There are songs that grab you right in the chest and the new single by Eric Moeller and the All-In Band, Keep On is precisely that type of song. It is not just another song about survival in hard moments. It is a rallying cry to all those who have every felt lost, a musical rope tossed to those who are struggling to remain true to themselves when everything in the world continues to push them back.
Eric composed Keep On in one of these moments that truly change your life, you know- when you feel that everything is unclear and you do not know where to go. However, rather than allowing such uncertainty to destroy him, he used it to create something amazing. It is a track that pulls at the heartstrings, but decks it out in an Americana style with just a touch of punk to get you to take notice.
Just imagine the long road trips in the South, the nights of looking up at the infinite number of stars, and all the moments of silence when life suddenly becomes clear. There was the origin of the song “Keep on”–real life, real feelings, and the will of Eric to live his life to the fullest. And this is what is most amazing: Eric was playing all the instruments and even mixed everything himself. That is what you call going to the end of the earth and working with your heart and soul.
It is like the song was written personally to you, whether youre at a cross roads or simply trying your best to get through another day, Keep On is a song that makes you feel like you belong. The song does not merely advise you to stay on board but it picks you up by the shoulders and says that you are the one with what it takes.
We sat down with Eric to get the whole story behind this strong song, go into his creative process and tell us what is next with the All-In Band. Believe us, you will be glad to hear what he has.
Listen to Keep On
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“Keep On” is an evocative title—what does this song mean to you and the band? As we navigate life there are a lot of different voices trying to compel us in different directions. Those voices may be cultural, commercial, political, familial, or beyond. Keep On is an encouragement to keep to the path that really makes you come alive. Doing so may be risky, seem insane to others, or maybe countercultural in some sense, but doing so can make all the difference to your well-being and how you impact the world around you. Keep On being true to yourself, your values, and your deepest dreams and you’ll be better for it, I believe.
What inspired you to write “Keep On”? Was it a personal story, a broader message, or something in between?
I wrote it at a time when I was really trying to work up the courage to make a change in my own life. I felt like my wife and I had mostly followed the supposed path to success and, for my part, I was not doing well. The job I was in at the time was really taking a toll on me physically and mentally. That, in turn, had a negative effect on my family life. At the same time, I saw an opportunity to take a leap of faith and really pursue a dream; part of what I consider to be my life’s deepest calling. Everything in my spirit was telling me it was the right thing to do and all would be well. It took some time to blaze the trail and make the change, but I eventually did and keeping on that path was the best choice I could’ve made. It doesn’t mean things are always easy in every way but I, and my family, are much better for it.
Can you walk us through the songwriting process—was it a collaborative effort among the band members?
No, it was not collaborative. It was also one of those songs that took a while to fully appear. The main guitar part was the first thing I found my way into as I just picked around in my basement one evening. I lived with that for a while. Then it came time for my family to take a pretty big road trip through Tennessee and Alabama, which included stays in Pigeon Forge, TN, and Muscle Shoals, AL.
Spending all that time driving through rural, southern landscapes really gave me the framework for the song, which is about a journey that takes a turn in such a place. Soaking in the spirit of the Shoals made the brief time I was there generative as well, both for Keep On and another song that came to me there called Heaven (which was released at the same time as Keep On). The trip concluded with time at a place in rural Illinois, that was set in open fields where the stars really popped at night. I stood under that night sky and that’s when a couple of lines from the second verse came, as well as the outro. Ultimately, the landscape and nature really informed the writing process and the images I used.
I also leaned on some Biblical imagery that has meant a lot to me over the years at times when I was gearing up to take risks in pursuit of my purpose. I am an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ (arguably the most progressive Christian denomination in the US) so my faith does show up in my writing, though not in a traditional sense most of the time. In this case, I was invoking images Jesus uses to reassure his disciples that they would have all they needed as he sent them out to embody the Kingdom of God, taking nothing with them.
He tells them to look at the birds; how they have all they need and never worry or want for anything. He tells them to look at the lilies; how beautiful they are without worrying or wanting for it. The message of the birds and lilies, Jesus says, is that God cares for us as well, and will see to our needs, so there is nothing to worry about. Just follow your calling to embody God’s Kingdom and all will be well. I included birds and lilies, and an encouraging message from other parts of creation like streams and open fields, as an echo of those biblical messages of reassurance at this moment in my life of seeking reassurance and courage for myself, and sharing reassurance and courage with others trying to find their own way through their own wilderness.
