{"id":685940,"date":"2025-08-19T16:45:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:45:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-keshi-built-a-pop-monument-with-requiem\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T16:45:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:45:19","slug":"how-keshi-built-a-pop-monument-with-requiem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-keshi-built-a-pop-monument-with-requiem\/","title":{"rendered":"How keshi built a pop monument with Requiem"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2c0b52a50ea\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2c0b52a50ea\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-keshi-built-a-pop-monument-with-requiem\/#One_of_the_most_prominent_Asian_American_pop_stars_just_played_Madison_Square_Garden_Hes_still_getting_used_to_the_attention\" >One of the most prominent Asian American pop stars just played Madison Square Garden. He\u2019s still getting used to the attention.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"deck\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"One_of_the_most_prominent_Asian_American_pop_stars_just_played_Madison_Square_Garden_Hes_still_getting_used_to_the_attention\"><\/span>One of the most prominent Asian American pop stars just played Madison Square Garden. He\u2019s still getting used to the attention.<br \/>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"content_blocks\">\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273196\" class=\"content_block breaker triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left image\">\n<div class=\"media_wrapper\">\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_220,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 220w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_300,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 300w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 400w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_600,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 600w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_750,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 750w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_840,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 840w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_960,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 960w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1260,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1260w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1800,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1800w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_2400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-26_ff4dd3\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 2400w,\" sizes=\"100vw\" alt=\"How keshi built a pop monument with &lt;i&gt;Requiem&lt;\/i&gt;\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"img_caption\"><\/p>\n<p>  <span class=\"credit\"><\/p>\n<p>      Photo by Kenji Chong<\/p>\n<p>  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273307\" class=\"content_block paragraph text triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"paragraph_wrapper center_align\">\n<p>\n            \u201cI don\u2019t pray to God, that\u2019s a weakness,\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_new\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/keshi\/\">keshi<\/a> belts in the first minute he takes the stage at  Madison Square Garden. There\u2019s an arrogance to his opening song \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_new\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8EKC51KMvI0&amp;list=RD8EKC51KMvI0&amp;start_radio=1\">Amen<\/a>,\u201d an overflow of hubris that\u2019s bold and brash it practically teeters on aggressive. But the 30-year-old singer has every right to brag at his first-ever performance in the legendary arena, a testament to the past seven years of grueling hard work that launched him from an unknown in the suburbs of Houston to one of the most prominent Asian American musicians working today with a millions-strong audience. Tonight, nearly 11,000 of them are here screaming every lyric of his songs back to him.\n          <\/p>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div>\n<p>\n            When I connect with keshi over Zoom five days after the concert, the Vietnamese-American singer-songwriter is no longer the brazen, guitar-thrashing, leather-sporting musician that I watched just days prior. Chilling in his hotel room in Toronto, sporting black headphones and a simple white tee, he breezes through small talk with a casual nonchalance. It\u2019s only when I bring up the show that keshi lights up. \u201cIt\u2019s so hard to articulate,\u201d he begins saying of the night while grinning from ear to ear. His friends have been bombarding him with questions about the experience but all he\u2019s been able to formulate is: \u201cThere are too many emotions.\u201d\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content_block paragraph triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273197\" class=\"content_block paragraph image triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"media_wrapper\">\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_220,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 220w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_300,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 300w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 400w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_600,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 600w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_750,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 750w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_840,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 840w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_960,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 960w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1260,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1260w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1800,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1800w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_2400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-35_kjcbas\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 2400w,\" sizes=\"100vw\" alt=\"How keshi built a pop monument with &lt;i&gt;Requiem&lt;\/i&gt;\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"img_caption\"><\/p>\n<p>  <span class=\"credit\"><\/p>\n<p>      Kenji Chong<\/p>\n<p>  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273308\" class=\"content_block paragraph text triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"paragraph_wrapper center_align\">\n<p>\n            How <i>does<\/i> one articulate the experience of playing Madison Square Garden?\n          <\/p>\n<p>\n            It was his biggest crowd to date, keshi says, and to top it all off, his fanbase, consisting mostly of 20-something Asian Americans, didn\u2019t skip a word in screaming along to his 23-song setlist, which he says isn\u2019t always the case at every venue. In between tracks, fans roared in unison demanding he take off his shirt. (\u201cNew York, I don\u2019t do that shit anymore,\u201d he ended up having to say on stage, before striking a bargain with the crowd that he\u2019ll play an unreleased song, \u201cWANTCHU,\u201d instead.)\n          <\/p>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div>\n<p>\n            \u201cThat has been a recurring <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">theme<\/a> at every U.S. stop,\u201d he laughs. \u201cIt\u2019s very sweet. I just don\u2019t feel my biggest at the moment, so I can\u2019t entertain it unless I look and feel like a sexy Jay Park.