She’s the Antagonist is Keith Tubbs from Texarkana who has showed potential to actually go somewhere in the music world. She’s the Anatagonist’s music has inspired people to think about the way they’re living and has given him a platform to spread his beliefs and voice to everyone. With catchy melodies, thoughtful lyrics, an out-of-this-world intense voice, and the strumming of his guitar, Tubbs sends the Texarkana music scene in a new direction. I sat down with Tubbs for an exclusive interview about his music, writing and purpose behind what he does.
Dylan Pitman: How did you start She’s the Antagonist and when?
Keith Tubbs: I don’t know how I started. I was 16 and I played music by myself all the time and decided to actually do something with it.
DP: Who were your main influences when you started writing?
KT: Connor Oberst [from Bright Eyes.] It’s changed a lot since then. I listen to a lot of mewithoutYou now. It’s not as much like music inspirations that influence my writing. I read a lot of books. Shane Clayborn is someone that I read a lot and Rob Bell. Literature is more influential on my writing I guess.
DP: What is the origin of the name? Who is the antagonist?
KT: When I started it, it was more just about relationships, so the name was just about a girl. It wasn’t about a specific girl, it was just about girls. The meaning’s changed now. I can’t really change the name. Cause it’s the name, you know? I’ve wanted to change the name so bad and I almost did it too. But it’s stuck with me now.
DP: How has your music evolved since you first began?
KT: When I started, it was more indie. It’s a lot more folk now and the writing’s a lot different. It’s a lot more about God. It’s a lot more about what I believe in and a lot less about girls and relationships and stuff like that.
DP: What’s your favorite song that you’ve recorded so far?
KT: Out of everything I’ve recorded, it’s probably “An Apple a Day.” The melody’s catchy and it’s fun to sing. There’s a lot about what I believe in [in that song] and it gets really emotional in the end. It’s really intense and I like that about it.
DP: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?
KT: They can go to iTunes. I think there’s a lot of my songs streaming on Myspace right now as well.
DP: What advice do you have for people who want to form their own bands?
KT: I think you need to have people who are really dedicated to it first of all, because if you don’t, then it’s just gonna fall apart. You have believe in what you’re saying cause that’s really important.
DP: What’s the ultimate direction of STA?
KT: I don’t really have a destination really. It’s just more about singing songs, letting people hear it and letting them take for it what they want.
DP: What has been your biggest challenge?
KT: It’s probably been having to do it alone. When it’s just you, it’s really hard to book shows cause not a lot of people want to book just solo acts so that’s really hard.
DP: What has been your greatest triumph?
KT: I got a message from a guy the other day in Little Rock. He said that my music led him to Christ. He said that it was really cool to see someone that was a Christian and was so real about about and wasn’t fake. That’s one of things that keeps a musician going. It’s really awesome.
DP: Could you briefly describe your music-making process?
KT: It’s always different. Sometimes I just come up with lyrics and then I write them all down and then put them with music, and sometimes I just start off with music and then words come. Sometimes it’s just a melody and I just put lyrics to the melody.
DP: What is the reason you play music?
KT: I guess it’s to reach people. I like to make people think about the reason they’re living I guess.
DP: Do you plan to do this for the rest of your life?
KT: I plan on playing music for the rest of my life. I don’t know about She’s the Antagonist forever but we’ll see how things works out.
Click the link below to check out one of She’s the Antagonist’s songs
