Kashy Keegan
British singer-songwriter Kashy Keegan became a mini-celeb in Hong Kong when his song “This Is My Dream” became an anthem of the HKTV protests in October 2013. He tells Yannie Chan about moving to the SAR and releasing his latest album.
HK Magazine: How’d you get your start?
Kashy Keegan: I had been knocking on doors in the UK music industry for 14 years, to no avail. I got to a point where I was thinking about giving up. Then I got an email from Universal Music, saying [HKTV] wanted to use the song “This Is My Dream” for [infotainment program] The Challenge, back in 2012. I had never had an opportunity like this!
HK: How did you become famous?
KK: In October 2013, news broke that HKTV didn’t get a license. I started getting alerts that people were using my song in protests. I wrote that song seven years ago. I didn’t expect, in a million years, for anything to happen. Then, I was contacted by HKTV to perform in Hong Kong. I hopped on a plane—all within the span of 48 hours. That night, the song shot to No. 1 on iTunes. It was crazy.
HK: Were you worried that this was your 15 minutes of fame?
KK: To be honest, most people knew the song because of its association with HKTV. I don’t think—even to this day—that most people know who I am. On the flight back, I thought, “What now?” This was such a big high. I mean, there is only one direction you can go after that.
HK: Did your friends find it weird?
KK: I was literally here just for a weekend, and on Monday, I was back in the office. I was quiet as a mouse about it. My office manager found the video on YouTube, and the entire office was in disbelief. “It can’t be Kashy because he’s so quiet.” They couldn’t quite fathom how it could be me.
HK: What did you know about Hong Kong before that?
KK: Hong Kong wasn’t on my radar. But weirdly enough, my first friend in school was from Hong Kong. She tried to teach me Chinese. She would give me homework and even try to pay me to learn. She now runs a restaurant in town.
HK: Moving here is a big decision. What was the catalyst?
KK: The truth is, I lost my job as a celebrity journalist back in the UK. In light of everything that happened with my music—the news made the national press in the Daily Mail and the Guardian—my editor at the time thought my life was moving in a different direction and she did not renew my probation. It was like the universe was telling me to pursue music. I thought I would come here and give myself three months to get a record deal.