Keshi (singer)

Not to be confused with Kesha.

Keshi
Birth name	Casey Thai Luong
Born	(1994-11-04) November 4, 1994 (age 30) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres	R&B hip hop alternative lo-fi
Occupations	Singer songwriter record producer multi-instrumentalist
Years active	2017–present
Labels	Island
Website	keshimusic.com

Casey Thai Luong (born November 4, 1994),[1] known professionally as Keshi, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his songs "Like I Need U", "Limbo", and "Drunk". He released albums in 2022 and 2024: Gabriel and Requiem, respectively. Prior to that, he had released four EPs.

Early life

Luong was born in Houston, Texas to parents of Vietnamese American descent and grew up in Sugar Land.[2] Despite living in an ethnically diverse community with a large Asian American population, he often felt out of place and disconnected from his heritage while growing up.[3]

He was inspired to learn the guitar because of Drake Bell's character on Drake & Josh.[4] He taught himself the instrument using his grandfather's classical guitar and Vietnamese music book.[5][6]

He graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin.[7] He then worked as an oncology nurse at the Texas Medical Center for two years.[8]

The stage name "Keshi" is the childhood nickname his fiancée's parents gave him. He and his fiancée have known each other since elementary school.[9]

Career

Luong adopted the moniker "Keshi" and began to share music via his SoundCloud page around 2017. He credited tutorial videos on YouTube for teaching him in writing, producing, and engineering music.[3][7] In 2019, he quit his job as a nurse and moved to New York City to sign with Island Records.[10]

Keshi cites John Mayer, Frank Ocean, the 1975, Drake, and Bryson Tiller as his musical influences.[11][12]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		US [13]	AUS [14]	CAN [15]	NZ [16]
Gabriel	Released: March 25, 2022 Label: Island Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming	16	72	70	—
Requiem	Released: September 13, 2024 Label: Island Formats: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming	27	14	41	21

Extended plays

Title	Details	Peak chart positions		Track listings
		US Heat. [17]	US Sales [18]
The Reaper[19]	Released: November 13, 2018 Label: Casey Luong Formats: Digital download, streaming	—	—	Track listing "The Reaper" "Like I Need You" "2 Soon" "I Swear I'll Never Leave Again"
Skeletons[20]	Released: July 16, 2019 Label: Island Formats: Digital download, streaming	5	50	Track listing "Atlas" "Skeletons" "Summer" "XOXOSOS"
Bandaids[21]	Released: March 24, 2020 Label: Island Formats: Digital download, streaming	—	72	Track listing "Less of You" "Alright" "Blue" "Right Here" "Bandaids"
Always	Released: October 23, 2020 Label: Island Formats: Digital download, streaming	—	76	Track listing "Always" "More" "Drunk" "Talk" "B.Y.S." "Us"

Single albums

Title	Details	Track listings
If You're Not the One for Me Who Is	Released: October 23, 2017 Label: Casey Luong Formats: Streaming	Track listing "If You're Not the One for Me Who Is" "Goes to Waste" "They Don't Fly as High as They Used To"
Good Days	Released: May 10, 2018 Label: Casey Luong Formats: Streaming	Track listing "Good Days" "Say Something" "Godsplan"
Bandaids (Live Sessions)	Released: April 17, 2020 Label: Island Records Formats: Streaming	Track listing "Alright" (live sessions) "Bandaids" (live sessions)

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions						Certifications	Album/EP
		IND	MLY	NZ Hot [22]	PHL	SGP [23]	VNM [24]
As lead artist[25]
"Over U"	2017	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album single
"If You're Not the One for Me Who Is"		—	—	—	—	—	—		If You're Not the One for Me Who Is
"As Long as It Takes You"		—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album singles
"Magnolia"		—	—	—	—	—	—
"Just Friends"		—	—	—	—	—	—
"Good Days"	2018	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Onoffonoff"		—	—	—	—	—	—
"2 Soon"		—	—	—	—	—	—		The Reaper
"Right Here"	2019	—	—	—	—	—	—		Bandaids
"Blue"		—	—	—	—	—	—
"More"	2020	—	—	—	—	—	—		Always
"Always"		—	—	—	—	—	—
"Drunk"		—	—	—	—	—	—
"Beside You"	2021	—	—	7	—	—	—	ARIA: Gold[26]	Non-album single
"Somebody"		—	—	24	—	—	—		Gabriel
"Touch"	2022	—	—	24	—	—	—
"Get It"		—	—	—	—	—	—
"Limbo"	2023	10	14	—	20	23	16	ARIA: Gold[26]
"Understand"		—	—	—	—	—	—	ARIA: Gold[26]
"Say"	2024	—	—	9	—	28	—		Requiem
"Dream"		—	—	21	—	—	—
"Texas"		—	—	31	—	—	—
As a featured artist
"Pillows" (with EaJ)	2020	—	—	—	—	—	—		Non-album single
"Sociopath" (with Jeremy Zucker)	2021	—	—	—	—	—	—		Crusher
"It's You" (Max featuring Keshi)	2022	—	—	23	—	—	—		Non-album single

