Finn Keane
Finn Keane | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | PC Music |
| Member of | Thy Slaughter |
Finn Keane, previously known as Easyfun (stylised in all caps and formerly as easyFun), is a British songwriter and record producer. He is known for his frequent collaborations with Charli XCX, his releases on experimental pop label PC Music, and his work with the label's founder A. G. Cook in the duo Thy Slaughter. His work with Charli XCX has earned him two nominations at the Grammy Awards; Album of the Year for Brat and Best Dance Pop Recording for "Von Dutch".[1]
Career
[edit]2013–2015: Career beginnings
[edit]Keane's first release in 2013, originally under the name Easyfun, was a five-track self-titled EP with an early version of what would become PC Music's signature sound of bubblegum pop, futuristic riffs and chaotic arrangements.[2] Pitchfork later described the album as a "gaseous and disorienting beat tape that sounded a little like a methed-out take on TNGHT’s permanently in-the-red hip-hop experiments."[3]
Keane also joined the collaborative project Thy Slaughter with PC Music founder A. G. Cook in 2014, releasing their debut single, "Bronze", as part of PC Music Volume 1. Cook and Keane did not release any further music under the Thy Slaughter name for the following nine years.[4]
2016–2024: Songwriting and production, EPs, Thy Slaughter return and Brat
[edit]Cook and Keane eventually started the collaboration easyFX as part of a Columbia Records deal with PC Music. Under this name, the two worked together to write and produce songs for Columbia to assign to its emerging artists. This project was later dropped when management at Columbia changed and PC Music lost its supporters within the label.[2]
Hannah Diamond released her single "Invisible" in October 2019, co-produced by Keane and Cook.[5] In 2022, Keane produced Bree Runway's single "That Girl".[6] Keane has songwriting and production credits on Charli XCX's mixtapes Number 1 Angel and Pop 2 and her album Charli.[7][8]
In August 2023, Keane released two EPs named Acoustic and Electric.[9] Pitchfork gave Electric a score of 7.1/10, calling its songs "works of unadulterated nostalgia" and "a surprisingly emotional experience" with "deep, shuddering bass notes and unashamedly romantic melodies",[3] and included the EP in a list of the best pop music of 2023.[10]
In June 2023, Charli XCX released the Keane-produced single "Speed Drive" as part of Barbie the Album, the soundtrack of the 2023 film Barbie.[11] Keane also reunited with Cook in a return for Thy Slaughter that year, releasing the album Soft Rock on 1 December 2023.[4][9] This followed the singles "Sentence" and "If I Knew",[12] as well as the release of singles "Lost Everything" and "Reign" on 16 November that year which were used to announce the album. "Lost Everything" was co-written by the late Sophie and Ellie Rowsell.[4] This was one of the final releases from the PC Music label before it pivoted solely to archival releases.[12]
Keane worked with Cook and George Daniel on the production for Charli XCX's 2024 album Brat. Keane has stated that in producing the album he tried to "make the strongest and most confident music" he could, and noted that he and Charli XCX had created "Speed Drive" and "Von Dutch" in one day.[13]
2024–present: EasyGroup lawsuit and The Finn Keane Album
[edit]
