MCMA Awards nominee profile: Keown finds songwriting inspiration close to home

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This article was published 20/10/2016 (3408 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After a 15-year hiatus, the Manitoba Country Music Association brought back its awards show in 2015. An overwhelming response has reignited the MCMA with plans to continue building on the show’s success, offering it up as its annual flagship event.

Leading up to the 2016 MCMA Awards on Nov. 10, The Brandon Sun is profiling a selection of talented Westman nominees, who will all be performing at the event at Winnipeg’s Metropolitan Entertainment Centre.

At the tender age of 14, Ryan Keown was already performing in local bars. But due to the liquor laws of the day, it wasn’t your typical show.

“I couldn’t enter the premises where liquor was served, so I had to sing out of the kitchen door to the bar,” Keown recalled with a laugh. “People would come just to see that. The band is 20 feet away from me on the stage, and I have a monitor and a mic.”

Keown’s passion for music started when he first picked up a guitar at 12 years old, after pestering his parents to buy him one. He tried out the piano a few years earlier, but knew it wasn’t the instrument for him.

“I would practise just enough to do better than my brother,” he said. When he finally got the guitar, all bets were off.

“I just could not put it down. I would practise before school, on my lunch break, after school, before work, and I just could not play it enough,” he said.

Growing up in the small town of Roblin, located approximately 230 kilometres northwest of Brandon, Keown was inspired by Tom Petty — he recalls wrecking his “Full Moon Fever” cassette tape from overuse. As he found his own style, he listened to Johnny Cash and Brooks and Dunn.

Keown moved away after graduation, but returned to his hometown about six years ago. He is now raising three sons — Austin, 13, Ethan, 11, and Corbin, 9 — with his wife Zoe.

Inspiration for songwriting comes from Keown’s daily life, relationships and community.

“I have some great friends and a great marriage and a bunch of different things to draw from,” he said. “I try and always draw from my experiences that I’ve lived, and try and relate it to the songs that way.”

By day, Keown is a realtor and insurance broker, but continues to pursue is musical passion with his band of 17 years. After working and performing together for so long, the band becomes like a family, or as Keown puts it, “like playing on a hockey team.”

“When we all have a good night, we celebrate, and some nights when it’s not the best night, we have to dig deep just like a hockey player and do the best we can,” he said.

Keown, who has been compared to a “modern-day Travis Tritt,” has opened for the likes of Charlie Major, Prairie Oyster, Aaron Pritchett, Beverley Mahood, Chad Brownlee and Dallas Smith to name a few.

He had a busy summer, performing at Dauphin’s Countryfest, Craven Country Jamboree and was also part of the Ray St. Germaine’s Roadshow 204 concert.

Keown said he is thankful for the opportunities he has been presented with over the years, and does his best to simply take it all in and enjoy the experience.

“I try to not let some of the highs get too high and then you don’t let the lows get too low,” he said. “This business has a lot of ups and downs … so it can be equally as encouraging as it can be discouraging.”

One of the highlights has been taking his sons to shows and introducing them to fellow artists. His eldest son has already shown an interest in pursuing music, and may just follow in his dad’s footsteps.

“My 13-year-old has started singing, so he’s got a few gigs on the calendar, too, which is exciting,” he said.

Keown’s song “Amen” won Single of the Year at the 2015 MCMA awards show — a moment he will never forget.

“Obviously there was very stiff competition … so when they called my name it was a pretty cool moment,” he said. “My wife had to confirm that they did in fact say my name.”

Keown is nominated in four MCMA categories this year — male artist of the year, emerging artist, music video of the year for “Amen” and fans’ choice.

“It’s really important … for the MCMA to continue doing what they’re doing. It really does help artists be acknowledged and be recognized, and sort of brings the artists together,” he said.

As for the year ahead, Keown is already looking forward to next summer, and performing at events to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary.

“I’ve been blessed to have a lot of support locally,” he said. “We’ve been very fortunate and we just hope to carry on the path we’ve been going.”

» jaustin@brandonsun.com

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