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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’
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.
In short
- 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.
Explained simply
Mack Keane is a 29-year-old Los Angeles-based musician whose family has a long history in the music business; his grandfather founded Del-Fi Records. He has spent the past several years working as a songwriter, producer and instrumentalist for other artists, including Destin Conrad, Omar Apollo and Joyce Wrice. His work has shaped the sound of numerous emerging musicians' records.
Keane released his new album Wide Eyed in May 2026 on Star Trak Entertainment, the label that previously signed artists such as N.E.R.D. and Clipse. Though Keane has released music previously, he regards Wide Eyed as his true debut, marking a significant point in his career arc. The album represents his most personal and forward-facing work to date, blending influences from soul, funk and hip-hop.
He is currently touring the United States to support the album release. This period reflects a transition in Keane's career, moving from the collaborative and behind-the-scenes work that characterised his earlier years to a more prominent artist role.