Behind The Lens: Keeana Kee & Valery Kaufman

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Where do you go—physically or mentally—when it’s time to write your music?


Keeana Kee:

The timing kind of finds me on its own. It can happen at any moment, day or night. Something shifts and I just know it’s there. It usually starts with a melody. It comes into my head and stays, almost like it’s trying to tell me something. That melody becomes the key to everything. It holds the emotion before I even fully understand it. I just follow it. And little by little, the meaning opens up. The lyrics come from whatever that melody makes me feel. I don’t try to force it, I just stay with it until it turns into something real. It never really feels like writing. It feels more like discovering something that was already waiting for me.

Valery Kaufman:

For me it’s less about writing and more about stepping into a feeling. I usually start with a mood, something subtle, almost hard to explain, and then I build from there. I think in images a lot. Colors, movement, atmosphere. It’s like being inside a scene before it fully exists. That’s how I connect to a project.

Describe your spirit animal—what does it represent about you as an artist?

Keeana Kee:

I think my spirit animal is a horse.

To me, it’s freedom. Not being held back, just moving the way you feel. There’s a quiet strength in it too, something that doesn’t give up, that keeps going no matter what. I connect to that a lot. I follow instinct, not pressure. And I don’t like doing anything without purpose. If I move, if I create, it has to mean something. There’s loyalty in it, emotion. It feels deeply, and so do I.

Valery Kaufman:

I’d say a swan. There’s something very calm and graceful on the surface, but underneath there’s constant movement and effort. I connect to that contrast. Stillness and intensity existing at the same time. And I think that duality is something Keeana and I both share in different ways. It’s interesting because we’re both Geminis, so there’s naturally that dual energy. I think that made working together very intuitive. There was an unspoken understanding of emotions and shifts in energy. That connection to identity and energy is something I’ve been exploring beyond this project as well. I recently launched my brand, Sidera Paris, inspired by astrology and the idea of expressing who you are through what you wear. It’s about bringing your inner world into your outer one. Stay tuned @sidera.paris 

What’s one thing about life you wish someone told you sooner?

Keeana Kee:

That not everything is meant to stay, and that’s okay.

I used to hold on to people, moments, even versions of myself longer than I should have. But letting go creates space for something more aligned. Now I see everything as part of the evolution. Nothing is wasted.

Valery Kaufman:

To trust your instinct earlier. There’s always a moment where you feel what’s right, even if you don’t have the words for it yet. I think learning to trust that feeling changes everything.

What do you think is currently missing from the music and entertainment industry?

Keeana Kee:

Emotional depth. There’s so much content now, but not everything connects. I think people are craving something real, something that stays with them after it ends. I’d love to see more storytelling, more intention. Less chasing trends, more creating worlds.

Valery Kaufman:

I think there’s something about slowing down and really feeling what’s being created. Everything moves so fast now, and sometimes you don’t have time to connect to it. I’m drawn to work that makes you pause, that creates a mood and stays with you. I think people want to feel something real again, not just see it.

What instruments or sounds would you like to collaborate with more in the future?

Keeana Kee:

I love working with live instrumentation. There’s an emotion in real instruments that you just can’t fully recreate digitally. I’m really drawn to strings, drums, and native instruments, and I want to bring more of those sounds into my music. I perform a lot with my favorite drummer Mila Tina, and there’s something about that live energy you just can’t fake. Real instruments make you feel something real. When everything connects — the voice, the rhythm, the live energy — it takes you somewhere else. It almost feels like stepping into another space, something deeper, more cosmic. There’s so much music around us now, but not all of it carries soul. For me, it’s about staying connected to what’s real. Real sound, real feeling, real intention.

Valery Kaufman:

For me, it’s less about specific instruments and more about the feeling they create. I’m very drawn to raw, organic sound. Something that feels alive, not perfect. When music has texture and emotion, you can feel it in your body, not just hear it. I love when sound creates a full atmosphere, something you can almost see and step into. That’s what makes it powerful to me.

Netflix is creating a project about you—what’s the title, genre, and story behind it?

Keeana Kee:

It would be a cinematic drama about leaving everything behind to find your voice, releasing relationships, expectations, and the versions of yourself you’ve outgrown. There’s a strong sense of movement throughout the story. Open roads, shifting landscapes, always moving forward. And along the way, you find the people who feel the same. Slowly, a new world forms, your world, your people. It’s about becoming who you’re meant to be, even if it costs you everything you thought you wanted. And in that process, giving others the courage to do the same.

Valery Kaufman:

For me, it would be very visual and emotionally driven. Quiet, but powerful. A story about inner transformation. The kind that doesn’t need to be explained, but you can feel it happening. Minimal dialogue, strong imagery. It lives in the details, in the atmosphere, in the silence. Something you feel more than you hear.

What song of yours feels like summer—and what makes it connect with that energy?

Keeana Kee:

Coconut Rum & Coke. It feels effortless and free. Like being somewhere warm with no pressure, just living in the moment. It’s one of those songs that instantly puts you into a feeling. Actually, a lot of my music carries that kind of summer energy in different ways. "Coconut Rum & Coke," Tik Tok, and our latest, Ex’s Funeral. They all share that sense of freedom, of letting go and just being in the moment. 

Valery Kaufman:

For me, it’s "Ex’s Funeral."

It has that sense of freedom and release. There’s emotion in it, but it doesn’t feel heavy. It feels like letting go and choosing yourself. There’s a feeling of moving forward, leaving something behind, but doing it with lightness. That’s what makes it feel like summer to me.

What’s been your highest achievement in your music career so far?

Keeana Kee:

The connection with people. When someone tells me a song helped them through something, that’s everything to me. That’s when it feels real. Of course, performances and press matter, but that human connection is what stays.

Valery Kaufman:

This project is my first step into music, so for me, just being able to be part of something so meaningful already feels like a big achievement. Working on "Ex’s Funeral" and seeing it come to life visually and emotionally was very special. It pushed me into a new space creatively, and that felt important.

What’s your favorite song off your latest project—and why does it stand out to you?

Keeana Kee:

Small Fragile Woman. It’s one of the most personal songs I’ve written. It holds vulnerability and strength in the same space. There’s a quiet power in it. It doesn’t need to be loud to be felt.

Valery Kaufman:

"Ex’s Funeral" stands out to me because it was such a personal experience to be part of it. It’s not just a song, it’s a feeling. A moment of letting go, of stepping into something new. Being part of that story, especially as my debut, made it very meaningful to me.

What’s your message to fans right now—and where can they connect with you?

Keeana Kee:

If you’re here, you’re part of this world I’m building, and that means everything to me. My message is to become who you truly are, not who the world expects you to be. Trust yourself, keep moving forward, and don’t stop until you feel aligned with your own truth.

You can find me everywhere under Keeana Kee. Stream the music, use the sound, and share your stories with me. I see it, and I’m grateful for it. 

Valery Kaufman:

My message is to trust what you feel and not be afraid to follow it. This project is about letting go and moving forward, and I hope people can take that with them in their own way. 

You can find me on my socials as Valery Kaufman. I’m excited to keep exploring and sharing more creative work.