From the seaside town of Totnes, UK, comes a voice seasoned not only by years of musicianship, but by life itself. Keith Woodhouse has long walked the line between poetic introspection and raw honesty—qualities that deeply inform his new album The Planet Who, released April 25, 2025. Having spent over two decades as a psychiatric patient, Keith wrote hundreds of poems, a novel, and now returns with his tenth album—his most lyrically distilled and emotionally vivid yet.
In this exclusive interview, Keith opens up about his creative process, the collaborators who helped shape his vision, and the personal experiences that birthed this compelling new work.
1. Let’s start with the album title—The Planet Who is both enigmatic and poetic. What does it signify for you personally and artistically?
It was a diversion both musically and lyrically from the other nine albums I have recorded to date.
2. You’ve mentioned that many of the songs were written while working in a psychiatric setting. Can you tell us how that environment influenced your songwriting and lyrical themes?
I was not a member of staff in psychiatric—I was a patient for 23 years. I managed to write a whole novel and over four hundred poems. My poetry is available on Amazon under Keith Woodhouse Selected Works.
3. Collaboration seems to have played a big part in the creative process. Who were the five professionals you worked with, and how did they shape or support the music?
Clint Holinson, Matt Pullen, Paul Lamb—to name but three—plus Matt Carthrea. I couldn’t have done it without them.
4. You credit Bob Dylan as a foundational influence. What specific aspects of his music do you feel echo through your own work on The Planet Who?
Poetic, visionary rock, rhyming images, distilled, abstract metaphors.
5. You describe yourself as born on the cusp of Leo and Virgo. Do you see your astrological blend reflected in your creative personality—perhaps in the balance between passion and introspection?
I believe in the zodiac wholeheartedly, but it hasn’t done my relationships with others any favours. I identify with both Leo and Virgo but, you know—every one in twelve.
6. As someone who’s been writing songs and playing guitar for decades, what sets this album apart from your earlier creations?
The instrumentalism is more precise and concentrated and the lyrics are more advanced and poetic.
7. Can you give us a glimpse into your writing process—do the lyrics come first, or is it usually melody that leads the way?
I write the lyrics out, then type them. Sometimes I memorise a song so I can sing it more clearly. More often I read them off the page. The guitar and bass and drums come last.
8. How would you describe the sound of the album to someone listening to your music for the first time?
Beautiful, mellow, poetic.
9. You’ve been surrounded by music your entire life. What have been some of the most pivotal musical moments that led you to this project?
Listening to the Sex Pistols at the age of sixteen. Learning my first chord in Falmouth—the A-chord.
10. Where was The Planet Who recorded, and how did the atmosphere of the studio impact the final sound of the album?
In my bedroom in the care home that I live in, working with the manager who has a degree in sound recording. The atmosphere was bouncy.
11. What challenges—emotional, creative, or logistical—did you face in bringing this body of work to life?
All the songs were written in August of last year. My head just went into one and I wrote fourteen songs in three weeks when the sun was in Leo.
12. Are there any upcoming performances or release events planned to support the album? Where can fans expect to see you next?
I have taken to doing open mics just lately—3 minutes of guitar work—and my next gig is on the 15th of May.
13. Finally, how do you hope listeners will connect with The Planet Who? What do you want them to take away after hearing it?
Enlightenment.
Final Thoughts
With The Planet Who, Keith Woodhouse has delivered more than just a collection of songs—it’s a lived archive of introspection, healing, and poetic craft. Written from the raw honesty of lived experience and recorded in the modest comfort of a care home bedroom, the album defies convention while offering something timeless and profound. Keith’s music may be mellow, but its emotional weight is anything but light.
For fans of Dylan, outsider poetry, and the kind of songwriting that favors soul over sheen, The Planet Who is a must-listen. Keith Woodhouse isn’t just telling stories—he’s lived them.
- The Planet Who is available now on all streaming platforms.
- Poetry collections available via Amazon: Keith Woodhouse Selected Works
- Next performance: Open mic, 15th May – Totnes, UK.
