We recently had the chance to connect with Keyring and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Keyring, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
One time when I was working as a barista in Brooklyn, I came forward to management about an incident of SA that occurred between two employees. I ended up getting soft-fired, scheduled only once a week, and then eventually I was officially fired. Afterwards, I managed to make things work for a little while, but I guess it really goes to say that these systems of power that keep victims quiet and protect abusers work to silence even third parties who stand up in support of victims.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
So I’m keyring and I’m focused on creating DIY and alternative art with a focus on experimental electronic music. I’ve been active online posting songs since 2021 under my current project, and I’ve undergone a transformation or two along the way. Ever since 2025 started, it’s felt like every other day, the world I knew before crumbled, giving way to a new one based on real connections with people in real life, rather than parasocial grandstanding. I hardly post anywhere anymore and have instead been allowing time to wash over me and enjoying a bit of obscurity after experiencing some tough personal hardships, including breaking my ankle. I have new stuff (including some music!) coming up, and I’m really excited to share it with the community and my friends!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My high school Biology teacher wanted to introduce me to her trans friend, whom she knew while attending the same high school. I didn’t really realize my gender identity at the time, but I think the closet was glass and the egg was yet to be cracked. I recall guiding this adult trans woman, then a 17-year-old GSA co-president, to a meeting on a Monday afternoon, and she remarked that her previous time at the school felt like a dream. I’ll never forget it. She introduced me to my still-favourite YouTuber, Kat Blaque, and the rest of my life really started shortly after that. It breaks my heart how education has become a battleground where trans students and youth are in the crosshairs. My life would not have been the same without that introduction. The GSA I helped start at my high school has now most definitely been disbanded because such organizations are now banned under Texas State law. So basically shout out to my High School Biology teacher!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I straight-up almost gave up my interest in being a musical artist altogether over the last couple of months. I found myself wanting to fade away from society, win the Powerball, and never be seen again. I planned to release a final musical project and then drop off the face of the earth, and then the universe whiplashed me deeper into the music industry (for work as well) than I’ve ever been.
This was quite recently, so I guess what’s next is making sense of the music I made all summer and formalizing some sort of release haha. And honestly there’s days even now where I feel like giving up. If anything I just try to remind myself that I’m not doing all this silly and fun music stuff for any other reason than self expression and being myself. I reserve the right to quit if I want at any time lol that’s how consent works.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
I don’t believe in a public version. I try to be as authentic as possible these days, but I view posting online and especially artistic projects as just that, a project, a flash frame of a feeling in a moment, a memory in stasis. I like to think the authenticity happens in real life. What happens online is a captured moment that will most likely outlive the real me, the me that has to brush my teeth in the morning, gets stuck in traffic, and otherwise lives monotonous and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will never reach others’ screens or ears. That’s the real me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think most folks will misunderstand my departure from drag to music. Arguably, as of this point in time, I have had so much more commercial success as a drag artist than I’ve had as an independent musician. I started injecting estrogen in July of 2020 in Brooklyn (I remember my friend did the shot in my ass and I passed out lol). As I started to grow boobs and traverse the gap between perceived gay boy versus transwoman, I noticed shreds of privilege I had faded away. As the years passed and the estrogen did its thing (and I got my facial hair removed), slowly but surely, I found myself in a completely different stature as it relates to the gay community. (cis gay men). As this process occurred, I found myself no longer interested in being a drag artist. Music became my refuge, a place where I could continue to express myself on my terms. And my computer and keyboard don’t care about my transness or how cunty or passable or famous or notable I am. I think my personal experience of transmisogyny has led to my obsession with obscurity and records left behind.
I’ve truly detached myself from the capitalistic mindset of wanting to be a “star” or blow up, despite the sometimes synonymous connection between the style of music I love making and fame-lusting artists who typically make it. I’m much more interested in reality. Shoutout to my 20 monthly listeners, ya’ll are the real ones.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.itskeyring.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itskeyring
- Twitter: https://bsky.app/profile/itskeyring.bsky.social
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itiskeyring/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itskeyring?app=desktop
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/itskeyring
- Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@its.keyring
Image Credits
-Paige
