Pop-Culturalist.com

2021 is off to a fast start for singer-songwriter and producer Devin Kennedy. Following the success of singles like “No Worries” and “Happy Yet?”, the LA-based artist continues to bring a fresh and distinctive lens to pop music with a timeless sound and emotive lyrics that make you feel seen.

We recently caught up with Devin to chat about the release of “Sundress” and “Hurt U”, and what’s ahead for this rising talent.

PC: 2018 was about releasing music under your own name. 2019 was about further defining your sound. What is in store for 2021?
Devin: It’s continuing that and continuing to evolve the sound. I feel more in tune with what I want to do than ever before. I know exactly where I want the sound to be and what the vibe of the project is. It’s just continuing to expand on that. I look back at those songs I did then, and they’ve really connected with a lot of people, which is super awesome. It’s learning what works and what doesn’t, and then taking it from there. I’m trying to do more of what works and trying to be excited about the project, and that means always evolving the sound a bit.

PC: In the past, you’ve spoken about being a workaholic. With the industry shut down in 2020, were you able to pause and reflect on everything you’ve accomplished? How did you stay creatively fulfilled?
Devin: Yeah, I definitely was able to hit pause as there was no touring or traveling. The first couple of months were a much-needed relaxation period. I spent a lot of time with family, which was super nice. I haven’t gotten a lot of time with my family the last couple of years, especially in 2019 and the beginning of 2020. That was amazing.

It also forced me to get in touch with my creativity again. I got into, “Okay, I’m writing five days a week. I’ve got different people coming here to the studio. We’re going to try out as many songs as possible.” Now, it’s getting back to a lot of Zoom sessions. But when I am able to do something in person with somebody, or even over Zoom, it’s a close circle. I’m writing with who I really want to write with and people that I enjoy writing with and having a good time. Ninety percent of the time, we’re not even writing something that’s going to get released, so we might as well have a fun day.

PC: That’s the perfect segue into this next question. Something that I’ve noticed over the years is you’ve formed this community of collaborators that you often work with. What impact have they had on your career? How do those sessions continue to push you?
Devin: I love writing with my friends—that’s the best part about all this. It’s so fun. There’s definitely a time and place for doing sessions with people that you don’t know. That’s how you expand, and that’s how you find new people that you love working with, but I’ve done enough of that now to where I really have this close-knit group of five to ten people who really understand my project and I understand theirs. A lot of them are artists. It’s like a rising tide; you want to rise with your friends. It’s so fun to see your friends win—that’s the best. I’m trying to do more of that. We love looking back on all the accomplishments and everything. Moving forward, there’s going to be a lot of writing with that crew still and rising up together. There’s nothing better than that.

PC: Tell us about “Sundress” and the inspiration behind the song.
Devin: I wrote it with that close-knit crew of friends. Dan Burke is in the band twentylove—that’s his artist project. Dan and I have known each other for seven years now, and we’re best friends. He’s played guitar for my stuff for years as well. We do a ton of work together. We wrote the song originally as an acoustic demo and brought it over to another friend that we’ve known for just as long, Will Ventures, who co-produced it with me. He brought it to life. He knew exactly what it needed. From the moment he sent back a version of what he was thinking for it, I was like, “Wow. This is amazing. This is definitely something that I’m going to lead with next year.”

We went through a couple of different versions, but it’s about being in the moment with the people you love. We talked about the limited time that you get with your family, pausing to be in the moment with them is so crucial. I know I’m really guilty of being on my phone or trying to do work when I’m with family or after hours, so it’s my reminder to be in the moment with them—also, in romantic relationships as well. The song itself was written about a specific moment. I remember being on the beach or walking around and taking in the view. I was like, “Is this my life? If this is my life, this has got to be a dream. Don’t wake me up because it’s awesome.”

PC: You also have another single out now. Tell us about “Hurt U” and the inspiration behind it.
Devin: “Hurt U” is one of the most honest and genuine songs I’ve ever been a part of. My co-writers and I set out to create a whole world within this track, including specific lyrical details that are relevant to my life. The story we’re telling here is the experience of falling so in love with someone that you would bend over backward to make sure that they’re comfortable and content. This is about that person who you connect with so deeply that you know there’s nothing that could ever happen to change how you feel about them.

PC: Speaking of special moments, since you’ve made the decision to release music under your own name, is there a moment that stands out to you?
Devin: I think it goes song by song. When I released my song “No Worries”, that was a defining moment for my project. I had some songs that had some attention before that, but that was the first time when I released a song, and not only did it get the love I thought it deserved, but I also really thought I had nailed what I always thought this project could be. I think I did the same thing with “Happy Yet?” about a year or so later, and I think I’ve done the same thing with “Sundress” this time. I really feel like I can judge based off of the reaction, it’s the next step for my project. It’s super exciting for me.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2021, what can fans expect from you?
Devin: They can definitely expect an album’s worth of music. I have a ton of stuff ready to go. It’ll be in single form for now as well as a lot of visuals. I’m trying to up the game in terms of visuals this year. Hopefully whenever touring comes back, I’ll be on the road. That’s the goal: to be back touring with a really dedicated fan base that I can go out and play to.

To keep up with Devin, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Apple Music, and Spotify. Pick up or stream “Hurt U” today.

Photo Credit: Alex Bemis