\u201d The most prominent emotion he says he\u2019s feeling now that he\u2019s been able to process it all a little is validation. \u201cThe crowd felt tangible. Like, <i>wow, over 11,000 people are here to celebrate songs that I had written in my bedroom<\/i>.\u201d\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273313\" class=\"content_block paragraph embed triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"media_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"\">\n    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Keshi - WANTCHU (Official Visualizer)\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ghUTY5zK-gQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content_block paragraph triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273309\" class=\"content_block paragraph text triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"paragraph_wrapper center_align\">\n<p>\n            The Houston native, born Casey Luong, has always been a self-described music fiend. He grew up on punk rock, acoustic emo, and John Mayer, who specifically inspired him to dip into songwriting and music-making. As a child, he learned how to play his grandfather\u2019s classical guitar; by college, he was producing music on his laptop, using his self-taught knowledge to kick off his SoundCloud career under the moniker keshi (derived from how his childhood best friend\u2019s parents, who are now his in-laws, would pronounce his name). For a while he juggled a double life as a rising SoundCloud star and an oncology nurse. After he garnered an army of listeners from early hits \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_new\" href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/keshibeats\/youaretheonlyone\">If You\u2019re Not the One for Me Who Is<\/a>\u201d and \u201c<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_new\" href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/keshibeats\/butimissyou\">2 soon<\/a>,\u201d keshi took a leap of faith \u2014 he resigned from the hospital on a day\u2019s notice to pursue music full-time, inking a deal with Island Records in 2019.\n          <\/p>\n<p>\n            His resum\u00e9 is now a scroll of feats: In addition to magazine covers and regular photoshoots, he was on the soundtrack of Marvel&#8217;s <i>Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings<\/i>, and has sold out tours across Asia, Europe, and North America. But perhaps his biggest accomplishment to date is his ability to mobilize an audience of mainly young Asian fans who find relatability and solace in his music (so much so that he and his music have transcended into a lighthearted if semi-controversial <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_new\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@roccoyellow\/video\/7116300619098492203\">meme<\/a> within the community). As an Asian American, he\u2019s well-aware of the weight his accomplishments carry. \u201cThere haven\u2019t been a lot of us at the forefront of entertainment,\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_new\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/reginakim\/2024\/09\/20\/keshi-on-his-new-album-requiem-john-mayer-and-the-path-to-stardom\/#\">he once said<\/a>.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content_block paragraph triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273312\" class=\"content_block breaker triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left pull_quote\">\n<div class=\"media_wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"pull_quote\"><p>\u201cLike, wow, over 11,000 people are here to celebrate songs that I had written in my bedroom.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273198\" class=\"content_block breaker triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left image\">\n<div class=\"media_wrapper\">\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_220,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 220w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_300,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 300w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 400w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_600,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 600w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_750,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 750w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_840,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 840w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_960,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 960w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1260,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1260w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1800,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1800w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_2400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best\/keshi-_NYC-85_x9pja5\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 2400w,\" sizes=\"100vw\" alt=\"How keshi built a pop monument with &lt;i&gt;Requiem&lt;\/i&gt;\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"img_caption\"><\/p>\n<p>  <span class=\"credit\"><\/p>\n<p>      Kenji Chong<\/p>\n<p>  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273310\" class=\"content_block paragraph text triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"paragraph_wrapper center_align\">\n<p>\n            keshi is now riding a crest in his career as he works his way through North America on his <i>Requiem<\/i> tour supporting his pivotal 2024 record of the same name. A project born out of the grief of losing a close collaborator \u2014 \u201cI wanted it to feel appropriate for how I knew him,\u201d he told <i><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_new\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/reginakim\/2024\/09\/20\/keshi-on-his-new-album-requiem-john-mayer-and-the-path-to-stardom\/#\">Forbes<\/a><\/i> in 2024 \u2014 it unexpectedly forays into pop more than his music ever has, a contrast from the usual lo-fi and R&amp;B cues that catapulted his songs to multibillion-streams. It\u2019s also his first album where he brought on collaborators; previous records, like his 2022 debut <i><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_new\" href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/album\/1WVIJaAboRSwJOe4u0n0Q7\">GABRIEL<\/a><\/i>, were almost all written and produced solo. \u201cI was always in a pop-leaning, alternative bag, but I was curious as to how I could make the im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>cy and infectiousness of pop my own,\u201d he says.\n          <\/p>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div>\n<p>\n            As if prophesying the stadiums he\u2019d soon fill, keshi intended for each song to speak to thousands. \u201cWar\u201d was written with a hook that an entire arena could scream back at him: \u201cSince you wanna go to war \/ Let\u2019s see who hurts the other more;\u201d \u201cEuphoria,\u201d a heartbreak anthem that mourns a toxic relationship, packs a soaring, 80s-inspired guitar solo perfect for live performance. \u201cAmen,\u201d his self-assured pop affirmation, keshi says, is \u201ca romanticization of my desire to make [art] that outlives me.\u201d While keshi says he felt like he \u201cascended into the next level of making music\u201d by learning to be more collaborative, he ultimately doesn\u2019t think he\u2019ll ever make an album like <i>Requiem<\/i> again, one that doesn\u2019t allow him personally to \u201cchip away at the marble.