Early in the fall of 2008, I was searching for new artists on Myspace and came across Keaton Simons. If I may say so myself, he is one of the most talented artists that needs some serious radio play.

His album, Can You Hear Me? is one of my favorite albums of the year, so make sure you buy it on iTunes today because you will not be disappointed. I really wanted to get to know more about Keaton, and luckily, I got the chance to talk with him. Here’s what we discussed.

What was the hardest song to write for the album, if any?
Well, none of them were particularly hard to write. Not that they were easy but they were not hard…I don’t know really, that is a tough call.

Anything you were debating on sharing?
Well, the song, “Good Things Get Better” was a late addition to the album. It took us awhile to get “Nobody Knows” right. The songs were all very natural though, which is what I really wanted. I wanted it to be very natural and organic…pure, nothing forced.

I am so glad that you kept the song, Good Things Get Better because that is my favorite song on the album.
Thanks. I am really glad that it made it on the record.

So tell me, at what point were you in your life when you really realized that good things do get better?
(laughs) You know that is something that I think about all of the time. It is a difficult perspective to maintain but it is worthwhile. I do not know exactly when I realized that good things get better, but it has been a long time. I figured that out when I was pretty young.

What would you say you wish you would have known about the music industry before you came into it?
I wish that I had known how long things take. (laughs) That would have been good to know. Then I would not have gotten so impatient at the time.

Many people do not understand that having family connections in the entertainment (TV & Film) business can actually be a burden, so explain how your family connections both helped and hurt you.
If people think that you have got everything that you need, then they are less inquiring to give you anything. If my close family were influential in the music industry, than that would be a major difference for me but it still helps.

Did you intend to finish high school at 16 years old or did it just play out that way?
No, I intended to. I got sick and tired of high school so I left and started a home schooling program, so I was able to accelerate.

Did you keep a journal in high school or did you only write songs?
You know, I actually did not even start writing songs until I was in college. I played a lot in high school though.

Do you like to write by yourself or co-write?
I really like both. I have written some really cool songs alone and I have written some really cool songs with people. I tend to write more personal songs when I am writing alone. I wrote a very emotionally connected song with Jason Mraz recently and that was a really cool collaboration.

So how do you co-write with people?
There has to be mutual respect and open mindedness with people. If I am writing a song for e certain person then I really want to find out all I can about them so I always make sure that we get in deep. I really enjoy creating something that does not come from one person individually the way that it does with more than one person.

Do you find that certain genres of music are more inspiring than others?
Certain things appeal to certain people. I happen to be very inspired by The Beatles, Jimmie Hendrix, Bob Mitchell, etc… I am also really inspired by Cuban music, Indonesian music, and West African music, but it can come from anywhere.

I love The Beatles. Do you have a song that has greatly impacted your life?
That is so hard! I don’t know. Hmm… If I were to choose an album, I would probably choose Abbey Road but even choosing an album is really hard.

Having studied ethnomusicology in college, what classes were the most challenging and/or interesting to take?
I loved it all, looking at other aspects of culture was very fascinating and challenging – since I didn‘t know a lot about dance and art, etc… but everything was really interesting. I am really open minded about music and I just love listening to music from all over the world.

I love the song, Nobody Knows. Do you still keep in contact with the people you wrote that song about?
I am in contact with everyone involved. (laughs). It has been a long time, so… I have maintained a positive attitude in those relationships.

Tell me about your favorite part of putting the album together.
Being in the studio everyday was such a thrill for me. Watching the songs come together, and exercising my attempt to connect emotionally and bring myself across through recording was such an exciting challenge.

Are there any songs that you loved, but did not make the cut on the album, and you would love to release someday?
There is a song called, Masterpiece that I really like and plan on releasing at some point. I wrote it with my friend, Josh Kelley.

As far as touring, what has been your favorite city to tour?
I love Chicago, Nashville, and NY but really, I love it all.