550am: Pandemonium
- outinthe956
- 38 minutes ago
- 8 min read
I believe it was at the end of the benefit show I hosted at Bandera Coffee earlier this year. We were outside with folks who remained. Talking to pwned he mentioned the ideas and excitement of what he had in store for the 1 year anniversary for Chronically Online. Pulling out his phone mid conversation to show me none other than 550am. The headliner for the upcoming 1 year anniversary. I had many questions regarding their works of art through what Pwned had showed me, but now we have answers.
Before we dive in here are a few shout outs "shout out to DJ Miss Parker and Henry R!!!! My DJ family." Along with what 550am has been enjoying as of recently "random yet semi relevant to Texas, I’ve recently re-obsessed with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and their show on Netflix. I love the athleticism and showmanship of it all."
A little background for y'all:
550am (Joshua Keeney) is a multimedia artist and DJ based in Seattle.
Their work intersects subculture, gender, sexuality, idol culture, and performance through old school virtual idol inspired CG and a tribal house soundscape. As a DJ, 550am has ignited pandemonium on dance floors with unrelenting divalicious selections and tributes to the dance floor and selector pioneers who have come before.
550am (Joshua Keeney) is recognized as a winner in YoungArt's Visual Arts discipline in 2018. Their artwork has been presented in venues such as the Tate Modern museum in London and Art Basel in Miami. Joshua's professional work includes collaborations with notable clients like I.AM.GIA and FX/Hulu (with Project C). As an Official Lens Creator with Snapchat, Joshua has also collaborated with renowned artists from Republic Records, including Nicki Minaj and Post Malone.
Now, how would you describe yourself as an artist? The mixes/soundscape environment created as a DJ and let's not forget the blender(correct me if I'm wrong)/Unreal Engine as mentioned/animating, motion capture, but there's just so much involved into carrying so many forms of expressions with your art, what does all these forms of expression evoke out of you as they explain by saying "my position as an artist is what I call being a Visual Effects Chanteuse. I have been a 3D artist for 11 years and have worked on and off professionally as one in that time. Fortunately I’ve been allowed to develop my own visual identity and use that to book work that is entirely of my own style and direction.
To me though, all of this work between being a performer, visual artist, and DJ, is more similar than it is dissimilar. I frame all my creative endeavors as being part of a single artistic body and output." Hmmm "similar than it is dissimilar" I'm thinking it's through the ways it weaves and the way these artistic art forms mesh into your style and direction. That's the thing, it's your indistinguishable self.
I was looking through your Instagram account and was astounded by the experimentation of your art to where it is now. From your early pieces created and then I see a shift into certain gaps of time leading into the reveal of the first titled pieces "Proto-Neptune." I'm curious to know what led to this? This characterization of this diva that has grown indefinitely into what she now as they share by saying "the character and mascot of my work Neptune is an idea I’ve had since my beginnings as a visual artist working in 3D. She is an alter ego of mine, a character formed from my most diva and fierce qualities turned all the way up. Though her current form did not really exist until 2020, she’s always been a character in my mind." I recall myself looking through the Instagram all the way to the end. Seeing earlier pieces of work and seeing "Proto-Neptune." I may have seen a glimpse of only what was being conjured up, although it's always a treat to see how one idea can grow. Especially through care and intention.
What does "Neptune" embody for you? In what ways would you this may have tuned your creative expression with Neptune? (I ask this while I'm listening to "I'll teach you to how to queen out: Vol. 2) "Neptune is a self created muse that allows me to express the intangible and the familiar. She is deliberately uncanny as much of my work is about the in between. Concepts of gender and sexuality and nostalgia through high fidelity CG that is deliberately uncanny and something you can almost feel but has that slimy imperceptible quality."
Now, listening and watching "I'll Teach You To Queen Out" I wondering when you started creating mixes? Was it before or after 2017? What about mixing/DJing caught your interest/attention and then involving it with Neptune? Sickening! As 550am shares by saying "I started DJing in 2021. Rather recent! DJing and creating mixes appeals to the classically trained musician in me (I played flute for 7 years.) I love melodic dance music and I love sequencing and crafting the progression of a set and having the momentum feel well crafted." Woah, that is pretty recent, but even with "time" there's an idea of what you like especially backed with the creative endeavors into reality.
They continue by stating "as for incorporating Neptune into my mixes, I had the idea of doing a performance capture piece as the visual for one of my mixes in 2022. For the first couple of those visual mixes I actually recorded the mix and recorded the motion capture performance at the same time. It was more or less a test run for exploring the timing and feeling of performing behind the DJ booth while still having a well mixed set. Except all dressed up in glossy 3D visuals. So it became a simultaneous way to develop my taste and ears as a DJ, and my craftsmanship as a 3D artist." I'm trying to imagine this (even though it's just as stated) because DJing and then also capturing. Especially for being some of the first renditions/runs of this? I have this whole image in my head and it's looks so...sick (especially listening to the Spring 2026 Home Mix while imagining this).
