022, Brighton (UK) based ‘KeeQ’ is one of the underground dance music scene’s brightest new prospects. Boasting a style that can be described as a hybrid between house and techno incorporating tribal and emotive elements, with KeeQ highlighting Nic Fancuilli, HotSince 82, Mele, DJ Chus, Steve Lawler, and Nick Curly as influences to his production style.
KeeQ’s stream of high profile releases since 2022 on labels such as Circus Recordings, Saved Records, Abracadabra, and Hurry Up Slowly has seen prime time radio support from the likes of Pete Tong, Danny Howard, Gorgon City, Sarah Story, Joseph Capriati (Radio 1 residency), Leftwing:Kody, Mark Knight, Sam Divine, Amy Elle, Ben Malone, and TCTS. As well as club support from the likes of Solomun, Black Coffee, Blond:ish, Nic Fancuilli, Hernan Catteneo, Diplo, Laurent Garnier, and Yousef.
KeeQ’s profile increases in tandem with the profile of his live and radio/podcast appearances. KeeQ is a regular for the Carl Cox invites brand in front of a 10000 strong crowd, has toured with Fatboy Slim across multiple areas, and has performed various headline shows across the UK, and internationally. During 2023, KeeQ joined Ibiza Live Radio as a resident DJ, and has also been on the airwaves as a guest through Tomorrowland Radio, Kiss FM guest mixes, Stereo Productions Podcast, and Circus Podcast.
KeeQ boasts an impressive forthcoming release schedule throughout 2023/24 on labels such as Franky Ways Shen, Yousef’s Circus, Nicky Curly’s 8Bit, Junior Jacks Adesso, Calussa’s Hurry Up Slowly, and many more. KeeQ also has collaborations with Blondish, Franky Wah, and DannySerrano throughout 2024.
