Interview With 'Keep Up'

Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?

I’m DJ aka David Jordan. I’m 1/3 of the band, Keep Up. We are a Hard Rock, Pop Punk band from Syracuse, New York. We just released a new album September 2019 titled 'Up In Flames'. This is our first LP and we are excited to have everyone reading this article, listen to it. You can find our music on most streaming services at our keepuporshutup.com band website. Keep Up is a band of brothers from the same town. An Audio Engineer, Apple Genius, and a Bartender; Keep Up.

What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?

Keep Up began June of 2018. Before that, Chris and I have been playing in the same/different bands since high school. Ian Brown joined the mix shortly after the name changed to Keep Up, followed with our music stylistically changing as well. Ian Brown has always been an influencer in the Syracuse music scene, so it was no brainier to recrute him to help create the sound we have today.

Tell us about your latest Album “Up In Flames” and why our readers should check it out.

'Up In Flames' is our latest album that speaks to the coming-of-age. As young gentleman in a band, we speak to those fighting through the same struggles as us. Whether that’s finding a reason to show up at your mundane day job, dealing with relationships drama, or just looking for music to quench your need for speed while driving down the highway. 'Up In Flames' is the Keep Up story. An album written by the heart, for the heart.

Who would you say is the bands main song writer or is it a group effort and where do you draw your inspiration lyrically and musically from?

Chris: Each of us has our own style of writing a version of what we want a song to sound like. DJ uses a voice memo app to record a melody, Where Ian and myself begin writing a song with a guitar riff brought to band rehearsal or recorded in a home studio. We primarily build the songs together and develop the sound that defines us as musicians. We are a unique type of band that switches instruments on stage, this allows us to have more perspective in the studio while writing.

As a band what do you believe is your greatest achievement to date and why?

DJ: Currently to date, this album has been such an eye opening experience for all of us. We had multiple layers of demos and mixes to evolve the sound that you hear on the record. We are humbled to have successfully released this piece of art to the world. This album will not be our last achievement, but a first of many to come.

Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?

DJ: Generally, Keep Up doesn’t tend to immerse into negative slander against creative musicians and artist. So, ill say that there are moments we come face to face with musicians that are so talented we’ve left a show in awestruck. Performances from Kyle Malfa on drums in Townhouse Warrior and (now) The Same Page. Or shredding guitar virtuoso performances from local artists like Anthony Saturno from Atkins Riot.

What do you enjoy most about touring?

DJ: Tour. Tour. Tour. Seems to be a big topic these days. We are currently writing this interview in our van full of gear to the next gig. We love that every show is one step closer to spreading our music across the planet. Right now we’ve primarily been playing in the United States and looking to branch off into areas of the world that respond positively to our music.

Chris: The coolest part of tour is getting tattoos in different cities while we drive through or have time to kill after a string of shows. If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?

DJ: You can expect for us to be ourselves; Positive, energetic, and always ready to party. Keep Up is a band motto. We have harmonies, synchronized dance moves and also switch instruments on stage. Yes, we are multi talented musicians that switch instruments while playing through our set. You can only get this experience at a Keep Up show.

If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?

Ian: In the attempt to gain more exposure, I’d love to tour with Taylor Swift. However, my dream tour would be definitely have to be with Memphis May Fire. Kellen McGregor is such a talented musician. It would be an honor to share stage with another guitar player like himself. You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?

Chris: Hands down, John Lennon. The Beatles are one of the best bands in the world and he also released his own iconic solo album later after the fact. I would talk to him about how he creates his music. What was his approach? How did he develop music? How would he inspire an artist like myself to create compelling music in today’s day in age? But truthfully, I don’t think 60 minutes with John Lennon will satisfy my curiosity.

And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

Ian: I’ve never seen it.

Chris: It only takes place around Christmas time. But for the sake giving a direct answer. Yes. Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Also for the record, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Halloween movie.

Website - www.keepuporshutup.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/keepuporshutup/