Mad Keys

By way of St. Louis, Mad Keys’ journey started in middle school, making beats alongside his brother, unaware those early experiments would shape his future. By high school, he produced for friends while refining his ear through years of classical training. He majored in public relations in college, forming Hearts & Beats, a collective that brought artists, designers, and musicians together through live events in St. Louis.

After graduating in 2015, he pursued music independently, releasing his first producer project, LoveWaves, in 2017. By 2020, he dropped his first full-length album, Balance, blending intricate instrumentals with live band collaborations. One track, “Big Open Spaces”, quietly gained momentum, surpassing 1 million streams later on.

After a relocation to DC in the middle the pandemic, Keys was faced with a decision—pursue a stable career in comms design or commit fully to music. Choosing the latter, he turned to social media, consistently sharing his process and compositions. That dedication led to collaborations with PLYGRND Music and Inner Ocean Records, performances opening for Kiefer, and a beat set at Soho House in LA celebrating his White Label EP release with Soulection.

As his audience grew, so did opportunities—leading to brand partnerships with Adobe, INFINITI, Jordan, and Roland. Along the way, he released projects showcasing his range, including the intimate Currents EP and his 2024 beat tape, A Few Ideas.