KennyHoopla,<\/a> the Wisconsin-raised singer-songwriter, has built a career on experimentation, hopping across genres and trusting his instincts. From releasing one-off trap singles to a pop-punk mixtape co-signed by genre legends, and releases that spanned indie rock and dance punk he has maintained a strong sense of self-identity throughout.<\/p>\nHis breakout came in 2020 with the track \u201chow will i rest in peace if i’m buried by a highway?\/\/,\u201d propelling him into pop-punk recognition. Following this, Survivor\u2019s Guilt: The Mixtape<\/em>, produced in part by Blink-182\u2019s Travis Barker, solidified his rise, earning acclaim from fans and publications alike. Despite a career that took him to LA and New York to tour and record, Kenny stayed connected to his roots in skate communities, which is reflected in his fashion, photography, and music tastes.<\/p>\nHowever, the period between his early success and the present has been challenging. The death of his mother, combined with industry pressures, caused feelings of isolation. A conversation with a friend who had also lost his mother inspired Kenny to push forward, leading to the creation of \u201corphan\/\/,\u201d the first single from his latest EP, conditions of an orphan\/\/<\/em>.<\/p>\nThe EP\u2019s sound draws from artists like Passion Pit, Phoenix, and LCD Soundsystem, acts he grew up listening to. Its lyrics and basslines invite full-hearted sing-alongs and air guitar moments.<\/p>\n
Currently, KennyHoopla is touring North America, with Europe next. The EP represents a rejuvenation for him as an artist, allowing him to finally create the music he\u2019s dreamed of and witness fans\u2019 genuine support in the process.<\/p>\n
KennyHoopla sat down with PAPER<\/em> to discuss the making of conditions of an orphan\/\/<\/em>, maintaining authenticity in music, his touring essentials, and the trajectory of his future work. View exclusive notes and photos from his time on the road below.<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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What\u2019s up? How\u2019s getting ready for the tour going?<\/strong><\/p>\nI\u2019m in Wisconsin right now, packing. I\u2019m flying out to New York for rehearsals on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Walk me through the pre-tour process? How do you decide what you want your live show to look like? <\/strong><\/p>\nI\u2019ve gone through so many different processes and chapters. When I first started, it was just me and my friend and he would just DJ the tracks. My music was all over the place, so then, as I got into pop-punk stuff, they stopped liking that style of live performances. I also wanted to be taken more seriously. So, I made sure I could afford a band, which started out as just a drummer. But then I got a full band. Now that I\u2019ve transitioned out of pop-punk, I\u2019m trying to go back to making music that I\u2019ve always loved, which is indie rock, dance rock, and electronic. I\u2019m trying to blend all of that and include those synths and gadgets on stage. I\u2019m going to be playing guitar. I\u2019m trying to push my musicianship in every way for this tour. I\u2019m bringing out all the big guns. <\/p>\n
I love that. What has been the response to your new sound? How do fans like <\/strong>conditions of an orphan\/\/<\/em><\/strong><\/em>?<\/strong><\/p>\nA lot of people appreciate it and like it. I feel more at peace than ever. I went through so much and did a lot of fighting for myself during my career. I didn\u2019t get to relish in what was happening or appreciate things. I\u2019m at a point where I can finally let these things that I\u2019ve protected \u2014 songs, perspectives, ideas \u2014 that I didn\u2019t want to do before, run free. I feel like I\u2019m being perceived the way I want to for the first time. And I know you can\u2019t control that, but it was hard to navigate. I\u2019m a solo artist now. I don\u2019t have bandmates or collaborators to rely on. I feel more free than I ever have as an artist. This is as close to a sound that I love that I\u2019ve ever made, and I think people appreciate that.<\/p>\n
Being independent now, though, I see the difference. I\u2019m not reaching everyone the way I was when I was on a major label. For everything that it\u2019s worth, it\u2019s going really well though. I think people are happy that I\u2019m back and are happy that I\u2019m being authentic.<\/p>\n
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I feel like I\u2019m being perceived the way I want to for the first time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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That\u2019s such a common theme with artists. When they go solo, it gives them unique vantage points, which makes for good decision-making. Could you tell me about the writing process for the EP?<\/strong><\/p>\nI feel like I got put on a pedestal quickly, that was higher than what my discipline level was. I was on Billboard, <\/em><\/em>but didn\u2019t even know how to play guitar. I felt like I wasn\u2019t like my idols, who I considered real <\/em><\/em>musicians. Before this project, everything was so rushed. It was for survival, so I\u2019d make things in like, two weeks. I removed myself from everything and put a stop to it all. Two years ago, I got out of my deal and got rid of my entire team. I learned to do everything myself. I spent a long time on a song called \u201cnaysayers\/\/\u201d and brought it to Nashville with some other demos. I made sure, with this project, to be very on the nose with my references. I needed to find the line between inspiration and plagiarism. A lot of people don\u2019t realize how to do it, but the best artists copy. I wanted to make it all obvious. I love indie rock. I love electronic. I kept going back to Nashville. I had the biggest hand in production that I have ever had before.<\/p>\nTell me about some of those specific influences. Who were they?<\/strong><\/p>\nEveryone from Phoenix to Passion Pit to LCD Soundsystem. It feels embarrassing, but it\u2019s that indie sleaze sound that\u2019s made such a comeback. But when I was writing this, that trend hadn\u2019t returned. Producers didn\u2019t want to help on this. It made me want to give up and pivot. But I stuck with that music because I love it. So I wanted to be super obvious with those influences. It needed to be very clear if I wanted to be put in the place in culture that I do. <\/p>\n
