Despite being somewhat of a lifesaver as an oncology nurse, keshi’s heart always belonged to music. And after two hit albums that landed him on the Billboard 200, his diaristic songwriting and gossamer vocals might just land him another, with a third album on the horizon.
At 13, keshi taught himself guitar, inspired by Drake & Josh, which somehow made six strings look like the surest path to a girlfriend. By 15, he was holed up in his teenage bedroom in Houston, Texas, learning how to write, record and produce music. Then came college, where the artist began training as an oncology nurse. For a while, he lived a double life à la Hannah Montana: saving lives by day while sneakily uploading his blend of R&B, lo-fi hip-hop and melodic pop to a growing online cult following by night. His musical dreams worked out. In 2019, keshi signed to Island Records and put down the stethoscope for good. By 2022, his debut album GABRIEL had landed on the Billboard 200, propelled by billions of streams and a fanbase drawn to his diaristic songwriting. Sophomore album Requiem followed in 2024, folding his childhood diet of punk rock, acoustic emo and John Mayer into atmospheric guitar reverbs and sugary, gossamer vocals. keshi’s music often feels like a dappled bruise healing in the sun. Rumours of a third album have already begun to circulate, with a recent photo alongside Zedd fuelling collaboration speculation. Still, keshi remains coolly elusive.
What’s your earliest memory of music having an effect on you?
Hearing the banjo lick in “Unwell” by Matchbox Twenty on the radio was the first time I’d ever thought I wanted to hear something another time. I must’ve been six or seven years old, and I remember wading through advertisements and talk shows waiting for it to play again. There’s something magical about how music can resonate immediately and subconsciously like that. I still love it to this day. It just does something for my inner-child.
What does it mean to you to be original?
Art is taste, and everyone’s is different. We’re all shaped by our influences, our experiences,the things we enjoy, the things we don’t. I think that so long as artists put their preferencesbefore anyone else’s, they’ll be led to originality.
When did you last get in trouble?
I’ve got this bad habit of leaving little remnants of my activities around the house, like leaving the burner on, the fridge door open, the faucets running. I tend to abandon current tasks for the next that pops into my head when my mind’s running. That can get me chewed out occasionally [laughs].
What’s turning you on creatively right now?
Every day for the past six months, I’ve gotten to sit in a room with the best musicians in the world, some of whom happen to be my closest friends. Any creative will tell you there’s no high or thrill quite like cracking the code on a song that excites everyone in the room. When you’re all on the same wavelength, it’s like you’re being seen to your core. There’s nothing more inspiring and joyous than that.
What’s been your greatest act of artistic rebellion?
I take great pride in persevering in a creative field despite the lack of evidence suggesting my endeavours would be fruitful, given my cultural background. I guess my rebellion is more against my family’s, society’s – and maybe my own – expectations of what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I follow my heart and head towards what makes me happy, and that’s writing songs. It’s like breathing to me.
If I could do one karaoke duet with Miley, it would be… “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, hands down.
WONDERLAND SUMMER 2026. GUEST EDITED BY MILEY CYRUS. SHOP NOW.
Photography Mario Sorrenti
Chief Creative Officer & Styling Alastair McKimm
Words Ella Bardsley
Hair Bob Recine
Make-up Diane Kendal
Set Design Philipp Haemmerle
Executive Producer Dana Brockman
Producer Max Bonbrest
Casting Alexandra Antonova for Samuel Ellis Scheinman
Lighting Technician Lars Beaulieu
1st Photo Assistant Kotaro Kawashima
Photo Assistants Paolo Afante, Kurt Mangum
Digital Tech Charles Meyer
Fashion Assistants Taylor Wood, Kassidy Taylor
Hair Assistant Jeelan Aleem
Make-up Assistants Eduardo Jiminez, Breanna Harmon
Set Assistants Oscar Haemmerle, Xavier Mozejewski
Production Assistant Din Morris