In October 2023, EasyJet's parent company EasyGroup sued the music label PC Music and its founder, Cook, for "mimic[ing] easyGroup’s famous branding to create instant brand recognition for his ‘DJing business." The lawsuit initially resulted in only the cover for Keane's album Deep Trouble being changed; it had originally depicted people leaving an aircraft which bore the text "easyFun" after a water landing, but was changed to a computer-generated image of water with Easyfun's logo at its base.[14] However in October 2024, Keane announced The Finn Keane Album,[15] which was to be a compilation album of his previous work,[16] released a remix of his song "Laplander" and stated that he would fully leave the Easyfun moniker behind.[15] On the same day as this announcement, Willow Kayne released her Keane-produced single "I’ve Got This All Under Control", featuring "synthesizers, fast-paced percussion, and a prominent bassline" according to Dork.[17] He fully retired the name at PC Music's Halloween event, Pop Crypt II, in London.[16]
Discography
[edit]EPs
[edit]| Year | Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | debut | 25 June 2013 | PC Music |
| 2015 | Deep Trouble | 26 February 2015 | |
| 2023 | Electric | 11 August 2023 | |
| Acoustic | 13 October 2023 |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Monopoly" (featuring Noonie Bao) | 15 November 2016 | PC Music |
| 2017 | "Blink" | 28 July 2017 | |
| 2018 | "Be Your USA" (featuring Iiris) | 25 May 2018 | |
| 2022 | "Audio" | 21 April 2022 | |
| 2023 | "Audio (All I Ever Got)" | 28 September 2023 | |
| "Sentence" / "If I Knew" (with A. G. Cook, as Thy Slaughter) | 26 October 2023 | ||
| "Lost Everything" / "Reign" (with A. G. Cook, as Thy Slaughter) | 16 November 2023 | ||
| 2024 | "Laplander" (Finn Keane remix) | 17 October 2024 |
Songwriting and production credits
[edit]| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Album | Credits | Writer(s) | Producer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "Got My Chad" | GFOTY | VIPOTY | Co-writer/co-producer | GFOTY, A. G. Cook, Keane | Cook, Keane |
| "Fade Away" | Hannah Diamond | Reflections | Hannah Amond, Cook, Keane | |||
| "Make Believe" | ||||||
| 2017 | "3AM (Pull Up)"
(feat. MØ) |
Charli XCX | Number 1 Angel | Charlotte Aitchison, Cook, Keane, Karen Marie Ørsted | ||
| "Emotional" | Co-producer | Aitchison, Patrik Berger | ||||
| "Stranger" | Iiris | Non-album single | Co-writer | Iiris, Keane, Max Doohan | ProVerb | |
| "Midnight Vibes" | RahRah Q | Keane, RahRahQ, Brandon Skeie, Miya Folick, Lil Data | David Gamson | |||
| "Backseat" (feat. Carly Rae Jepsen) |
Charli XCX | Pop 2 | Co-writer/co-producer | Aitchison, Cook, Keane, Carly Rae Jepsen | Keane, Cook | |
| "Femmebot" (feat. Dorian Electra & Mykki Blanco) |
A. G. Cook, David Gamson, Keane, Francisca Hall, Michael Quattelbaum Jr. | Cook, David Gamson, Keane | ||||
| "Porsche" (feat. MØ) |
Co-producer | Charlotte Aitchison, Cook, Henry Allen, Cassia O'Reilly, Karen Marie Ørsted | Cook, Keane, King Henry | |||
| 2018 | "Be My Anime" | Rat Boy | Civil Disorder | Rat Boy, L Devine | Keane, Rat Boy | |
| "You Say" | Sarah Close | And Now, We're Shining | Co-writer/producer | Sarah Close, Christy "Zee" Zakarias, Jerker Hansson, Keane | Keane | |
| "Apps" (feat. Robokid) |
Sakima | Non-album single | Producer | SAKIMA, Robokid | ||
| "Let You Love Me" | Rita Ora | Phoenix | Co-writer/co-producer | Rita Ora, Fred Gibson, Keane, Linus Wiklund, Noonie Bao, Ilsey Juber | Fred Again, Keane | |
| 2019 | "Sick Thoughts" | Lou Bliss | Non-album single | Co-writer/producer | Melissa Faith Storwick, James Yami Bell, Keane, Lou Bliss | Keane |
| "Blame It On Your Love" (feat. Lizzo) |
Charli XCX | Charli | Co-writer/additional production | Aitchison, Noonie Bao, Lizzo, Sasha Sloan, StarGate, Keane | StarGate, Keane (add.), Cook (add.) | |
| "Official" | Co-writer/co- producer | Aitchison, Cook, Noonie Bao, Berger, Keane | Cook, Keane, Berger | |||
| "Not Ready for Love" | TCTS | Non-album single | Co-writer | Keane, Gracey, Samuel O'Neill | TCTS | |
| "LA & The Parties" | Lost Kings | Lost Angeles EP | Luh Kel, Keane, Nick Shanholtz, Paul Jacobs, Robert Abisi | Lost Kings | ||
