The day Keeana Kee came out, she sat down in a tattoo parlor and had “One’s true self” inked on her arm. It serves as her everyday reminder to live authentically—a motto she embodies in her latest single, “TIK TOK.”
The Latvian-born singer and model first entered the music scene in 2016 with her hit single, “Coconut Rum and Coke ft. Maffio.” Her latest tune, “TIK TOK,” encourages listeners not to procrastinate and reminds them that the clock is always ticking.
As a gay artist, Kee uses her experience of coming out as inspiration for “TIK TOK.” When Kee came out several years ago, her family did not react well. Her sister cut off all contact with her for years, and her mother had an exceptionally hard time understanding and accepting Kee’s sexuality. However, Kee was not alone. She had a girlfriend at the time who supported and loved her through everything. “Even if the whole world was against me, I would still have her,” says Kee.
In the verses of “TIK TOK,” Kee refers to someone who is not out yet, encouraging them to stay true to themselves and not let other people’s different opinions and beliefs affect theirs. “I’m letting you know that I’m there for you and even though it’s going to be hard, you are not alone and you are loved for who you are. Don’t listen to all the media that makes us believe we should stay in the closet. You deserve to be happy,” says Kee.
The cover art for Keeana Kee’s song, “TIK TOK”
Kee wants her listeners to know that it’s okay not to come out, as many cannot do so due to safety concerns. However, she strongly believes that coming out is an important part of self love. “You’ll never be as happy as you can be unless you are yourself,” says Kee.
Some of her favorite memories as an artist are from performing at Pride festivals. Kee has performed at numerous Pride festivals in the US and UK but the biggest highlights are the New York Pride Festival, the Miami Pride Festival and London’s Pride, which she says feel different from her gigs at bars and smaller venues. “The LGBTQ+ community feels like family and supports you differently. It’s very different when you have your own people, even if you haven’t met them. I can see them looking at me and relating to every lyric or line. It’s incredible,” says Kee. She will be reconnecting with the LGBTQ+ community on stage yet again, at another queer music festival, The Dinah (aka Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend), in Palm Springs, California from September 25th to the 29th.
Keanna Kee
Musical artists like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Celine Dion inspire Kee, especially when she was just starting out. It’s not just their vocal ability and impressive songwriting skills that motivate her; it’s their vulnerability and authenticity. She says their intentionality with voice cracks helps audiences “feel everything.” Kee wants to emulate these artists’ uplifting and inspiring music through a new “cinematic” genre. “These songs will be even deeper and more empowering, kind of dramatic,” shares Kee.
Moving forward, Kee is planning to release a new single and music video almost every month. Just a couple of days ago, she released another single called “WEEKEND.” As she continues to create new music, Kee uses her passion for the LGBTQ+ community and authenticity to make memorable work. “The purpose of all my music is to inspire and motivate, not just to listen and forget about it,” Kee says.
