PH-bound Keshi misses you ‘more than you know’

Never could have Keshi predicted that he and his music would one day become big enough to headline shows at arenas.

His upcoming world tour, “Requiem,” which kicks off in October, will have the American singer-songwriter performing in iconic venues like Madison Square Garden in New York City, The O2 in London and Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The tour’s Manila stop (via Live Nation Philippines), meanwhile, will be held on March 4, 2025, at SM Mall of Asia Arena, a step up from his show at New Frontier Theater in 2022. Visit www.livenation.ph or www.smtickets.com.

“The past year, I obsessed over making music that would live up to these venues,” he wrote on Instagram. “Not even in my wildest dreams could I have imagined something like this.”

The series of shows is intended to support Keshi’s upcoming sophomore album, “Requiem,” which is set to drop on Sept. 13. Its first single, the Japanese city pop-inflected “Say,” gives listeners a peek into the exploration of different styles he did for the said record. Classic rock was another influence. The theme, on the other hand, was largely shaped by the concept of loss.

“I have never loved music more. I have waited so long to perform this record, for it to be heard as truly intended,” said the 29-year-old music artist, whose catalog has so far amassed more than 11 billion streams.

Haunting vocals

Born Casey Luong in Houston, Texas, Keshi is known for his haunting vocals and nostalgic soundscapes that fuse R&B, hip-hop and lo-fi.

A former oncology nurse, Keshi rose to fame and earned critical acclaim in 2022 with his debut album, “Gabriel,” which spawned massive streaming hits, like “Limbo,” “Understand” and “Somebody.” The album peaked at the No. 16 and 4 spots on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Top Sales Album charts, respectively.

“I missed y’all more than you know. Won’t be long now. See you on the road,” Keshi said.