To those who haven't listened to your mixes YET! How would you describe your sound as 550am exclaims "my sound is 'Fierce Tribal House Nostalgic Electro Buzzy Gay Guy Poppy Techno Industrial Circuit'" Here's a taste for y'all!
Also, how did you decide on the name 550am? "Funny story. The original time for that name was going to be my birth time. 3:40am. But that was taken! So it was like 5ish in the morning when I had this idea in 2014. I also tried 5:30am and that was taken!! But 5:50am.. that was available. So that’s who I became. I loved how it rolled off the tongue. Always said as Five-Fifty-AM." That is pretty funny actually. I was pronouncing other times as I was thinking. Five-Forty-AM...Five-Thirty-Five-AM, but there's just something about 550am, Five-Fifty-AM that has this FLARE rolling right off the tongue.
They continue by saying "as for the narrative for the name that came to me a little later of what the name would mean. It’s a way to describe the solemn and quiet time in the morning before the pandemonium of the day begins. The end of the 'Blue Hour' before dawn begins proper. (Depending on the season, of course.) This idea connects to the concept I try to express in my work of the in-between and the imperceptible and intangible. A transitional and transient moment." The end of the blue hour, that's beautiful. I was thinking right now. After a set just ending at 2am or maybe even 5am. I wonder if 550am has ever finished an event and has been greeted by the blue hour walking out. The city skyline, the shade of blue overhead. Aside from this thought. During the 22min mark of the Spring 2026 Home Mix there's just warp like sound and what feels like a gust of heavy wind that does not push me, but rather spins me, twirls me at a speed unlike no other as lights spin all around me. What a feeling to experience within my own bedroom.
From your SoundCloud what mix would you recommend to those checking out first? A little appetizer before the show on August 21st and why?
"I would recommend my Bossa Nova Civic Club (21 September 2025) mix for first time 550am listeners. This mix was recorded live during my debut weekend (I did two live gigs in New York in 2025 to debut myself as a DJ in the flesh). It gives people a taste for how I think about references and progression and how I incorporate sounds and textures that feel unexpected together but ultimately combine beautifully. There’s a bit of circuit gay guy music and some classic house references, and some industrial with Nine Inch Nails and the Kevin Aviance cover of Join In The Chant."
What could the folks of McAllen, TX expect from your set August 21st? What will you be evoking out of the dance floor? What will we be experiencing that night from 550am? "Expect me to bring it. I’ve heard that the McAllen girls love to go hard so I’m gonna bring it as fierce and as divalicious as I can. Pandemonium." The experiences are unlike any other. Never the same, never repeated. These are one night only, once a month. We come to release, to feel, to lose ourselves and absolute entrance ourselves with what's on the dance floor especially with those around us. Let's not forget, our outfits for the night <3
How do you wish to continue experimenting and pushing with your creative outlets? There's so much involved for example 550am December Moment 2023 or I'll Teach You Yo Queen Out for example! So much consideration that every video itself/mix is pushing a boundary! They explain by saying "Ideally I’d love to get back to creating video mixes. They’re an extremely expensive and time consuming endeavor however so it’s just been unrealistic at my current stage to give them the required dedication. But my heart will always be in 3D and filmmaking around music and being able to perform in the way I do. To me coming up with ideas and concepts is easy but I am as logistically concerned as I am creative and I always approach the labor of my work in a pragmatic way. So all I can say is stay tuned and keep watching me grow and evolve." As someone who just learned about you a couple of months ago and now being able to learn more through this interview. I look forward to see your creative endeavors flourish and grow. Reading and going through the list of assets, production, plug ins, unreal and so much more through the description of just one video, but I can only imagine how consuming they can be. These aren't just mere minutes of videos, but almost an hour. I was able to experience this. So, thank you. It's been such a treat as someone who enjoys various forms of filmmaking.
What do you enjoy the most out what you're creating?
"What I enjoy the most out of creating my work is that not only does it give me an outlet to express the wordless concepts and feelings in my mind, but it also helps give others a means of expressing these feelings by seeing themselves in my work. And in the end that makes me feel seen as well and gives me a purpose." I loved reading the comments on YouTube such as "only the queens were recommended this video" or "Girl i got this on my recommended at 5:55 AM.. it's a sign i have ascended beyond Queenhood" or the comments on the animation especially on how synchronized everything is. My favorite was reading "im getting serious ff7 cgi cutscene vibes here. Anyone else feel like shes dancing in Midgar right now?" There's a lot to be had and said from even just one piece of work, but even with a catalogue. 550am captures and resonates to those watching and listening.
What has been the initial feedback from everything? Is there something that has been shared with you that has stuck out the most? "The feedback I’ve heard that sticks out the most to me is from people who were actually out clubbing from 1995-2005. Hearing that my mixes, my artwork, and my fashion and makeup feels authentic to the period is really fulfilling. Much in the same way I make people feel seen in my work, I also make people feel lustful for a time in their life in a way that feels authentic and tasteful. That means a lot to me."
Any final comments you'd like to add? "I’m really excited to visit and play for the queens in McAllen! This is actually my first time visiting Texas proper and I’m looking forward to seeing what it gives"
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