| "Invisible" | Hannah Diamond | Reflections | Co-writer/co- producer | Amond, Cook, Keane, Thomas Carrell, Christopher Mason | Cook, Keane | |
| 2020 | "Airhead" | A. G. Cook | Apple | Co-writer | Cook, Hayden Dunham, Keane | Cook |
| "Girl On My Throne" (feat. Casey MQ) |
Oklou | Galore | Marylou Mayniel, Casey Manierka, Cook, Keane | Casey MQ, Florian Le Prise, Oklou (co.), Cook (add.) | ||
| "Little Nokia" | Bree Runway | 2000and4Eva | Co-writer/producer | Brenda Mensah, Chloe Tighe, Keane | Keane | |
| 2021 | "Want" | MNDR | Hell To Be You Baby | Co-writer | Amanda Warner, Keane, Peter Wade Keusch | MNDR, Peter Wade, Babydaddy |
| "Gone" | Amanda Warner, Keane, Peter Wade Keusch, Scott Hoffman, Thomas George Stafford | |||||
| "You For Me" (feat. Rita Ora) |
Sigala | Non-album single | Cook, Aitchison, Keane, Joakim Jarl, Madison Love, Rita Sahatçiu Ora, Bruce Fielder | Sigala, Jarly, Neave Applebaum | ||
| "Sad Song" | Gracey | Fragile EP | Producer | Finlay Dow Smith, Grace Barker, Jonny Write | Keane, Starsmith | |
| 2022 | "Into My Arms" | Hyd | Non-album single | Nick Cave | Keane | |
| "Somebody Like You" | Bree Runway | Co-writer/co-producer | Brenda Mensah, Keane, Klahr, Levi Gordon, Liohn | Keane, Liohn, Klahr, Levi Gordon | ||
| "Co1n" | LVL1 | Play | Co-writer/producer | Emilio Martín, Keane, Guillermo Rodriguez Moracho, Luthien Barrea Barroso | Keane | |
| "Lonely Heart" (feat. Gracey) |
Europa | Non-album single | Additional production | Timucin Lam, Martin Solveig, Josh Grimmet, Ethan Shore, Grace Barker | Jax Jones, Martin Solveig, Goodboys (add.), Neave Applebaum (add.), Keane (add.), Mark Ralph (add.) | |
| "So Clear" | Hyd | Clearing | Co-writer/co-producer | Hyd, Keane, Sophie | Keane, Sophie, Cook (add.) | |
| "Breaking Ground" | Co-writer/producer | Hyd, Keane | Keane, Cook (add.) | |||
| "Chlorophyll" | Co-writer/co-producer | Thy Slaughter | ||||
| "Archive Mami" | Bree Runway | WOAH, WHAT A BLUR! | Co-writer/producer | Bree Runway, Keane, Richard Zastenker | Keane | |
| "Breee!" | Co-writer/co-producer | Bree Runway, Keane, Klahr, Richard Zastenker, Atia "Ink" Boggs | Liohn, Klahr, Keane | |||
| "FWMM" | Bree Runway, Keane, Klahr, Liohn, Trey Campbell | |||||
| "That Girl" | Co-writer/producer | Bree Runway, Keane, Richard Zastenker | Keane | |||
| 2023 | "Speed Drive" | Charli XCX | Barbie the Album | Co-writer/producer | Charli XCX, David James Parker, Keane, Ewart Everton Brown, Fabian Peter Torsson, Frans Joakim Ahlund, Klas Frans Åhlund, Michael Chapman, Nicholas Chinn, Patrik Knut Arve, Sylvia Robinson, Troy Rami | |
| "Automatic" | Birdy | Portraits | Additional production | Birdy, Gabe Simon, Mark Crew, Dan Priddy | Gabe Simon, Mark Crew, Dan Priddy, Keane (add.) | |
| "Impossible" | Hannah Diamond | Perfect Picture | Co-writer | Hannah Amond, David Gamson, Alexander Guy Cook, Keane, Nate Campany | David Gamson | |
| "Think Of Us" (with GRACEY) |
The Chainsmokers | Summertime Friends | Co-writer/co-producer | Alex Pall, Andrew Taggart, Keane, Grace Barker | The Chainsmokers, Keane | |
| 2024 | "Ride or Die" | Baby Queen | TBA | Co-producer | Baby Queen, King Ed | King Ed, Keane |
| "360" | Charli XCX | Brat | Co-writer/additional production | Cook, Blake Slatkin, Aitchison, Keane, Henry Walter, Omer Fedi | Cook, Cirkut, Keane (add.) | |
| "Sympathy Is a Knife" | Co-writer/co-producer | Aitchison, Keane, Jonathan Christopher Shave | Charli XCX, Keane | |||
| "Von Dutch" | Co-writer/producer | Aitchison, Keane | Keane | |||
| "So I" | Co-writer | Aitchison, Keane, Shave | Cook, Jon Shave | |||
| "I Think About It All the Time" | Co-writer/co-producer | Cook, Aitchison, Keane, Shave | Cook, Keane | |||
| "Spring Breakers" | Cook, Keane, Shave | |||||
| "Just Like That" | Bree Runway | TBA | Brenda Mensah, Keane, Richard Zastenker | Keane, Johannes Klahr, Richard Zastenker | ||
