By Dionne Meehan
LETTERKENNY DJ Rebūke (aka Reuben Keeney) is set to make his debut at one of the biggest music festivals in the world as he joins the Coachella line-up for 2024.
Set to perform in front of 125,000 people in the Colorado Desert in California this April, the standout star said this opportunity is something he will always be proud of.
Touring America “relentlessly” for the past four years, Reuben said last summer alone he took around sixteen flights from Dublin and back before he was booked for the major festival.
“It was non-stop but that’s what you got to do,” he said.
Best known for tracks ‘Along came Polly’ and ‘Syren’, his melodic techno is listened to by 1.5 million people per month on Spotify.
But despite his success, he hasn’t forgotten his roots.
Growing up under the same roof as his dad, local DJ Jerome Keeney, Reuben recalled being heavily influenced by his father.
And despite the limited online resources, he started making music in his bedroom at the young age of 13.
Entirely self-taught, it wasn’t long until Reuben secured his first gig.
From performing at teenage discos in the Milford Inn to securing a residency in Voodoo, it soon became apparent to Reuben that he wanted to pursue music as a full-time career.
Leaving school with a dream to make it in the music industry, Reuben was motivated to make it a reality.
And after years of consistency, determination and hard work, he did just that.
“It took me twelve years to get any sort of real success in music,” he said.
“It was a roller coaster.
“I saw my friends go through college and buy their houses and I was still there trying to figure out how to make a living,” he said.
Proud of how much he has achieved over the years, Reuben said he is “super happy” with where he is at.
“I never thought I’d be working with the people that I work with.
“I never thought I would be playing in the parts of the world I play in.
“But for me, I think the music speaks,” he said.
With his music now recognised worldwide, Reuben began elevating his tracks by adding visuals.
“The music almost seems easy these days,” he joked.
With audio visual shows lined up for London and Dubai this year, Reuben is planning on taking things to the next level.
And going through the ranks with him is his “VJ”, fellow Donegal man, Liam Gillespie.
Looking after the visual side of things, Liam has been by Reuben’s side since his days of playing in Fifth Avenue in Letterkenny.
And as if Reuben’s 2024 wasn’t busy enough, he is also set to launch his debut album under his own label ‘ERA’ in September.
The album will also be accompanied by a full visual experience.
Now feeling the pressure ahead of its release, Reuben will be spending most of his days in his recording studio in Letterkenny finalising the album.
Despite not knowing if things were going to work out after he left school, through self motivation Reuben is now living his dream.
“I think that is the difference between the guys that are still around today and the guys that do it for a few months and then they forget about it because they don’t see the rewards straight away.
“As I said already, it took me twelve years before I found any real success in music and that was a long journey. But if you have the determination and really believe in what you do, that for me is the best advice,” he said.
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