For Keeana Kee, home isn’t a place – it’s a sense of self. The Latvian-born, globe-trotting singer-songwriter and model has made a home in herself by embracing her lesbian identity and unapologetically expressing it through her music. Through her music, Kee hopes all her fans can be inspired to find home within themselves.
Between her busy modeling gigs and music career, Kee hopped on a Zoom call with GO Magazine to chat about her single “TIKTOK,” the challenges she faced while coming out, and her connection with her fans through social media.
Since debuting in 2016, Kee refused to bend to industry pressures, refusing to remove “she” pronouns from her songs or feature a man as her love interest in music videos instead of a woman. Her hit single “Coconut Rum and Coke” features a female love interest and has racked up almost 1 million views on YouTube. She uses her music as an opportunity to make other LGBTQ+ folks feel empowered and seen. In 2023, Kee performed at the iconic Dinah Shore, further solidifying her place as a bold and authentic queer voice in music.
“When we were making the music video for “Coconut Rum and Coke,” they kept asking me if I was sure that I wanted to include a woman instead of a man. Of course I was. Why would I lie about who I am attracted to?” she tells GO Magazine.
Kee’s work as a musician and a fashion model can take up all 24 hours of her day, and she sometimes goes without sleep for days at a time. But to her, it’s just part of the job.
“Instead of getting frustrated, I think about how much I am enjoying it. I think of the positive things that it brings me. If you are exhausted by your work, it’s time to change it up,” she says. “If you can’t get up at 3 am and go without sleep for two days just to do it, that might not be your thing. Do whatever you don’t get tired of.”
Despite this grueling schedule, you’d never guess that Kee was running on such little sleep. During our chat, she radiates positivity and energy, as if the exhaustion fuels her rather than slows her down. Kee’s passion for her work shines through in every moment, and her infectious enthusiasm is proof that she’s truly doing what she loves.
Because she is always on the move, inspiration can strike Kee anytime and anywhere. She has an app on her phone that records melodies or ideas as soon as they pop into her head. “I’ll hum or mumble something and decide how it makes me feel,” she tells GO. “Then I can write based on how I feel. If English was my first language, I might be able to be more intentional about it, but I go based on feeling.”
Kee, who speaks Latvian, Russian, and English, doesn’t let any language barrier get in her way. Instead, she relies on her intuition and takes judgment out of her creative process. She writes down all of her ideas and works through them later, rather than having a structured procedure. “When you’re thinking too much or making it complicated, it’s not as real. You have to let it flow.”
Kee says her new single “TIK TOK,” which was released during Pride month, was the fastest song she ever wrote. Once her producer played the summery melody, the song was complete within an hour. As much as this song will boost your mood and make you want to dance, there is a more serious underlying message.
“When I was writing “TIK TOK,” I was imagining talking to someone who is still in the closet, trying to encourage them not to be afraid to be with me and just go for it because the time doesn’t wait for anyone, and I can’t wait any longer. Our most precious treasure is our time. Use it wisely. As I sing in the song: ‘They tryna control everything that we own, but body and mind is your zone. Don’t be afraid to be yourself,’” Kee tells GO.
The music video for “TIK TOK” was shot in gorgeous Antibes, a town in the French Riviera located between Nice and Cannes. Kee wanted the warm and upbeat vibe of the music to match the video, and as soon as she stepped on set, she was in love. “I felt like I was on a movie set. It was so timeless,” she says. “People on the streets were gathered around and clapping and cheering me on as the music played. Many people joined us in dancing! I hope the video transports people into that freedom and happiness with the main message of not wasting time.”
Being her authentic self hasn’t always been easy. Growing up in Latvia, being openly gay was not an option. It wasn’t illegal to be out, but the country as a whole had a very harsh, conservative view on the LGBTQ+ community. Kee shares that Pride parades are shown on TV as dangerous events that result in police intervention and violence. “They don’t show how beautiful the events are,” she says. “When I went to Pride for the first time, I was so scared. But when I was there, I felt so much love.”
Kee didn’t come out until she moved to the UK when she was a late teenager with her mom, sister, and her mom’s boyfriend, who was British. Her mom’s boyfriend was understanding when Kee came out – but her mom and her sister were not.
“My mom and sister disowned me, but I had a partner at the time. I loved her, and I was ready to be out and proud and happy. It’s a little easier to come out with somebody because you can support each other and you don’t feel alone. Even if it’s not the person you’re always going to be with.”
Despite her family’s initial reaction, Kee remained hopeful. “When your family sees you happy and in a good relationship with a person who treats you right, they will come around with time. My mom’s boyfriend helped her come around. He said you have to choose to have a relationship with your daughter or not. Now she’s happy and sees that I’m in love with my current partner.”
Kee has reconnected with her own family, but she has also created a new one on social media. The rise of her song “TIK TOK” is largely because of her followers, with the hashtags #TikTokkeeanakee and #keeanakeetiktok and videos of fans dancing along with this summer jam. Kee says that connecting with her fans on social media has been life-changing. “It’s an incredible feeling and my biggest inspiration to make more music. With every song, I find a new listener and new follower to connect with me,” she shared. “It’s a new family that I’m growing. I feel the love and support. It’s something so special you have to experience it to understand. People write me messages like I’m a sibling. It’s amazing we have this social media where we can connect beyond just buying a CD.”
Overall, Kee hopes that she can inspire other LGBTQ+ artists to live out and proud. “Stay true to yourself and keep going. You will meet [your fans] eventually. Keep releasing music, and the right people will find you. If you want gray hair, have gray hair! People who love you will find you.”
If you want more Keeana Kee, make sure to follow her on Instagram and check out her latest single, “Weekend,” available on all music platforms!
