Keywest
{{Short description|Irish musical group}}
{{for|city in Florida|Key West, Florida}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2020}}
{{Multiple issues|{{notability|Music|date=March 2015}}
{{Peacock|date=November 2014}}}}
File:Keywest busking on Grafton Street. March 2014.JPG, Dublin, 2014]]
Keywest is an Irish pop-folk band formed in Dublin by graduates of BIMM Dublin{{Cite web |title=BIMM Dublin |url=https://www.bimm.ie/ |url-status=live}} formed in Dublin. Its current members are Andrew Kavanagh (lead vocals, harmonica), Andrew Glover (acoustic guitar, piano, backing vocals), Luke Murphy (electric guitar, backing vocals), and Conor Ray (drums, percussion). The group gained early attention through busking across Ireland, particularly on Grafton Street in Dublin.{{Cite web |title=Keywest Interview |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/keywest-interview-15425970 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=hotpress.com}}
History
Andrew Kavanagh and Andrew Glover, childhood friends from Artane, Dublin,{{Cite web |title=Keywest: 'busking shaped us' |url=https://www.farmersjournal.ie/entertainment/living-life-/keywest-busking-shaped-us-497361 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.farmersjournal.ie |language=en}} began performing in Galway, before relocating to Dublin to busk on Grafton Street, known for its street performers. In 2015, the band was fined for exceeding noise levels under Dublin's busking bylaw.{{Cite news |last=Dhillon |first=Fiona |date=5 October 2015 |title=Busking appeals falling on deaf ears as Keywest pays decibel fine |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-busking-appeals-falling-o/169538952/ |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=Dublin Evening Herald |pages=11}}
In November 2018, Keywest signed to Marshall Records, {{Cite web |title=Keywest - a Marshall Records alumni band |url=https://www.marshall.com/us/en/artist-services/artists/keywest |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=marshall.com}} and released their album Ordinary Superhero the following year.{{Cite web |title=Interview: Keywest's Andrew Kavanagh on busking, mental health, and their new album Ordinary Superhero |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/keywest-interview-andrew-kavanagh-22791260 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=hotpress.com}}
As of 2025, the band operates independently, funding its activities through direct sales and platforms like Patreon.{{Cite web |title=Get more from KEYWESTOFFICIAL on Patreon |url=https://www.patreon.com/Keywestofficial |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Patreon |language=en-US}} In an interview on Irish radio, Kavanagh advocated for a government pilot scheme devised to provide a basic income to an initial group of 2,000 artists and musicians.{{Cite web |last=Kindregan |first=Robert |title=Keywest singer says Irish musicians find it "very difficult" to get radio plays |url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/irish-bands-finding-it-very-difficult-to-get-radio-plays4-1616811 |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Newstalk |language=en}}
=2012: ''The Message''=
Their debut album [https://open.spotify.com/album/7cGc46VshHbzeLvP2babLm?si=OMr2dkjqSdWmpNCYn_Ag9Q The Message] was released in 2012 via Alphastar Records. It peaked at No.15 on the Irish charts and No.2 on the Irish iTunes chart. The album was self-produced with engineering by Mark Needham, who has worked with The Killers, Katy Perry, Fleetwood Mac, Neon Trees, and Dan Frampton (The Script).{{Cite web |title=Mark Needham Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & Mor... |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mark-needham-mn0000293071 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=AllMusic |language=en}} The album was a double CD release, with CD1 being the main album and CD2 being the Undelivered EP.
The Message featured the singles "Back Into Your Arms," "Feels So Cruel," "In the Fight for Love" and "Straight Through My Heart." The singles were played on Irish radio, and the band was called Ireland's most-played Irish independent artist of 2012.{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Richard |date=2016-11-11 |title=Irish Band Keywest come to Dolans this November 26 |url=https://www.ilovelimerick.ie/keywest/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=I Love Limerick |language=en-US}} The Message has since been certified triple-platinum in Ireland.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
In 2012, Keywest was nominated for Best New Act at the Meteor Awards, and The Message was nominated for Best Debut Album in the Hot Press Hotties Awards.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}
The band also signed a worldwide publishing deal in Los Angeles with Peermusic in 2012.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
=2013: ''Electric Love'' EP=
The band followed their debut album with the [https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/2Sz2oMfVjdhj3oFbCsMceA?si=qq1IrE6cQ--ryaAuTEtV3w Electric Love EP], which featured the title track and lead single, 'Electric Love.' The single reached number one on the Irish charts and was released independently through the band's own label, Sonic Realm Records.{{Cite web |title=Sonic Realm Records Discography |url=https://www.discogs.com/label/1075859-Sonic-Realm-Records |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Discogs |language=en}}
=2015: ''Joyland''=
Keywest released their second album [https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/1UF6u2CIuj1a13pxTLB2uA?si=Xg1Lia5BRzufwET33_kiNw Joyland] on 25 September 2015, and it went straight to the number 2 position on the Official Irish Chart, climbing to the top spot the following week. They also appeared on the front cover of Irish music magazine, Hot Press. Joyland had four singles: "All My Mistakes," "Carousel," "This Is Heartbreak" and "Apple Tree Hill."
