Steven Keene, the New York poet-folkie and singer-songwriter, has delivered a powerful collection of songs that reflect the complexities of the modern world with his latest album, “Woke.” The album pays homage to Keene’s major creative influences while chronicling the evolution of his own sound as he explores musical and lyrical motifs around love, loss, social responsibility, and political resistance.

New York City Roots

Steven Keene’s journey in the world of folk music is a story of passion, perseverance, and artistic evolution. His early career was forged in the vibrant folk scene of New York City in the late ’80s and early ’90s. It was a time when the city’s coffee houses and music venues were alive with the sounds of acoustic guitars and soulful voices, and Keene quickly made a name for himself as a talented singer-songwriter.

Keene’s early albums, such as “No Alternative” and “Set Clock,” showcased his knack for crafting introspective lyrics and memorable melodies. His live performances were equally compelling, with Keene’s raw, emotive vocals and deft guitar work captivating audiences. He shared stages with notable contemporaries like Beck and Shawn Colvin, and his influence on the New York folk scene was undeniable.

In the early 2000s, Keene made the decision to step away from the spotlight and embark on a personal journey of reflection and growth. This hiatus was a time of introspection and creative exploration for Keene, as he sought to reconnect with his musical roots and rediscover his artistic voice.

Though he was absent from the stage, Keene never stopped creating. He continued to write songs and hone his craft, drawing inspiration from his life experiences and the changing world around him. This period of reflection and growth would prove to be a defining chapter in Keene’s artistic journey, laying the groundwork for his triumphant return with “Them and Us” in 2021.

The Journey to “Woke”

Following the success of “Them and Us,” Keene continued to hone his craft and push the boundaries of his songwriting. The songs on “Woke” run the gamut from the overtly political to the starkly anti-political, from rock and blues to folk, and even some old-school country, showcasing Keene’s versatility and range as an artist.

The seeds of “Woke” were planted during the creation of “Them and Us,” as Keene found himself increasingly drawn to themes of social justice, political resistance, and the human condition. The tumultuous events of recent years, from the global pandemic to the ongoing struggle for racial equality, have only served to deepen Keene’s commitment to using his music as a vehicle for change and enlightenment.

“I feel like we’re living in a time of great upheaval and transformation,” Keene reflects. “As an artist, I have a responsibility to engage with the world around me, to hold up a mirror to society and ask the tough questions. ‘Woke’ is my attempt to do that, to create a body of work that not only entertains but also provokes thought and inspires action.”

The journey to “Woke” was a collaborative one, with Keene working closely with a tight-knit group of musicians and producers to bring his vision to life. The album’s eclectic sound is a testament to the diverse talents of this creative team, as well as Keene’s own willingness to experiment and push himself out of his comfort zone.

“I’ve always believed that growth comes from challenging yourself, from stepping outside of what’s familiar and exploring new territory,” Keene explains. “With ‘Woke,’ I wanted to create an album that was both true to my roots as a folk artist but also unafraid to incorporate elements of rock, blues, and even country. The result is something that feels fresh and exciting to me, a new chapter in my artistic journey.”

The Power of Protest Music

At the forefront of the album is Keene’s powerful and timely anti-war anthem “Soon,” a track that seamlessly melds a James Agee-styled social critique with the ardent defiance of the best in American protest music. Keene’s ability to articulate the modern world’s collective psychic ills through the context of art is on full display throughout “Woke,” as he crafts consistently powerful and timely songs with deeply meditative lyrics.

The tradition of protest music runs deep in American folk, and Keene draws upon this rich heritage to create songs that speak to the urgent issues of our time. From the haunting imagery of “Battlefields,” which grapples with the human cost of war, to the rallying cry of “Rise Up,” a call to action in the face of injustice, Keene’s songs are both deeply personal and universally resonant.

“I’ve always been inspired by the great protest singers of the past, like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan,” Keene reflects. “They had this incredible ability to take the struggles and dreams of their generation and distill them into songs that could move mountains. That’s what I aspire to do with my music, to give voice to the unheard and to inspire people to fight for a better world.”

Keene’s commitment to social justice extends beyond his lyrics and into his actions as an artist. A portion of the proceeds from “Woke” has been donated to organizations working to promote peace, equality, and environmental sustainability, a reflection of Keene’s belief in the power of music to effect real change.

