This week, I had the pleasure of chatting with professional vocalist, Kei Duncan-Lewis. At just twenty-four years old, Kei has performed across a variety of venues as both a soloist and lead singer of a band. In this interview, we discuss everything from wedding traditions to Shania Twain.
Can you describe how different settings, like a small cosy ceremony versus a grand ballroom reception, influence your performance style and song choices?
It comes down to two things: A, what the client wants, and B, reading the vibe of the room. After two songs, you can work out if the couple are looking for something more calm and relaxed, or a bit more of a party atmosphere. I usually open up with a couple of middle ground songs, like Let Me Entertain You by Robbie Williams or a bit of Queen. Then, I have an A set and a B set of songs, and depending on which way it goes, I take my pick.
Is there a particular concert or festival you attended that inspired you to incorporate new styles or techniques into your performances?
I go to watch so much live music, it’s ridiculous! I’m at every festival and every gig I can see. In terms of showmanship, I’ve taken a lot from people like Robbie, Bruno Mars, particularly Ed Sheeran – considering he’s a one man army. Recently, I saw Shania Twain with Rag and Bone Man as the opening act. That was a pretty cool combo. He’s a very quiet guy, whereas Shania is switched on from the moment the show starts. It was nice to see the contrast working together on the same night.
How do you balance staying true to the original artist’s style while adding your own flair to a cover song during a performance?
I like to have a bit of fun and play around with cover songs. It makes it more interesting. I like to begin by giving them the original song as they know it, and then from then on, make it my own. Because if you’re not doing a little bit for you, you’re not enjoying it! You have to test the waters and find that balance.
What methods do you use to keep your song list fresh and relevant?
I have loads of material, more than 250 songs. I send out my catalogue in advance to the people who book and let them choose what they want to hear. I’m always updating my setlist, it keeps everything current. Recently, I’ve incorporated a lot more chilled songs. For daytime ceremonies, I’ve added some Coldplay, a bit of Mika and loads of Hosier. I also love going back and finding old songs. Crazy by Gnarls Barkley has a really nice arrangement which works really well for ceremony singing. On the flip side, if I’ve noticed that some songs just aren’t going down well anymore – I just take them out. It’s good to give it a refresh.
Is there a piece of feedback from a couple that stands out to you and perhaps influenced how you approach future performances?
Most of the time it’s positive, which is great! I can remember a time when I’d judged the energy of the room and matched the vibe with my setlist. People were up on the dance floor the whole night, so I just kept pushing. Unknowingly, I had given a performance which was quite different to what the bride and groom had wanted. Everyone was thoroughly entertained but it turned out that they had wanted a calmer night. Now, I make sure to check in with the bride and groom to make sure that everyone’s happy.
What was the most unexpected song request you’ve received at a wedding and how did you approach making it special for the couple?
A couple requested I Don’t Care by Ed Sheeran for their first dance. It’s quite an upbeat, bouncy song. So, I asked them, “Do you want the original rendition or something more traditional?” At first, they were certain that they wanted it like the original. And then I think they must have gone and done a lot of wedding research to come back to me and said, is there any chance we can do a more tame version? So I did like an acoustic-y version instead and made it nice and slow – which went down really well with the bride and groom.
Follow Kei on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok: @keirdlmusic