Behind the Beat: David Keno Sets Your Music Soul Free – Mix 247 EDM

July 2, 2020

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

Switzerland-born DJ and producer David Keno sets your music soul free with his latest single “Set Me Free.” His second release with Club Sweat delivers chugging, deep cuts with grooving bass-lines coupled with an energetic dance-hall hook. What was originally intended for his live sets, and after seeing the overwhelmingly positive response from crowds he knew he had to set this banger free.

I produced this track just for fun and for my DJ sets, but the feedback was always so good. Every single time people approached me and asked about it. So I thought I might give it a shot and try to get the rights for the vocals and put it out.

David Keno sets your music sould free and releases “Set Me Free”

Listen: (Interview) David Keno Sets You Free with Music

While many music fans think the pandemic is giving artists time to make music and be ultra-creative, the lockdown doesn’t necessarily mean the creative spirit is in high-gear. “When the lockdown started I was thinking okay I have to make the most of it. Make music as much as possible, but the theory was better at first,” explains Keno. “It didn’t really work out. I went to the studio and I was zero inspired.” What people overlook is that often artists find inspiration on the road as they travel from gig to gig.  For many artists, this is the longest time they’ve stayed put in one place since starting their careers.  It’s only now halfway through the year that Keno seems to have found a balance in producing music during such intense times. 

Even though Keno lives in Europe, racial tension and police brutality are societal issues happening around the world. Originally started as a U.S. movement, Black Lives Matter has moved communities in all parts of the world. The global unrest points to the deep systematic racism that plagues the world. “It’s an issue that needs to be addressed. There’s so much tension all over the world, and it all comes to this point where we need to do something. We can’t be silent anymore,” urges Keno.

Unlearning to Learn

Keno is classically trained on guitar and drums and started his musical journey playing in various rock-focused bands. Music has a huge part of his life and he’s learned that sometimes the best way to create (music) is to let the guardrails down helping him achieve greater freedom in the studio. “I used to try to forget the classically training and make more functional, “clubby” music,” shares Keno. “I was always putting too [many] melodies in my music.” After 15 years of studio time and DJ sets, he’s able to better combine his classical training with modern music production.

It’s best to let loose and relax when it comes to making music, and Keno is all about it. Don’t get him wrong, it’s good to have ambitions for records and wanting them in certain labels, but it’s important to let your own sound shine through. He’s targeted labels in the past with focused productions to “fit” the label’s sound rather than make music first and then shop it around. “Sometimes I do it like this, but it never works,” admits Keno. “I try not to think and just go with the flow. I don’t want to sound like a copy of something.” Let the music do the talking the rest will come.

Musical Inspirations from the Past and Present

Growing up to the likes of Pink Floyd and Depeche Mode, Keno’s musical inspirations are many and wide-ranging. He recognizes the importance of letting great artists inspire but not compromising your musical identity because of it. “Find your own sound, and don’t try to be someone else. Do your own thing and have fun,” advises Keno. “I had a time when I was really trying to achieve something that wasn’t me. […] It took me a while to see that I was going in the wrong direction. Now I’m doing what I like to do not what I think people will like.” He credits German DJ and producer Smash TV  as someone who’s currently inspiring him. Keno confesses during a studio session with him he learned some new production tricks. You never stop learning and there’s always room for more musical goodness.

Buy or Stream David Keno – “Set Me Free”

Let The Music Set You Free

Keno shares Canadian DJ A-Trak‘s sentiment as it relates to music-making during the pandemic. A-Trak recently tweeted encouraging producers to experiment and challenge themselves to push creative boundaries. “I’m in a little bit in a transformation and not focusing solely on club music right now anymore. I’m making music for listening,” says Keno. “I want to move people, but I’m not trying to limit myself anymore to club music nowadays. It’s kind of refreshing. I like it, and right now, the clubs are closed anyways,” laughs Keno.

What’s next for him? He pauses to think and coyishly hints to perhaps finding a home for his music on Jamie Jones’ label Hot Creations. Put it into the universe and manifest, right? His parting words before ending the call, “Just be good to people, be nice.” Simple words yet powerful.

Hot Seat with David Keno

  • What’s favorite breakfast food: Egg benedict
  • Celebrity Crush: Laughs, and continues to laugh
  • Dream music festival (to play at): Fusion Music Festival
  • A soundtrack that has influenced you the most: Judgement Night
  • Ultimate b2b set: Jamie Jones
Follow David Keno:

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SOUNDCLOUD