The phrase ‘keep on’ suggests resilience. What kind of message were you hoping to send with this release?
I really want to encourage people to be true to themselves, their paths, and the calling of their own spirits. Howard Thurman wrote, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go and do that because world the world needs is people who are fully alive.” I want to encourage people to find what makes them flourish and pursue that. When people do what makes them flourish, it tends to nurture flourishing in others and the life of the world. It can be really scary, though, to take such leaps of faith. I hope ‘Keep On’ is a phrase that helps people push through the fears and challenges they will inevitably experience on their way.
How would you describe the musical vibe of “Keep On”? Are there any new influences that shaped this track?
‘Keep On’ is, without a doubt, one of the most Americana songs I’ve written and released, but there’s still punk influences that show up as well. Jason Isbell, Frank Turner, and Dave Hause all come to mind as people that influenced the sound. Adding the distorted guitar in a punk rhythm was also a way of weaving my punk roots into it, as that is a big part of my own journey. Tom Petty’s Wildflowers also gave me a sound to strive for.
Eric, what does the phrase “All-In Band” mean to you—and how does that philosophy show up in your music?
In 2016, I started a non-profit called the All-In Music Project to intentionally use music as an instrument for social transformation. The band is an outgrowth of that non-profit. The phrase, though, is layered with meaning for me. I named the organization and the band ‘All-In’ because we are trying to do our small part in the larger movement of making a better world that embraces everybody and tends to the needs of everybody and the earth herself.
Musically that shows up in songs that are more socially conscious, like Freedom, which articulates the Latin American experience that drives migration to the US and advocates for welcoming immigrants. ‘All-In’ is also about me, as these projects encapsulate all of me and I give it all I can. I’ve even started an All-In United Church of Christ (UCC) congregation to be a queer-affirming, progressive presence in my rural area of Missouri, but also has a virtual gathering every month so people who need that kind of community can join us no matter where they live. I’m doing all I can to do my part to build something better and more life-affirming than what we have presently.
How do you typically divide creative roles within the band? Does everyone contribute to songwriting, arranging, or production decisions?
So ‘Keep On’ and ‘Heaven’ are both unique in that I did everything on these tracks. Every voice, every instrument, every note is written and performed by me. I also recorded and mixed it myself. Typically, though, I write the basics of the chords, lyrics, and arrangement, then the other guys are free to create their parts for their instruments, and backing vocals, etc.
What’s been the early response to “Keep On”? Any reactions from fans that surprised or moved you?
I’ve felt very affirmed by the responses I’ve gotten to the song so far. When I first started playing it live, there was an acknowledgement that my writing was reaching a new gear. Listeners to the recording have also expressed that. There are a lot of elements that are a bit different than what’s come before, and people have enjoyed that. I think the message has also resonated with people.
How do you balance storytelling through both your music and visuals as a band?
I really wanted the visual to build off of the story of the song. The song has so much natural imagery, so I wanted to bring that to life and use a visual that would allow creation to share that hopeful message herself. The visual for Heaven, though, was a bit more personal. It came from the night in Muscle Shoals that I began writing it; a night that really felt like heaven on earth with my family. There, too, the visual is to extend or deepen the story of the song.
Is “Keep On” part of a larger project, like an album or EP, coming soon?
Right now Keep On is just part of two-track single which includes the ‘full band’ arrangement of the song and a Campfire Edition that is just guitar and vocal. I don’t have concrete plans for anything else, though it would be enjoyable to take the band to a traditional studio and see what comes of it.
What’s next for Eric Moeller and the All-In Band—tour plans, future singles, or creative experiments?
At the moment I am mostly playing solo in the St. Louis area and continuing to develop all things All-In, including All-In UCC, and plan to create more online content, sharing demos, more home recordings, and pieces on spirituality and Rock ‘n’ Roll. There may be a visit to the East Coast in the fall, which will be my first time back in that part of the country in a long time, but nothing is concrete at this point.