\u201d\n          <\/p>\n<p>\n            On a wider level, creating <i>Requiem<\/i> forced keshi to come to terms with his growing fame. He says he struggled with the spotlight at the end of the <i>GABRIEL<\/i> era, and would go into rooms and immediately feel claustrophobic, paranoid that people around him were watching, even if they weren\u2019t. \u201c<i>If I\u2019m eating, am I making a mess of myself? If somebody snuck a picture of me right now, how would I look?<\/i>\u201d he remembers thinking.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content_block paragraph triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273199\" class=\"content_block diptych triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left\">\n<div class=\"media_wrapper half_gutter_right gutter_btm\">\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_220,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 220w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_300,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 300w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 400w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_600,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 600w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_750,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 750w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_840,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 840w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_960,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 960w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1260,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1260w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1800,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1800w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_2400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-122_pu49oq\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 2400w,\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 50vw\" alt=\"How keshi built a pop monument with &lt;i&gt;Requiem&lt;\/i&gt;\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"img_caption\"><\/p>\n<p>  <span class=\"credit\"><\/p>\n<p>      Photo by Kenji Chong<\/p>\n<p>  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"media_wrapper half_gutter_left\" style=\"\">\n<p>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_220,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 220w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_300,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 300w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 400w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_600,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 600w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_750,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 750w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_840,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 840w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_960,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 960w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1260,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1260w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_1800,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 1800w,https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/w_2400,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-186_qt3la8\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview.jpg 2400w,\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 50vw\" alt=\"How keshi built a pop monument with &lt;i&gt;Requiem&lt;\/i&gt;\"><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"img_caption\"><\/p>\n<p>  <span class=\"credit\"><\/p>\n<p>      Photo by Kenji Chong<\/p>\n<p>  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273311\" class=\"content_block paragraph text triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"paragraph_wrapper center_align\">\n<p>\n            These days, keshi has a better relationship with his celebrity. A recent digital detox helped him gain some perspective and accept fame as an inevitable part of his life.\n          <\/p>\n<p>\n            keshi doesn\u2019t regret his decision to ditch his 9-to-5 for the glossy celebrity life, but he still struggles to find the words to describe his circumstances now. \u201cI had a friend reach out to me after five years, and he said, \u2018Dude, congratulations on all the success. I hope it\u2019s everything you wanted,&#8217;\u201d he recounts in a tone that feels like a mix of loss and pride. \u201cI still think about that text.\u201d What makes everything worth it for keshi is getting to witness the joy that he knows his music brings to other people. \u201cIf I do that, I can live a lifetime of happiness.\u201d\n          <\/p>\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273314\" class=\"content_block paragraph embed triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"media_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"\">\n    <iframe data-testid=\"embed-iframe\" style=\"border-radius:12px\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/5DfKDonIvNlxlzA4ORIOFm?utm_source=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n<\/style>\n<div id=\"content_block-273315\" class=\"content_block paragraph embed triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left center_align\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"media_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"\">\n    <iframe allow=\"autoplay *; encrypted-media *;\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"450\" style=\"width:100%;max-width:660px;overflow:hidden;background:transparent;\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.music.apple.com\/us\/album\/requiem-bonus-edition\/1768090623\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"content_block paragraph triple_gutter_right triple_gutter_left\">\n<div class=\"content_inner_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"\" style=\"padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"author\">\n    <span><br \/>\n      By <span class=\"credit_name\">India Roby<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/span><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Social Media category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thefader.com\/2025\/08\/19\/keshi-requiem-fame-madison-square-garden-interview\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the most prominent Asian American pop stars just played Madison Square Garden. He\u2019s still getting used to the attention. Photo by Kenji Chong \u201cI don\u2019t pray to God, that\u2019s a weakness,\u201d keshi belts in the first minute he takes the stage at Madison Square Garden. There\u2019s an arrogance to his opening song \u201cAmen,\u201d&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":685941,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefader-res.cloudinary.com\/private_images\/c_limit,w_1024\/c_crop,h_533,w_1024,x_0,y_404,f_auto,q_auto:eco\/keshi-_NYC-26_egl5wx\/keshi-_NYC-26_egl5wx.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[28101,158267,87594,87510],"class_list":["post-685940","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-mediaa","tag-pop","tag-keshi","tag-rb","tag-rock"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685940","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=685940"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685940\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/685941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=685940"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=685940"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=685940"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}