Robert Earl Keen
Name and age of your kids:
I have two girls, Clara, age 16, and Chloe, age 10. I was 38 when Clara was born.
How does having children and being a father change the way you approach your career?
My writing and performing career was on the precipice of enormous expansion. I considered changing careers in order to try to be a Dad and provide a normal life and lifestyle. I could not give up my career in music. In the end, I found more passion and inspiration in being a father and a musician/writer/entertainer than I could have in any club, studio, record company or board room I can imagine. The combination has been like founding a door to a new dimension. I see all the colors now.
Having children has sharpened my focus and strengthened my resolve. My writing has become broader in theme, brighter in color and more melodic. My performance has become pithier and less experimental on stage. This change started early and continues to progress. And both my girls have opened up my ears to new music I would have never paid attention to in any context. I had lost what is most important to an artist, discovery. Stupid on my part as an artist, but would have been a disaster and my girls gave me that back.
What’s the best part about being both a musician and a dad?
I am able to spend large chunks of time with them at their activities. I am able to carry them around and give them my gift of discovery and input. I am patient by nature so it suits me to attend things that normally would be a “drop off situation,” so I am able to reinforce and keep schedules and agendas that occasionally fall through cracks. I do a lot of things they want to do and that they invent so it keeps me from being so judgmental about the world at large.
What’s the most difficult part about being both a musician and a dad?
The hard part is easy. The time I am away for weeks at a time is a killer, but it has its purpose.
What kind of music do your kids currently enjoy? Do you approve of their current tastes?
My girls are very musically astute. They like all kinds of music. While mine is not their favorite, they do love certain songs and are dispassionate in their criticism of my art they don’t care for. I consider them almost the perfect audience for new and untried material. I play something for them. They like it or they don’t. It is so refreshing.
Clara, my oldest loves David Bowie. I have no clue except she was drawn to his portrayal of Andy Warhol in the movie, Basquiat. Before that she was a huge Fallout Boy fan. I have yet to really define it but in general, she likes male driven pop music with colorful lyrics. She also is drawn to jazz. Chloe, my youngest, loves Broadway musicals. She’s 10 and likes almost anything she can sing. She loves funny and has no tolerance for slow and inside.
Have you attempted to immerse your kids in music? How have they responded?
As far as if I approve, does it matter? It’s all part of discovery for both of us. I do try to bite my tongue occasionally.
If yes, what instruments do they play? And what do their early musical
attempts sound like?
I believe everyone should know how to play an instrument. There is no substitute for that knowledge. However, I think that music is a personal choice, like religion. You can savor it yourself or you can share it with the world. I don’t encourage sharing it if that is not your feeling or intent. You can keep your music all to yourself and it will comfort you in a time of need. That being said, Clara, the 16-year old, plays some piano and took bass lessons for a while. She is good and has a good ear, but has no real interest to perform—I’m very glad for her in that regard. Chloe, 10, has taken violin since she was six and has played in a local orchestra for several years. She is very good and likes the attention, however she has recently discovered her singing voice when she was cast in a local production of Annie. I think she has found her instrument of choice. And she likes sharing.
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