Q&A with Singer/Songwriter Keira Moran of Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Patch recently caught up with Keira Moran, the singer/songwriter and granddaughter of former longtime Congressman Jim Moran. The T.C. Williams High School graduate is pursuing a career in music.

Patch: Where are you now with your music career?

"Right now my focus is raising as much money as possible for the Combat Soldiers Recovery Fund. I am donating all the profits from my new single “Bishops and Kings” so I’m trying to get the word out about that. At the end of the day, I want our soldiers in combat and our veterans to know that while there are some people in the news right now that clearly don’t understand the meaning of sacrifice, a lot of Americans do.

Sacrifice is not when a billionaire gets shamed into donating a million dollars he has already promised to give, it is when your only wealth is your family and your country and the person next to you fighting for the same country. Sacrifice is when you are willing to risk letting go of all that wealth so others can hold onto it. I want our troops to know that when they come home, we will support them fully, and that’s why I’m working with the Combat Soldiers Recovery Fund."

Patch: How did the iTunes event go Friday? Was that a one-day benefit?

"No, all of the profits from “Bishops and Kings” will go to the CSRF for eternity. I was fortunate enough to find some amazing musicians that donated their talents to recording this song, so I have a lot of people to thank. I recorded the song in the studio of seven-time Grammy nominee, Graham Edwards who has become a mentor for me the past couple years. He has worked with artists like Shakira, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Britney, David Bowie, Christina Aguilera, etc. and it is so inspiring to see all those platinum records on the wall when you are recording. I’m really happy with how it came out and I’m glad that I can use my songwriting ability to have a positive influence on our community."

Patch: What was it like singing to the soldiers who are on the mend at the hospital?

"I had a really great time performing at Walter Reed. It was a concert but I got to talk to some soldiers one-on-one afterwards. It was inspiring to see people who have experienced more pain than most of us ever will, just try to come back home and live a normal life. The attitude was very positive. It feels good to go out and do what I like to do, and see that brighten someone else’s day."

Patch: What are your goals with your career?

"I am actually coming out with my second album this winter! It’s been awhile since I released “Wondergirl” and I have come out with a few singles since then, but I’m really excited for people to see what I’ve been working on. I’m more involved with the production this time around. Right now I am trying to narrow it down from about 55 songs which is hard, but there will be songs that make you cry and songs that make you dance and everything in between."

Patch: Will you be performing in Alexandria soon?

"By the time this articles comes out I will be in Miami, but I will be back in Alexandria for New Years Eve to play at First Night! I have had the honor of playing a main stage for the past few years, but this time around is especially exciting. There will be a meeting about it in a couple weeks, but what I can tell you is that we will be filming a music video so everyone in the audience can be involved."

Patch: Do you like writing and singing equally?

"I have been performing for as long as I can remember, and there is nothing like the energy you get from the crowd when playing on stage. But I will also always be writing. I have written songs for other artists and I love that because you can get new inspiration from someone else’s life. I also love when other bands cover my songs because it is their interpretation of what came out of my music. For instance, last year I attended a concert where a few heavy metal bands covered my original songs. It’s fun to see."

Patch: What is the hardest part about starting a music career?

"I would say the hardest part is always maintaining a belief in yourself. Because if you don’t love what you do, nobody else will. That’s why performing live is important because you get instant feedback on your art. When you create something that is honest and true, it will resonate with other people. And that is the power of music."

PHOTO: Keira Moran performed last week at Walter Reed and is donating profits from "Bishops and Kings" to the Combat Soldiers Recovery Fund.