# R&B Up-And-Comer of the Month Mack Keane Has Long Been Instrumental Behind the Boards — Now He’s Taking the Solo Spotlight With ‘Wide Eyed’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/rb-up-and-comer-of-the-month-mack-keane-has-long-been-instrumental-behind-the-boards-now-hes-taking-the-solo-spotlight-with-wide-eyed/
- Published: 2026-07-22T18:29:55+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-22T19:14:20+00:00
- Original publisher: Billboard
- Original article: https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/rb-up-and-comer-of-the-month-july-2026-mack-keane-interview-1236300888/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Mack Keane named Billboard's R&B Up-And-Comer for July 2026.
- Long-time collaborator now releasing solo album Wide Eyed.
- Currently touring the US in support of the record.

## Summary

Mack Keane, Billboard's R&B Up-And-Comer of the Month for July 2026, has spent years working behind the scenes as a songwriter, producer and instrumentalist for artists including Destin Conrad, Omar Apollo and Joyce Wrice. He is now stepping forward as a solo artist with his album Wide Eyed, which he regards as his true debut, marking a shift from the more collaborative, background-focused work that shaped the earlier part of his career.

Born Mackenzie Paul Keane in Los Angeles, the 29-year-old comes from a musical family, including grandfather Bob Keane, founder of Del-Fi Records. After early EPs and 2022's Intersections with producer ESTA., and 2025's more personal mixtape Entries, he released Wide Eyed on 8 May via Rob Walker's relaunched Star Trak Entertainment, once home to N.E.R.D., Clipse and Kelis. The record blends blue-eyed soul with funk and hip-hop influences, and Keane is currently promoting it on his Wide Eyed Tour across the US, having previously supported Destin Conrad's Love on Digital Tour.

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