Myself | Keanan Eksteen Live

Song production credits:
Song & lyrics: Keanan Eksteen
Guitar & lead vocals: Keanan Eksteen
Drums, keys, additional guitars: Jeremy Farber
Backing vocals: Jeremy Farber

Myself was recorded & produced at For Tomorrow studios by: Jeremy Farber
Final mix & mastering by: Jens Maiwald

LISTEN

I see the ashtray from afar
And it seems like you’ve been
Up all night
Somedays even crying in the car
And I wish that I could
Be your light

Leave my hand when it’s cold outside
But you
Call me up in the middle of the night
Sick of feeling like
The one that tried

Now that you’re screaming
I can’t even hear myself
Words you don’t believe cause
You don’t really want the help
Even though I’m breathin’
I can’t really feel myself
What I hate to say
Is I love the pain
What I hate to say
Is I love the pain

Baby sometimes you drive me
Insane
And I know that I
Probably do the same
And it’s back and forth
And up and down
And you see it too
What is it all worth?
How’s about we see it through

Leave my hand when it’s cold outside
But you
Call me up in the middle of the night
Sick of feeling like
The one that tried

What I hate to say
Is I love the pain
What I hate to say
Is I love the pain

MYSELF SONG PRODUCTION INFO

Keanan Eksteen
Songwriter / Performer

I have always enjoyed the idea of a fast drum beat and a bassline rolling over that. Much like what one would hear in the punk genre or perhaps the more indie route. Nonetheless I came across a progression that lead to the melody we hear today in the chorus. The song is for people to move, to dance and to absolutely lose themselves, while at the same time, it can talk to the heart. It’s not the most sunshine and rainbows song in terms of lyrics, it does paint the picture of harder times we tend to experience with those we love. But throw a fast bassline and beat over it, something you can’t help but move to, and out comes the tongue-in-cheek piece of work that shapes a new part of the journey.

Jeremy Farber
Music Producer / Musician

The song started off as a punk-rock song that was initially very stripped down, but as we went along the song evolved into something with a bigger sound. After we added the synths and some backing vocals, we felt that we had something different to our other productions, but it still had the grit and power that Keanan is known for. We played the song live for the first time in Munich and because it went down so well there and for the rest of the tour (without anyone ever hearing it before) we decided to make it the next single.

MYSELF: MUSIC VIDEO PRODUCITON INFO

Keanan Eksteen
Artist / Performer

Jeremy pitched us this fun idea of the video we have today. A family all into the music we make, both wishing to attend a concert but hiding it from one another. A classic trope turned into something meaningful. The point of the music has always been for the people to enjoy, and for them to find a piece of themselves in the music. The music video, to me, symbolises the union of old and young and everyone in between that can come together at a show and all feel included, part of it, and connected to the songs. The perfect contrast, a funny wholesome video, for a song with words overlooked. I love it.

……

Jeremy Farber
Executive producer & video concept

This video is about the nature of humans, we’re often hiding things that we actually have in common, in this case the folks and the kid both like Keanan’s music and shows, but they are hiding it from each other for reasons of their own. I also thought it would be cool to show that Keanan’s music appeals to both younger and older crowds in the story line, so to convey this the video follows two different stories instead of following the lyrical narrative of the song. There is a bit of humor in the video which is in line with Keanan’s personality, and it’s nice to see him and the band in action in the performance parts, you get a sense of what one of his shows are like. Tarryn Doherty directed the video (she also directed the previous music video for “Dixie Clouds”) and we were so lucky to have her work on one of our productions again. She is one of the most talented people we have worked with to date and we could never have done this without her and her team.

…………….

Tarryn Doherty
Director / Producer

Jeremy approached me with a concept that was already so fleshed out that it was then just about putting all the creative pieces together to bring it to life. It was interesting for me to work on something more wholesome, it's not something I've done before and I really enjoyed the conviviality of it. There's a sort of lightness that's on set when you're working on something like this. The dance sequences with the actors were loads of fun, the extras had a blast when we shot the band's performance stuff, it was just a good time for everybody. It helps having a groovy song and a stellar crew.

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Myself Music Video Credits

Writer/Executive Producer: Jeremy Farber
Production Coordinator: Kelsey Nunn
Director: Tarryn Doherty
Cinematographer: Wynand Basson
Camera Operator: Peter Belcher
Steadicam Operator: Andrew Luscombe
1st AC: Jonathan Kyle
2nd AC: Sam Maritz
Gaffer: Michael Geeringh
Best Boy Lighting: Matthew Barlow
Spark: Lucca Basson
Stills: Wihann Strauss

Cast:
The Kid: Joshua Higgs
Mom: Marisa Drummond
Dad: Morne Visser
Tow Truck Guy: Heinrich Laubscher
Colourist: Pieter Steyn
Special Thanks: Media Film Service, Labeeq Bardien, Ayanda M