How does hometown and location play into your writing process? You\u2019ve moved around a bit but Wisconsin is home again. How does that show up in your music? <\/strong><\/p>\nI\u2019ve been very hellbent on making music in the Midwest, in Wisconsin. This is where I grew up and the people that I want to speak to are here. There\u2019s something just as special about a small town as New York or LA. It\u2019s just not as shined on. I\u2019m one of those people who grew up in a small town, go to the skate park and I\u2019d see a kid wearing a Crystal Castles hoodie. I\u2019d be like, \u201cWoah, that\u2019s so cool.\u201d There\u2019s lots of people in these small places who those smaller artists and genres really speak to. The Midwest has inspired me the most. I\u2019ve tried to go out to LA and New York, but it\u2019s hard to feel that grit. Sometimes, you get lost in it because there\u2019s so much going on. I like being here, being grounded in real life. <\/p>\n
I started this project here. I got a call that Zac Farro from Paramore wanted to work on it with me. I don\u2019t know how to engineer. I can take things to a certain place, but when I went to him, he helped me finish it. We finished \u201corphan\/\/,\u201d then I met Mike Elizondo and we hit it off really well. He just got it. His studio was awesome. He gave the art the time it needed and he let me get messy. It\u2019s been hard for me to find collaborators like that.<\/p>\n
I love that. It\u2019s nice to know you still have faith in collaboration. You just needed the right fit.<\/strong><\/p>\nExactly.<\/p>\n
Tell me about collaborating with Depop. How does fashion play a role in your artistic identity?<\/strong><\/p>\nI grew up poor and within that, you get a lot of hand-me-downs. You learn how to make things work. Then it becomes a social thing. I started kicking it with skaters and developed this ability to zoom out and see things from a broader view. I was seeing all the cliques and archetypes through their clothing. These kids wear Columbia and whatnot. Identity became important because I had to work with what I had. I had to figure out who Kenny was in the midst of all of it. I\u2019d get hand me down jeans from my cousins and decide to cuff them. Small details started to interest me.<\/p>\n
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Music was driving me insane and I wasn\u2019t sure how I could keep doing it. It didn\u2019t feel sustainable. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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While you\u2019re packing for tour, what are the must-haves?<\/strong><\/p>\nA good pair of salvaged denim. My FujiFilm X100V camera, because I like to take photos and have memories. And my headphones. <\/p>\n
Yeah, need. <\/strong><\/p>\nExactly. And a good hat. That\u2019s my comfort. It used to be a hoodie to hide in but these days it\u2019s a hat. I\u2019m more approachable this way. <\/p>\n
Who is a dream collaborator right now? Who are you listening to? <\/strong><\/p>\nI was just thinking about this. I\u2019d love to collaborate with A.P.C. and do a collection with them. In music, I think Bassvictim would be cool. <\/p>\n
I loved their new project. <\/strong><\/p>\nIt was so good. Them, and Kid Cudi. I\u2019d love to work with him. Also Phoenix. I\u2019d love to work with them in any capacity. Those are my three right now. <\/p>\n
Those are great answers. Not to take it somewhere dark, but you opened up on social media about considering leaving music. Walk me through that journey and how you\u2019ve come out on the other side. And how do you feel comfortable being so vulnerable with fans?<\/strong><\/p>\nI think what makes it so easy is because I don\u2019t have a \u201ccool guy\u201d persona to hide behind. I just want to be real. <\/p>\n
Well, that is cool.
<\/strong>Thank you. I just want them to know I\u2019m being truthful. I appreciate that in the artists I love. That\u2019s why I love Kid Cudi. He explains things and is human. We need more people being real and showing what\u2019s going on in the background. Music was driving me insane and I wasn\u2019t sure how I could keep doing it. It didn\u2019t feel sustainable. And I wanted to do more things. I want to act one day, I have a skate brand launching next month. I want to do a lot. I want to write songs for other artists. I want to design clothes. It never feels like the right time for those interests because music is so rapid and quick. I was probably just crashing out though.<\/p>\nThat\u2019s totally fair. We\u2019re glad you\u2019re still making good music. If you could go visit a past version of yourself and give him some advice, what version are you visiting and what are you telling him? <\/strong><\/p>\nI would visit my 16-year-old self and tell him to be more selfish. I would be in a better place now and be at more peace if I just worried about myself a bit more. <\/p>\n
That\u2019s smart.
<\/strong>Thank you.<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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Photography: <\/em>Brittany Young<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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