Brian Mackey displays new hope for the world during trying times in his new single "Keep the World Alive," written to highlight how life has changed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The single is the first release in advance of his new album expected soon, and it can be heard HERE.
It was a rainy morning during the last week in March. Jersey Shore singer-songwriter, Brian Mackey, woke up frantically at 3am with a simple question and a melody ringing in his head: “Remember my dear, when Corona was just a beer?”
After days of receiving concerning messages and texts from his bandmates in Italy, and friends around the globe, he was beginning to fear that this virus wasn’t just a faint threat. It was hitting tragically closest to those who were an extension of his own family - those whom he’d spent years with touring, writing, recording. Even closer to home, another bandmate in NYC was battling COVID-19. Messages poured into his inbox about things that we only saw in apocolypitc-like movies. In his mind, he realized that never before in our recent history has the world universally been in such danger of dying. And from this, came the lyrics of “Keep The World Alive”.
Exactly one year ago, Mackey came off a UK/EU tour and was in Rome working on a recording project. In a sunny and idyllic setting, cafes were bustling, streets were humming with Vespas, he spent time with his bandmates and their families for Easter - all was well on that side of the world. Fast forward one year, and the world was shuttered up in their homes, empty streets in the busiest of cities, and a tremendous loss of life.
As he saw things falling apart from the Pandemic, he realized his own personal setbacks paled in comparison to the real threats and lossed in the world as a whole. A month prior to this, Brian had just left Nashville, TN less than 24 hours before the tragic tornado on March 4th. He had just started to record his full length album with his longtime friend, Jeff King, and also signed a contract on a home - only to discover the area was ravaged, his plans to move to Music City ended, and his recording project was put on hold. All of these things were demagnified and larger pictures came into focus.
In an effort to contribute some kind of inspiration to those affected around the world, he made a pledge to his fans, friends, and neighbors that he will hold free Instagram and Facebook livestreams every Friday until the quarantine was lifted. In doing, this set the creative gears into motion. In lieu of him receiving money, he encouraged all the watchers to donate something, whether their time, money, checking in on the elderly - whatever they could do during this time to pull out of this.
From an impromptu Instagram Live video, a news station in Bakersfield, CA, picked it up and ran it on their weekend news cycle broadcasts, and publications like the Boston Herald mentioned it in their entertainment section. This prompted him to call Jeff and get it recorded.
With Brian in New Jersey and very limited on recording equipment, ideas for the song were sent down to Jeff King in Alabama (Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn) who with his wife, Tammy King (Steeldrivers) - send his song down remotely. Ideas passed feverishly throughout the weekend and by Monday “Keep the World Alive” came to life.
Jeff King's beautiful acoustic guitar composition and Tammy King’s eerie but hopeful violin paired luxuriously with Mackey's hopeful and engaging vocals. You’d swear they were in the same room.
Watch the brand new video for "Keep the World Alive" HERE.