Collin Keller’s music occupies that rare space where sunny surf-pop melodies collide with biting social commentary. His latest single, “Weed in the Garden,” is both an aural escape and a call to action—a song about resilience, resistance, and finding beauty amid chaos. In this exclusive interview with Urbanista Magazine, Keller opens up about crafting the track entirely on his own, collaborating with bassist Jenny Giammanco, and experimenting with alternate versions for listeners to experience the song in multiple ways. From cocktail inspirations to visual metaphors, Keller invites us into the mind behind a track that’s as reflective as it is infectious.
Surf pop with politics — that’s a bold combo. If “Weed in the Garden” were a cocktail, what would be in it?
Amazing question. Oof that tough. I could see Weed In The Garden as a Mezcal Negroni. Something smooth with a bite to it. Smokey, earthy. Definitely going to try this next time I am out.
You recorded, mixed, and mastered this track yourself. How does being in full creative control shape the end result?
It’s definitely a double edged sword. On one end it’s a great freedom to be able to nit pick and make things sound precisely how I want it. It’s a fun challenge too as I am very new to mixing and mastering. I’ve learned a lot, but because I am new, I always let my ears lead the way. And on the other end, with my chronic case of perfectionism, there is always something I can tweak, and you have to hold yourself extremely accountable to cut off when the song is ready for release, as it never will truly be ‘done’. I can’t tell you how many times I told my friends and colleagues that the song was finished only for me to open the session again sometimes hours later to tweak ‘one last thing.’
Can you tell us about working with Jenny Giammanco on bass and what she brought to the track?
I had the absolute pleasure of touring with Jenny all winter and spring of this year. I was lucky to be able to pull her onto the track to lay down some bass to create another lovely flavor. One of my favorite memories from the whole tour was the two of us in the back lounge of the bus at 2am on our way to the next city, everyone else asleep, setting up Christmas lights and candles for the vibe and working on the track together in the dead of night. You just can’t get that vibe anywhere else.
Were there moments in the writing or recording process when the song took an unexpected turn?
I was pretty set on releasing the track solely as an instrumental. But when I started writing melody and lyrics to it, I was surprised how much I needed both versions. Happy production accidents happen all the time too. For instance, I dragged the vocal doubles to the second chorus and accidentally placed them 1 bar off, pressed play, and was presented with a fun call and response portion to the chorus that I ended up implementing.
Why did you decide to release alternate versions weekly, and how do you want fans to experience them?
As I mentioned, the song first started as an instrumental. A groove. A feeling. I was considering releasing it simply as an instrumental. It wasn’t until I started humming and writing to it on my last tour, where I realized it can also become a full song. 95% of the song was written, produced, recorded, and mixed while on the road. Usually in the back of a bus or in a dressing room. A lot of arranging and changes are made between versions allowing people to listen to the composition how they wish to hear it. And to be honest, It’s also a bit of an experiment. Because I like them all so differently, I am curious which version resonates most with listeners.
Which three songs would you put on a playlist with “Weed in the Garden” to set the perfect vibe?
I have a whole playlist I curated of songs that match the vibe. “Sun Tired” on Spotify. Each song was carefully selected to recreate the feeling of being blissfully exhausted after a day of just laying in the sun and being outside. Where you didn’t necessarily do anything to wear you out, but just sitting in that tired feeling at peace. Warm like a blanket or a soft summer afternoon. Some of my favorites on there are SYML’s Believer, Kacey Musgraves The Architect, and Midnight in Harlem by Tedeschi Trucks Band.
If “Weed in the Garden” were a visual scene or movie moment, what would it look like?
I think it would visually reflect the contrast of the song itself. I picture the resilience of people coming together to fight for the greater good, for each other, and for love and peace; staying strong and not backing down against a backdrop of dark, authoritarianism. I see a small delicate flower breaking through the harsh concrete, cracking it right open as it continues to grow.
What do you hope listeners take away from this track?
“Weed in the Garden” is a modern protest anthem confronting corruption and greed through the metaphor of an invasive weed. It’s a song about resilience: rooting down deeper, refusing to fade, and holding onto hope even in dark times. I hope that it resonates with people who feel similarly or lost in these dark times. Weed In The Garden is not just about calling out the issues, but also a call to action to band together and stand our ground to not let the darkness fade what it means to be human.
“Weed in the Garden” is such a powerful metaphor. What first sparked the idea for the track, and how did that imagery take root in the writing process?
The metaphor kind of spoke for itself once I started writing lyrics about the baltent corruption here in the United States. I take a lot of joy in gardening, and I constantly pull weeds that somehow just keep coming back, but I never let them overshadow and take over the overall beauty of the diversity of the garden. It’s a choice to let the weeds overgrow, and I think we have to stay strong and dig deeper into our own roots, socially and metaphorically, to prevent the takeover.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
I love performing so I am sure I’d still be in the arts, acting, dancing, something of that nature. But if I had to fully pull away from the arts, I am so genuinely curious about our universe. I would love to explore, discover, and learn more as an astronomer or in the field of space science. On a more simple side, and something I hope to do at some point in life, I would love to spend a quiet life as a beekeeper.
Do you have a favorite venue you’ve played, or one that’s still on your bucket list?
With the tours and productions I have been a part of, I have been lucky to perform at some legendary venues and theaters. Some gorgeous, timeless, venues that truly were built as a piece of art. I also will never forget playing Osheaga, Montreal’s major music festival. Growing up in Colorado, summer was defined by outdoor concerts. I can die happy once I play the legendary Red Rocks.
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