“For me, protest music isn’t just about pointing out what’s wrong with the world, it’s about imagining what’s possible,” Keene explains. “It’s about planting seeds of hope and empowerment, about inspiring people to believe that they have the power to make a difference. That’s the real power of protest music, and it’s something that I try to tap into with every song I write.”

The Dylan Connection

Another standout track on the album is “I Can’t Leave Her Behind,” a collaboration across space and time with a young Bob Dylan. Keene brings to life one of Dylan’s greatest unfinished compositions, captured on an obscure audio artifact from 1966. The song, born from a spontaneous performance in a Glasgow hotel room during Dylan’s infamous ’66 European Tour, is a testament to Keene’s musical archaeology skills as he fills in the gaps of the fragmented original recording.

For Keene, the opportunity to work with a Dylan composition was a dream come true. As a young artist coming up in the New York folk scene, Keene was heavily influenced by Dylan’s groundbreaking work, which redefined the boundaries of what was possible in popular music.

“Dylan has always been one of my biggest inspirations,” Keene reflects. “His ability to combine poetic lyrics with powerful melodies and social commentary is something that I’ve always aspired to in my own music. When I first heard the fragment of ‘I Can’t Leave Her Behind,’ I knew instantly that I wanted to try and complete it, to bring it to life in a way that honored Dylan’s original vision.”

The process of reconstructing the song was a painstaking one, requiring Keene to dive deep into the Dylan archives and immerse himself in the music and culture of the 1960s. He studied the fragmented lyrics and melody, piecing together the story that Dylan was trying to tell and imagining how he might have finished the song if he had returned to it.

“I wanted to keep it pretty faithful to the way Dylan did it, but with a little bit more production to bring it out of that hotel room,” says Keene of the process. “I added a harmonica solo to it, and I think the addition of strings and pedal steel really gives it a nice feel. Lyrically, I was really limited by what I could hear. Some words were there, some words were hard to make out …and there were some gaps to fill in, so I did my best at trying to fill in those gaps. In those cases, I went with my gut and what I thought would work. I really found myself playing the archaeologist, you know, on a dig.”

The result is a song that feels both classic and contemporary, a testament to the enduring power of Dylan’s songwriting and Keene’s own artistic vision. It’s a collaboration that bridges generations and musical styles, a reminder of the way that great art can transcend time and space to speak to us in new and profound ways.

For Keene, the experience of working with a Dylan composition was a humbling and inspiring one, a chance to connect with one of his musical heroes and to carry on the tradition of folk music as a vehicle for storytelling and social commentary.

“Dylan’s music has always been about more than just entertainment,” Keene reflects. “It’s about holding up a mirror to society and asking the hard questions, about using music as a tool for change and enlightenment. That’s something that I’ve always tried to do in my own work, and ‘I Can’t Leave Her Behind’ feels like a perfect embodiment of that spirit. It’s a song that speaks to the human condition, to the joys and sorrows of love and loss, and to the enduring power of music to connect us all.”

The Dreamentia Partnership

Keene’s rising star is a sure sign that there are listeners out there who are hungry for his straightforward style of empathy and human connection. In bringing “Woke” to the world, Keene partnered with Dreamentia Creative Laboratories, his long-time creative collaborator. Dreamentia played a key role in shaping the visual identity of the project, crafting One Sheets and Press Kits, and designing the album art for the singles and the full release. Their consultation on music videos also ensured a cohesive and compelling visual narrative to complement Keene’s music.

A Mirror for Our Times

“Woke” is more than just a collection of songs; it’s a mirror held up to the modern world, reflecting both its ills and its hopes. Keene’s finely tuned pop-culture sensibility and uncanny gift for executing an eloquent turn of phrase allow him to deliver universal messages of hope to the collective consciousness. The album is a testament to Keene’s growth as an artist and his ability to connect with listeners on a deep, emotional level.

With its broad stylistic eclecticism and bold subject matter, “Woke” has solidified Keene’s place as one of the most vital and necessary voices in contemporary folk music. Steven Keene’s “Woke” is a musical mirror for our times, reflecting the challenges and aspirations of the modern world while offering a message of hope and unity.