Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Devin Kennedy

A lot has changed in the past year for Devin Kennedy. The multitalented artist has gone from writing and producing for others to releasing music on his own. 2018 saw him emerge as a rising star with hit singles, including “Body,” “Waste of Time,” “Bad Habit,” and “Feel the Same.” But that was just a taste of what was to come. As he continued to test the waters in 2018, he honed in on his sound and message. The result? One of the best EPs of 2019: You & Me, That’s Enough. Pop Culturalist sat down with Devin ahead of his album release show in New York City to chat about You & Me, That’s Enough.

PC: 2018 was a massive year for you as a solo artist, and you’ve continued that momentum into 2019 with your brand-new EP. How does this collection of songs differentiate itself from your previous releases?
Devin: I wrote 200 songs for this project, and I ended up choosing four to put out. This year was about further defining my sound. I just started releasing music in 2018 under my own name. 2018 was the year where I was feeling things out. This year, I have really found my lane, both in terms of my sound and message. When you write 200 songs, you look back and ask yourself, “What statement am I trying to make as an artist? What do I connect to most conceptually with all these songs?”

This EP is really about staying true to your people. Love and respect the people in your life. Make time for the important things in your life, whether that’s your own mental health or someone else’s. In past years, I really let my work affect my personal life. I worked too much. I wasn’t getting enough sleep. I was getting sick because I was staying up until four in the morning trying to figure out one thing with a song. I needed to remind myself to spend time with the people who I love and that it’s okay to take a day for me. I’m still learning, but these songs serve as a helpful reminder to do that.

PC: What was the process like whittling down to these four?
Devin: If you asked me in February whether I was going to put out an EP this year, I would have said, “Definitely not. It’s a singles market. I’m going to keep putting out a bunch of singles.” But as I continued writing, the bar kept getting higher and higher.

Someone asked me the other day, “Does it get easier to write songs?” It actually gets harder and harder because I’m constantly trying to raise the bar for myself. I’m more selective on what I want to put out. Earlier this year, I knew I wanted to do something that was family oriented. In March, I released “Something Bout That Feeling.” Then came “No Worries,” which felt like the right message at the right time.

Throughout the summer, as I was looking at all these songs and figuring out what was next for me, it felt like putting together an EP was the right thing to do. I wanted to get something out that had a cohesive message that I connected to. I wanted any person who came across the EP to understand exactly what I’m about.

PC: If you had to pick one song off the EP that best encompasses you as an artist, which would it be and why?
Devin: I would say “No Worries.” That song came at a really important time for me while I was trying to figure out what was next, sound-wise. I was doing a lot on the guitar, and that’s what I connected with: the musicality of pop music. I’m never going to be the guy who shows press play on a track and has all these trap beats on it. I need to do something that’s honest to me, even if it’s a little left field for some people. I would rather do something that I connect to, and hopefully, other people will connect with it as well.

PC: Prior to 2018, you were producing and writing for others. How challenging is it now to find that balance?
Devin: It’s crazy! That’s a question I get asked a lot by collaborators or people starting their own artist project. The 200 songs that I wrote, I know that I’m not going to release all 200. I chose four to release and I have 196 sitting there. Most of those will probably never see the light of day, and some will go out to other artists.

When I go into sessions, I always write for myself. I’m so selective that 99% of those songs will probably end up being for someone else. I’ve learned that if I’m writing with the mindset of making music for my solo project, I connect with the songs more. Even if it doesn’t end up being for me, it usually ends up being a better song anyway because I cared more. It’s a hard balance though.

As my career progresses, I’m also learning to be a little more selective with who I write with and what artists I’m in the room with. It’s easy to try and please everyone and to jump into every session. But it became overwhelming, and I couldn’t handle it anymore. I got to the point where it was affecting my personal life. I was stressing myself out thinking about the 30 songs I had to finish.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your young career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that really sticks out to you?
Devin: That’s an interesting question. At the beginning of 2018, I put out an EP. I quickly took it down because it didn’t feel like the right sound. Then in November 2018, I got a call that I won Hollywood Music and Media’s Emerging Artist Award. It was really mind-blowing because I just starting releasing music that year, and I had an EP that I took down. [laughs]

At the time, I had three or four singles out, which is what they based it on. I got to go to an award show and got an award. It was mind-blowing to me that that happened all within a year. That was the fueling point for me. I was like, “Okay, I’m going to do this. I’m doing this solo thing. I need to focus on that.” People were connecting to the music, which was so rewarding. You never know what anyone will connect with. Even now, when I put a song out, I’m like, “Okay, we’ll see. I love it. Let’s see if everybody else loves it.” I’m learning that I’m my own worst critic.

PC: As we look ahead towards the end of 2019 and 2020, what does the next couple of years look like for you? You’ve been teasing that you might be on the road next year.
Devin: That’s the goal. What’s really cool is I’ve spent a long time lining up the industry side of things. The behind-the-scenes stuff that no one really sees and figuring out who the team is and who can help me. I will definitely be on the road at some point. I think the goal is first quarter. We’re weighing out some different options right now. I might be on the road opening for some friends. I just want to be playing music every night. That’s the dream. I think this project really tees that up well for me.

To keep up with Devin, follow him on Twitter and Instagram. Pick up or stream You & Me, That’s Enough on Amazon Music, iTunes, or Spotify.

Photo Credit: Kevin Jan/Pop Culturalist.com