Even Though It's Summer - New Single by Keelan X
From the 'Boys of Summer' to 'August,' a new song in the classic end-of-summer tradition.
"I’ve always been drawn to the in-between places, that bittersweet feeling that comes with change. With "Even Though It’s Summer," I wanted to capture the feeling of the season winding down. It's that moment when they start putting back-to-school ads on the telly and radio, and you can feel the autumn rain on the horizon. This song is an ode to that feeling. I like that duality ...it's what drives narrative in songs, poetry etc —the 'what ifs' that make a story intriguing. I wanted to create a sound that felt both breezy and melancholic , with crisp beats, shimmering synths, and a memorable vocal hook. "Even Though It's Summer" is my attempt to ape the vibe in a song like 'Boys of Summer' by Don Henley or 'August' by Taylor Swift though it sounds a lot diffent to those references of course.- Keelan X
Good Times – Official Music Video & New Single by Keelan X
Stream the latest indiepop release from Ireland-based artist Keelan X
“Good Times” is a new 80s-inspired indiepop single by Irish songwriter and producer Keelan X.
Blending indie pop, retro pop production, and poetic lyrics, the track explores the bittersweet feeling of looking back at a relationship that ended, and choosing to celebrate what was good.
The official music video was filmed in Madrid, where a combination of sunlight and occasional rain mirror the song's meaning.
Influences: The 1975, Holly Humberstone, New Radicals, Deacon Blue etc.
Dancing In The Flames - Cover
Check out 'Dancing In The Flames' on all streaming platforms.
"So far, I’d only released one cover vesion — The 1975’s Somebody Else in November 2024. It allowed me to step inside someone else’s song and put my own vibe into it. It’s been interesting and challenging, so I wanted to try more.
I’ve never been too good at doing other people’s songs. Karaoke fills me with dread, but sometimes I do it for a laugh. Doing a cover version is “a better kind of karaoke” since you can apply your own creative expression to someone else’s song without having to try and sound just like them.
The Keelan X sound already draws on the sonic landscape of signature synths and drum sounds from the ‘80s.
I’ve been a fan of The Weeknd for a while, so when I heard Dancing In The Flames in September 2024, I thought, “Hmm, maybe this is something I could cover!?” I liked the melody and the juxtaposition of nihilistic relationship themes with the ‘living in the moment, on the edge’ energy.
Love is both exhilarating and treacherous—it can end up in flames!
It’s not as immediately catchy as Blinding Lights, but I liked it straight away. The lyrics reminded me of There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Smiths, which also pulled me in.
Exploring the darker side of love, risk, and circumstance was something that interested me. Vocally, it was a stretch for me because The Weeknd has a very distinctive “head voice” singing style, and that’s not something I usually do—it’s not my natural style, so it was a reach.
Stylistically, this cover is a bit of a departure from the usual Keelan X sound.
I wanted to introduce acoustic guitars and alter the vibe while staying true to the melody and arrangement. We experimented a lot with instrumentation and ended up with an acoustic guitar-led version, with a sprinkle of synths, strings, and electric guitar.
I co-produced the song with London-based producer Julian Chown, and all the guitar parts were played by Cork-based guitarist Kealan Kenny." - Keelan X
"Somebody Else" single now available
Check out "Somebody Else" on all streaming platforms.
Why I Chose This Song.
"I’m a big fan of The 1975 and I was being encouraged to do some current cover versions by people in the industry to build my profile and help create awareness of my own music. I was working with London-based producer Imad Salhi on some of my own songs at the time and he suggested The 1975’s ‘Somebody Else’ as he felt it would suit my voice/range. The song is also a perennial favourite of fans of The 1975 so it’s a very popular and defining song of theirs so we felt it would be worthwhile covering. "
What I Like about the Song
"I liked the song because of its late-night vibes and it’s 80s-inflected production. The lyrical theme of conflicted feelings about the ending of a relationship was something I could relate to. I like the juxtaposition of being ready to move on but being haunted by what was lost. I felt I could deliver the vocal and the theme. It was in my range and I could get behind the emotion of the song as well as do my own interpretation of it."
"Running Red Lights" video now available
Listen and watch "Running Red Lights" on YouTube.
New single "Running Red Lights"
Available across all streaming platforms as part of a 4-track EP
Play, share, download and save it!
Spotify pre-save link here: https://tr.ee/ofjbowi_cj
A little about the track:
"Last year's BBC documentary series, Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland had me gripped, especially the stories of women losing their men to the cause. When I was writing the song, I thought about this and what it must have been like to be in a relationship with a revolutionary during the Troubles. I wrote from these women’s point of view. Leaving aside the political backdrop, the song is at one level just one person’s plea to another to stay".