Other charted songs

Title	Year	Peak chart positions			Album
		MLY [27]	NZ Hot [28]	SGP [23]
"Night"	2024	—	15	—	Requiem
"Soft Spot"		23	7	10
"Like That"		—	13	—
"Bodies"		—	17	—
"Kiss Me Right"		—	19	—

Songwriting credits

Title	Year	Artist(s)	Album	Credits	Written with
"(What I Wish Just One Person Would Say to Me) aka Happy for You"	2020	LANY	Mama's Boy	Co-writer/guitarist	Paul Jason Klein
"Forever"		Rei Brown	—	Co-writer	George Miller and Ray Brown

Tours

• Hell / Heaven Tour (2022)[29]
• Hell & Back Tour (2023)[30]
• Epilogue Tour (2023)[31]
• Requiem Tour (2024)

See also

• History of Vietnamese Americans in Houston
• Asian Americans in arts and entertainment

References

1. "Keshi: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
2. Guerra, Joey (October 29, 2020). "The journey of Houston's Keshi from TMC nurse to pop star". Preview | Houston Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
3. Liotta, Edoardo (October 8, 2019). "From Nursing To Lo-Fi Music: Keshi's Unusual Rise To Fame". Vice. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
4. "Keshi Shares His Most Raw Emotions on New EP Bandaids". V Magazine. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
5. Staff, Notion (July 23, 2021). "Keshi's Big Dreams Are Coming True". Notion. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
6. "Keshi". Lincoln Hall Schubas Tavern. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
7. Guerra, Joey (October 29, 2020). "The journey of Houston's Keshi from TMC nurse to pop star". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
8. Wetmore, Brendan; Silvan, Simone (September 3, 2019). "Keshi Is the Internet's Triple Threat". PAPER Magazine. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
9. Aben, Clarissa (October 12, 2018). "Interview: keshi". From the Intercom. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
10. Tan, Mei Zi (March 27, 2020). "Keshi's lo-fi EP 'bandaids' is laid-back soundtrack we all need during lockdown (VIDEO) | Malay Mail". Malay Mail. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
11. "Keshi". Island Records. January 14, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
12. Gwee, Karen (November 3, 2019). "Get to know Keshi, lo-fi hip-hop graduate and John Mayer devotee". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
13. "Keshi Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
14. Peaks in Australia:
    • Gabriel: "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 4 April 2022". The ARIA Report. No. 1674. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 4, 2022. p. 6.
    • Requiem: "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
15. "Keshi Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
16. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
17. "keshi". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
18. "keshi". Billboard. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
19. "YouTube". Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via YouTube.
20. "YouTube". Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via YouTube.
21. "bandaids". YouTube. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
22. NZ Hot Singles Chart positions:
    • "Beside You": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
    • "Somebody": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. November 1, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
    • "Touch": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
    • "It's You": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 19, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
    • "Say": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
    • "Dream": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
    • "Texas": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
23. Peaks on the RIAS Streaming Chart:
    • "Limbo": "RIAS Top Charts Week 12 (17 - 23 Mar 2023)". RIAS. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
    • "Say": "RIAS Top Charts Week 29 (12 - 18 Jul 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
    • "Soft Spot": "RIAS Top Charts Week 39 (20 - 26 Sep 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
24. "Keshi Chart History: Vietnam Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
25. "keshi - Singles & EPs". Apple Music. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
26. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
27. "keshi Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
28. Peaks on the NZ Hot Singles Chart:
    • "Night", "Soft Spot", "Like That" and "Bodies": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
    • "Kiss Me Right": "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
29. "keshi announces 2023 'HELL & BACK' tour in Europe and North America". Bandwagon Asia. October 26, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
30. Schube, Will (October 24, 2022). "Keshi Announces 'Hell & Back Tour' For 2023". uDiscover Music. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
31. "keshi announces 2023 'Epilogue Tour' in Hong Kong, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Guangzhou". Instagram. July 13, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.

External links

• keshimusic.com