| "If You Get It You Get It" | Bimini | Bimini, Keane, Grace Barker, Matt Rad | Matt Rad, Keane | |||
| "Control" | Bimini, Keane, Matt Rad, Sarah Boe | |||||
| "2BadGyalz" | Bree Runway | Co-producer | Brenda Mensah | Raf Riley, Keane | ||
| "So Tru" | Confidence Man | 3AM (LA LA LA) | Co-writer/additional production | Janet Planet, Sugar Bones, Reggie Goodchild, Ina Wroldsen, Keane | Reggie Goodchild, Keane (add.) | |
| "I've Got This All Under Control | Willow Kayne | TBA | Co-writer/co-producer | Keane, James Murray, Mustafa Omer, Willow Kayne | Mojam, Keane | |
| 2025 | "Cupid's Bow" | Olly Alexander | Polari | Additional production | Olly Alexander, Danny L Harle | Danny L Harle, Keane (add.) |
| "Dizzy" | Olly Alexander, Danny L Harle |
Remixes
[edit]| Year | Title | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "I.D.L" | Life Sim (with A. G. Cook, as Thy Slaughter) |
| 2017 | "Taker" | K.I.D |
| 2017 | "No Sleeep" | Janet Jackson |
| 2018 | "Wildfire" | Slow Magic |
| 2019 | "Comme si" | Christine and the Queens |
| "1999" | Charli XCX, Troye Sivan | |
| 2021 | "Beautiful Superstar" | A. G. Cook |
| "4Runner" | Rostam | |
| 2022 | "Demonic" | Namasenda, La Zowi (with A. G. Cook, as Thy Slaughter) |
| 2024 | "Sympathy Is a Knife" | Charli XCX, Ariana Grande |
| "Everything is Romantic" | Charli XCX, Caroline Polachek | |
| "B2B" | Charli XCX, Tinashe | |
| "365" | Charli XCX, Shygirl, Toby Wincorn | |
| "Spring Breakers" | Charli XCX, Kesha |
References
[edit]- ^ "Finn Keane | Artist". The Recording Academy. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ a b Bulut, Selim (2019-12-20). "The history of PC Music, the most exhilarating record label of the 2010s". Dazed. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ a b D’Souza, Shaad. "easyFun: ELECTRIC EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ a b c Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (2023-11-16). "PC Music's A. G. Cook and Easyfun Detail Debut Thy Slaughter Album, Share New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
- ^ "Hannah Diamond shares new track 'Invisible'". DIY. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
- ^ Haile, Heven. "Bree Runway: "That Girl"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "Charli XCX - Charli". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
- ^ "Charli XCX - Number 1 Angel / Pop 2". Discogs. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
- ^ a b Martin, Felicity (2023-12-11). "A trip inside PC Music's visual universe with designer Timothy Luke". Dazed. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "The Best Pop Music of 2023". Pitchfork. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (2023-06-29). "Listen to Charli XCX's New Barbie Movie Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ a b Minsker, Evan (2023-10-26). "Thy Slaughter, A. G. Cook and Easyfun's New Project, Share New Songs". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ Dunworth, Liberty (2024-09-06). "A. G. Cook and Finn Keane on what sets Charli XCX apart – and what makes something 'Brat'". NME. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ "EasyJet founder is suing Easyfun accusing the artist of "mimicking" their brand". Mixmag. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ a b Kelly, Tyler Damara (2024-10-17). "EASYFUN announces his new moniker alongside forthcoming album, The Finn Keane Album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
- ^ a b Young, Martyn (2024-11-01). "Finn Keane might not be taking it easy, but he's sure having fun". Dork. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Taylor, Sam (2024-10-17). "Willow Kayne has unveiled her latest single 'I've Got This All Under Control', produced by Easyfun". Dork. Retrieved 2024-10-30.