PREMIERE – Keith Mosfet releases new single, “Hey Brother”

Toronto, ON-based artist Keith Mosfet has released his first single from his upcoming album. The single, “Hey Brother” focuses on the troubled relationships he had with his loved ones. Most of the lyrics are derived from a poem written five years ago.

Keith shares on the single,

“Last summer my brother died from a drug overdose and a few weeks after that my girlfriend broke up with me because I had “bad genetics”.”

“Musically the song reminds me a bit of something between Lou Reed and Sufjan Stevens. If you listen closely you can hear the sounds of the frogs I recorded in the the streets of Barcelona Spain and the St George Station on the TTC train.”

Check out the single below and find out more about Keith in our Five Questions With segment.

Care to introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello readers, I’m Keith, I am from Toronto and I wrote a series of songs about some of the hardest moments of my life. My goal wasn’t really to make something that was for other people. But to be honest with myself and simply take the deepest pains I felt inside then put them into something else. The exercise of writing these songs felt like taking bricks off my soul and putting them elsewhere.

Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.

I think my music is a mixture of many styles and ideas coming into one, this song to me sounds like a mix of Lou Reed meets Sufjan Stevens. The trumpet, in particular, was influenced by Sufjan, Sam Cooke, and maybe some Chet Baker.

My writing style is very natural to me, I listen to a lot of music and am constantly absorbing ideas and coming up with my own. I never really intended to write this song and the ones to come after, they just kind of flowed out of me as a necessity to find a reason to keep going. I recorded this song in my apartment, I also mixed in sounds I’ve picked up while living life. If you listen closely you will hear the frogs I recorded while climbing Montjuic in Barcelona, the TTC train at St George station, and my walk to the Metro in the Annex.

Do you have any upcoming shows? For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance?

I am playing Friday, July 27th at The Painted Lady for Canadian Indie Week. Myself and my backup band/friends will be playing @ 7 PM sharp.
Here’s the event: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1723165

I would explain my live performance as vulnerable and honest. I often find it difficult to play these songs but I am trying to display my emotions truthfully. The few times I have played this live, I have left the crowd in tears. I suppose it’s a bit manic in a way though, some of the songs will bring you to highs of joy with catchy melodies and upbeat tempos. But I like to end things in a way that will hopefully make you feel something.

If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?

“Methadone Illness”. A song pertaining to my thoughts and personal feelings towards the opioid crises.

Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?

My musical tastes are constantly changing. But the last few days I’ve been listening to a lot of Feist, Mac Demarco, Alvvays, Beck (heard his dad was from Ontario), The Beaches.

Connect with Keith Mosfet:
Bandcamp
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