KECKE: The Art Of Fusing Alternative Rock & Electronic Music

Recruiters said he belonged in music school. His parents sent him somewhere else. Rares Movileanu taught himself anyway, and today, as Kecke, he puts metal-born guitar riffs on top of 808s, synths and vocal chops.

SELF-TAUGHT

Rares studies economics, a field that has always interested him. But his real passion has been music since he was a little kid. When he was about to start school, his parents and some recruiters noticed he was inclined towards music and suggested a music school. His parents hesitated and chose a theoretical school instead. It didn't stop him.

The first instrument was the piano. He took a few lessons, then decided after a few months to learn alone, at his own pace. By learning his favourite songs he picked up the music theory that still shapes how he composes today.

Phoenix, Metallica and Old-School Rap

Growing up in Romania, he heard a bit of everything: pop, rock, metal, even reggae. At home it was old Romanian and Western songs, from Phoenix to ABBA, Boney M and The Beatles. Then came old-school rap, local and international, which made him want to recreate those beats and learn a DAW. Later he rekindled his love for rock and metal, and that pushed him to master the guitar.

A Goat, Minus the "cs"

The name started in a game chat. A Hungarian school friend wrote "kecske", which means goat. Rares changed his gamertag to "Kecke", dropping the "cs" sound Romanians don't have, and it became his nickname. When he started posting music, using his surname felt weird. Kecke stuck.

The cherry blossom in his logo is more personal. He got it as a tattoo after coming through a very rough time in his life. For him it stands for a new beginning and living in the present.

Where the Riff Comes First

The hybrid sound grew naturally. People told him he could sing, he'd learned several instruments and a DAW, so he started blending as much as he could. Most tracks begin with a guitar riff, or a sample he can build one on. Real instrument or plugin? He doesn't think it matters: use whatever gives you freedom, flexibility and enjoyment.

The hard part is the riff itself. Too heavy and it won't blend; too simple and the track falls flat. Then there's the amp tone, easy to find for rock or metal but much harder over synths, vocal chops and 808s.

The Track That Defines Him

His pick is "The way you make me feel". When he started it, everything clicked, and it carries a personal meaning. It may not be technically perfect, he says, but it makes him proud and defines at least part of who he is. Electric guitar riffs, synths, vocal chops and 808s all meet in it, with a guitar solo from his friend Danci and a vocal sample from Sillage.

Most of his tracks land around two minutes, partly on purpose. One of his flaws, he admits, is making songs too full, so he limits himself. When a track reaches two minutes and he's out of ideas and satisfied, he leaves it.

Untold Creators

We met Rares at Untold Creators, and he calls it an amazing experience. He met big names from the Romanian music industry and made friends he talks to almost daily. He was the only one focused on alternative rock and metal, which didn't stop him from connecting with local and international talent.

Offline, he's private. He's not the influencer type and would love to let the music speak, but he knows it's not enough, so he plans to promote more, even if he's bad at it. This interview, he says, is a good start.

What's Next

An album in the style of "The way you make me feel", with lyrics and new songs that don't all sound the same. After that, the sky's the limit: collaborations with artists and labels, and becoming either a producer someone keeps on speed dial or an artist people love. His advice to young producers is simple. Be patient, record every riff and progression, and take a break when the mix isn't working.

"Not every riff will fit your song, but it might fit the next one."

@movileanurares · Spotify · Apple Music · Photos: @bozesandavid