conditions of an orphan// is a bold new breakthrough for Kennyhoopla. His fifth proper EP—and his final release before putting out his long-awaited debut album—finds the Cleveland-hailing singer-songwriter embracing the music that he grew up with and digging deeper than ever into his own personal experiences. The result is an exciting new chapter for Kennyhoopla, and it’s only the beginning.
This new collection of music is the culmination of Kennyhoopla’s journey so far and follows this past spring’s rebirth // renaissance EP, a release that represented “a new beginning” for Kenny as his inaugural release on the Orchard. If that EP took inspiration from vintage-classic acts like the Drums and New Order, then conditions of an orphan// dives deep into the buzzsaw indie rock sound of the 2000s—think the Rapture’s spiky rhythms and Franz Ferdinand’s suave effervescence.
With a new sound comes new collaborators, including Paramore drummer Zac Farro, who handled production across conditions of an orphan// and laid down some sticks skills in his Nashville studio for “orphan//.” “I brought him that song and he made it sound even more like an actual song,” Kenny marvels. Production extraordinaire Mike Elizondo (Turnstile, 50 Cent) also assisted in production duties during conditions of an orphan’s creative process, contributing to “mona lisa we miss you//” and “too many jocks turned rockstars//”: “He was like, ‘Send me all the ideas you have right now, whether you like them or not—and we’ll pick which ones I think have the most potential.”
To hear Kenny tell it, the creation of these songs and subsequent collaborations was re-energizing for his artistic spirit. “It’s like I’m back on my feet for the first time and standing up to fight again,” he says. But even as he exhibits boldness, there’s vulnerability; behind the driving dance-punk of “orphan//”—as well as the EP title itself— is a gesture towards his mother’s passing three years ago, as well as ruminations on isolation and the act of finding yourself while also yearning to be supported. “I felt the strongest about the song from the start. It’s about wanting to pick someone up and help them—but there’s no single way to grieve. There’s no exact process for it, and sometimes the puzzle pieces just don’t fit. It has made me feel very depressed, but I have to somehow power through and be ready to fight again, even when your fucking arms are broken.”
“A lot of the time, I just feel very alone, like an orphan,” he adds. “I’m just trying to find a home, literally and metaphorically—as a person, and as someone in the music industry. I’m trying to see where I fit in, given the circumstances of life that everyone has to go through.”
Indeed, conditions of an orphan// stands as a soul-searching survey of where Kennyhoopla’s been—as well as where he’s looking to go next, pointing the way towards his full-length debut and the continued maturation of his artistic perspective. “I’ve spent the last three years of my life reflecting on my career in the industry,” he says. “I’ve previously restrained myself from talking about deeper issues in my life—trying to compartmentalize my experiences. It’s a constant tug of war between my personal and artistic lives.” And conditions of an orphan// more than proves that it’s a battle worth fighting.
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