Keenan Meyer, A Breath Of Fresh Air To The Music Scene

Born and raised in Johannesburg, Keenan Meyer is a classically trained pianist, composer and scholar. From attending concerts produced in his hometown of Bosmont as a young boy, to graduating from the University of Pretoria with a Bachelor of Music Degree in 2018, he has had a lifelong relationship with music.

His study of impressionistic composers combined with the melodic elegance of the romantic style in music undeniably influenced his performance style and his composition of music.

An equally important influence is Meyer’s research on music in South Africa. As part of his Honours degree, he produced a dissertation that examined the role of music in two significant periods of South African history: the fight against apartheid, and the #FeesMustFall movement.

He gained a deeper understanding of music’s ability to galvanize human consciousness, a central theme in his body of work, The Alchemy of Living. Meyer also developed a deeper connection to South African Jazz and its icons, specifically the tonal palette and spirituality of Abdullah Ibrahim’s music.

This background and experience has shaped Meyer’s career and creative output. His album is a deeply personal snapshot of his journey this far. It pays tribute to the music he grew up listening to, his travels around Asia and South America, South Africa’s musical traditions and ancestry, and the composers he has studied and loves.