Some of life’s greatest discoveries begin with “Mac”— Mac n’ Cheese, Macbooks, Mac Miller, to name a few. Well, get ready for The Return of the Mack. Let us introduce you to Mackenzie Keane, or Mack Keane, a 23-year old self-made R&B/Soul artist based out of Northern Los Angeles.
It didn’t take much to sell Mack on the music industry career path. Born into a musically-inclined family, Mack’s parents dabbled in everything from acting, to producing, to songwriting. In fact, Mack remembers chillin’ on his dad’s lap behind the mixing board, while he worked out of their home studio. And when his parents were out and about, Mack was under the care of babysitters who doubled as singers and artists.
“I was around [music] and lived it, and that’s what I knew,” states Mack. No doubts went through his mind on pursuing music; he even admits to writing his first song when he was only 5 or 6 years old. Messing around to the beat of “Heart and Soul” on the piano, he ended up putting his heart and soul into music making.
Now, Mack is keane on chasing the journey to success, even if it means changing and adapting as the years go by. While the reward is not always forthcoming in this cutthroat business, Mack learned to appreciate patience and tap into his emotions. And it’s paying off big time. As of May 2021, Keane released his new single, “Aaliyah,” based on feelings behind his past relationship, and he has plenty more on the way for his anticipating audience. Planned collabs, performances and poetic lyrics are all on deck for the Los Angeles-based artist. Want to hear more? Hop aboard and check out Sheesh Magazine’s interview with Mack Keane below.
Mack has a lengthy list of musical inspirations, most of which, surprisingly, are virtuosos in the R&B/Soul genre. We’re talking Stevie Wonder, D’Angelo, Prince, Frank Ocean, Donny Hathaway, and beyond. But Mack also learned to appreciate the more rugged side of the music industry: Folk, like Bon Iver. Remember “come on pretty love?”
Speaking of inspiration, what sparked the story behind Mack’s soulful new single, “Aaliyah”? While the name might allude to the princess of pop R&B, Aaliyah, it’s actually based on Keane’s past relationship. Sometimes, two people can become lost when they’re together, so taking time apart is the most beneficial. Digging into his emotions, Mack tells, “I want you to take time and love yourself.” That’s vulnerability right there.
In fact, most of Mack’s music edges towards openness, allowing his lyrics to reflect his emotions. “At the end of the day, when it comes from a place of vulnerability, I can see I expressed myself in an honest way,” he admits. That’s why Mack says his heartfelt song, “Numb,” embodies him the best as an artist. With a line like, “Say this’ll last, but it feels like it’s supposed to die,” we’re ready to grab the tissue box for these water works.
But for Mack, getting to an ideal place in his career can “Take Some Time.” Back in high school, he was one of the only 15-year-olds mixing beats and posting his songs to Facebook. Dubbing his first single “Popular Girls,” he gained some popularity himself. And all of this musical background landed him a spot at the Clive Davis School at New York University, where he learned the technicalities of producing and engineering. He’ll admit, however, that his college experience “shattered his world,” and brought him to the realization that living in Los Angeles was more of a bubble. So, Mack went on a search outside of himself.
This brings us to Mack’s coveted collaborations, which he intends on continuing this year. He believes working with ESTA., a fellow soul/ R&B artist, brought the best out of him. “We’ve become musical brothers at this point,” Mack voices. And of course, working with others has consequently transformed his sound for the better. In terms of this learning process, Mack discovered this: “Trust in your instinct, and don’t get too into your own head.”
However, not getting “too into your own head” hasn’t been the easiest for Mack. The rising R&B artist admits to having a little bit of stage fright. “When you’re in it, it’s a natural high,” he suggests. But in order to feel this way, Mack turns to meditation, as he’s been practicing Nichiren Buddhism lately. Oh, and “vocal warmups and water—maybe a workout, too,” he laughs.
It’s clear that Mack values inner and outer health, so he loves to get creative in the kitchen. In his spare time, you can catch him crafting up pasta sauces, paying homage to his Italian side. “It’s just another way of creating,” jokes Mack. A true artist never stops, we suppose!
And that’s just what Mack plans on doing. Trusting the process and relying on patience, Mack sees more success on the horizon. “I am continuing to test myself as an artist, and I’m not going to stop doing that,” he reaffirms. We’re keane on that!
Listen to Mack Keane on Apple Music and Spotify. Check him out on Instagram here.