In 2014 and 2015, the band won the 98 FM award for Dublin's best street artist. In 2015, the band was voted Most Promising Artist in Hot Press.https://www.hotpress.com/music/inside-the-new-issue-the-ihot-pressi-hotties-13562173{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
= 2016: This Summer – EP =
In 2016, Keywest released the [https://open.spotify.com/album/2njGg2wGdQiHbslCxWl1dv?si=T2qtBCzARTiROlFiqdYbfQ This Summer EP], featuring the lead track of the same name. The EP showcased a more atmospheric and nostalgic sound, reflecting on fleeting summer moments with emotional and melodic depth. "This Summer" became a fan favorite during live performances and was praised by independent critics for its lyrical maturity and dynamic arrangements. Like previous releases, the EP was independently released through the band’s own label, Sonic Realm Records.
=2018: ''True North''=
The band's third album, titled [https://open.spotify.com/album/3J13A0Ev2tve5GzfiaCNMM?si=hq-macNkS0WliMRRTuunKQ True North], was released on 30 March 2018. It entered the Irish charts at number 3, reaching number 1 on the Independent Music Chart. Keywest received three nominations at the 2018 Irish Post Music Awards: Best Song, Best Album, and Best Band.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
= 2019: ''Ordinary Superhero'' =
Their fourth album, [https://open.spotify.com/album/4XimQWKinevijzlNP9XNAc?si=lXU1Pp2BSTOqInU-hbvVBw Ordinary Superhero], was released 18 October 2019 and reached number 8 on the official Irish Album Chart. The song "I'm Not Me Without You" features Irish singer Una Healy.{{Cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Sorcha |date=25 April 2019 |title=Una teams up with Keywest for new single after going solo |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-herald-colab-with-una/169539347/ |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=Dublin Evening Herald |pages=22}}
The title track, "Ordinary Superhero," was released at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in conjunction with Irish and UK charities supplying PPE to frontline workers. The music video for the song depicted frontline workers during the pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Official Charts - Ordinary Superhero |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/albums/keywest-ordinary-superhero/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=hotpress.com}}
Current members
- Andrew Kavanagh – lead vocals
- Andrew Glover – rhythm guitar, piano, backing vocals
- Luke Murphy – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Conor Ray – drums, percussion
Awards and nominations
- Best New Act – Meteor Awards 2012 (Nominated)
- Best Debut Album – Hot Press Hotties Awards, 2012 (Nominated)
- Best Street Act – 98 FM Best Of Dublin Awards 2014 (Winner)
- Best Street Act – 98 FM Best Of Dublin Awards 2015 (Winner)
- Most Promising Artist – Hot Press Hotties Awards 2015 (Winner)
- Best Song – Irish Post Music Awards 2018 (Nominated)
- Best Album – Irish Post Music Awards 2018 (Nominated)
- Best Act – Irish Post Music Awards 2018 (Nominated)
Discography
{{Infobox artist discography
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| Studio = 4
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=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center; |
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Album Details !colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
|---|
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|IRL {{cite web|author=Steffen Hung |url=http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Keywest |title=Discography Keywest |publisher=irishcharts.com |access-date=2022-08-16}} !style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|UK |
| 2012
|align="left"| The Message
| 15 | — |
| 2015
|align="left"| Joyland
| 1 | — |
| 2018
|align="left"| True North
| — |
| 2019
|align="left"| Ordinary Superhero
| — |
| colspan="4" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a title that did not chart. |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan=2|Year
! rowspan=2|Title !colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|IRL !style="width:3em;font-size:75%"|UK |
| 2009
| style="text-align:left;"|"Miss You Most" | 6 | — | |
| 2011
| style="text-align:left;"|"Back into Your Arms" | 25 | — |rowspan="3"| The Message |
| rowspan="2" |2012
| style="text-align:left;"|"Feels So Cruel" | — | — |
| style="text-align:left;"|"In The Fight For Love"
| — | — |
| 2013
| style="text-align:left;" |"Electric Love" | 55 | — | |
| rowspan="3" |2015
| style="text-align:left;"|"All My Mistakes" | — | — | rowspan="3" | Joyland |
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 84 | — |
| "This Is Heartbreak"
| – | – |
| 2016
|"This Summer" | | | rowspan="4" |True North |
| rowspan="2" |2017
|"The Little Things" | | |
| "Cold Hands"
| | |
| 2018
|"Something Beautiful" | | |
| colspan="5" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes a title that did not chart. |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups established in 2008