Devin Kennedy
It’s been a minute since I featured Devin Kennedy. Our first interview was in 2018 and since then, he’s become one of my favorite artists. I instantly knew he was going to have a bright career ahead. He released smash singles, two great EPs and he collaborated with major artists such as Ben Platt, Ryan Tedder, David Hodges, Andy Grammer, among others. He definitely evolved as an artist - as well as a producer and songwriter, which is so amazing to see.
Today he is releasing his new EP titled poetry and it’s a project that combines two of my favorite genres: pop and r&b. There’s a new vibe every time he releases a new project. Each one of his projects is different from the previous one. While others would just stick to one genre without taking any risk, Devin Kennedy will always try to offer something new without being too different at the same time. Devin Kennedy has a true musical signature. poetry is simply beautiful. “Forget About You” is my new favorite song :)
Devin Kennedy remains one of the best out there and I’m excited to hear more music and to see more collaborations in the future. Congrats DK on this new awesome project !!
poetry is now available everywhere :)
Photo credit: Caden Huston
Hi hi ! How are you? Good to have you back :)
Hi! Great to be back!
poetry is your new EP - how does it feel like to release this new project?
I’m always excited to get some new music out there, but I’m especially excited to be focusing more on longer length projects these days after doing singles only for a few years.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this EP? When did you start working on it? Who helped you create it?
I spent the second half of last year settling into this evolution of my sound, and I’m so happy with how this project turned out. For me, it’s a perfect mix of all the musicality, great melodies, and clear lyrics that I love in pop/R&B music. I wrote / produced these songs with some frequent collaborators of mine, and some new friends I’ve met as well. Special shout out to Lukas Costas, Rebecca Perl, Dan Burke, Leslie Powell, Chris Lee, and Anthony Reeder. Love working with all of them.
What different topics are you talking about on this project?
I’m touching on a few different topics on this project. I’m talking about relationships and love, but I get a bit introspective on what I’ve been feeling lately, and also about how my relationships positively (or sometimes negatively) effect my mental health. Overall, this project was about creating an experience similar to written poetry. I wanted it to feel light an elegant, but also come with some more intense moments when necessary. I’m so proud of it.
What did you feel when writing "You Are the Good News"?
Rebecca Perl and I wrote that song over a few hours. We were discussing how fucked up this world is, and how difficult it can be to find your way sometimes. With this song though it felt right to write it as you were speaking to your significant other who’s helping you navigate the craziness of 2022 and beyond. This lyric sums it up pretty well: “In a world full of bad there’s you…and you are the good news”.
What do you want people to feel when listening to this EP?
As with any project of mine, I want them to have an escape while listening. Sometimes that’s just closing your eyes and listening to some smooth/relaxing songs, and other time’s it’s using this music as a soundtrack to their own memories and dreams.
What can you tell us about the visuals for this EP?
I played a pretty big role in directing and putting together the visuals for this project. I wanted it to feel authentic to me, which generally means I want the visuals to feel as artistic and different as possible, just like I think the music does. We started rolling out this project with the video for “Follow Through” which we shot inside a hot air balloon, and we have one more music video coming out with the EP, which I’m directing as well.
You're getting ready to go on tour - how does it feel to finally be able to play shows again?
It feels amazing. I’m already putting together the setlists and it’s been so difficult to choose 8/9 songs out of all the music I’ve released. Especially since I haven’t really been able to play live since 2019. I’m so excited.
What do you like the most about performing?
The whole reason I started making music was to play live. It really was my first love. The energy of a crowd, the energy of a band…it just doesn’t get any better than that.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think we’re definitely in a flawed industry. There’s some great things happening with the rise of middle class artists / independent artists, and their ability to retain ownership of their music. But it’s more and more clear that songwriters are not able to make any reasonable income from streaming, and I do think it’s time the industry adjusts to compensate songwriters fairly. This most likely means setting a small percentage of master ownership aside for the writers of a song, which I am a definitive advocate for, even for songs on my own project.
What is the proudest moment of your career?
I believe my proudest moments are still ahead, but watching my listener base grow 300% since 2020 has been really special for me. I still can’t believe how many people are listening and finding the songs. It really is everything to me because I put every bit of myself into this music.
What biggest lessons have you learned since the beginning of your career?
I just do what I want to do now. I used to think there was an exact way to go about making or promoting music but there’s just not. You just have to love what you’re making and the rest will handle itself from there. Authenticity is important, and paving your own way is the only way. Don’t ever chase a trend.
Connect with Devin: