We were writing about KENTON just over a month ago, celebrating ‘Dirty Laundry’ as “honest, personal, but also rather tongue-in-cheek and laidback”. Since then, the Los Angeles-based creative has bloomed into his best artistic shape to date, unveiling a meaningful, authentic album that feels incredibly intimate and heartfelt. ‘Sweetmouth’ is exactly that, a collection of lyrical introspection among a diverse range of pop-driven moods. You’ve got your slow-paced ballad (‘Never Born’) alongside more uplifting pieces (‘Vaporize Me’), passing through breezy, sombre bits (‘Doing Alright’).
Overall, it’s hard not to appreciate the heightened musicianship offered by KENTON. ‘Sweetmouth’ should perhaps be approached with a true understanding of its many layers. There’s the musical one: a stream of relatable, nuanced and vibrant pieces that feel contemporary and familiar, yet never obvious. It’s all informed by the artist’s jazz studies at USC’s celebrated Thornton School of Music. Then there’s the lyrical layer, certainly the most relevant. In it, KENTON reflects on his upbringing and present as a Queer Asian American in California.
Sparked by a family visit to Taiwan after a six-year absence, the album digs deep into KENTON’s own vulnerabilities, helping him process grief and pain while finding a way to co-exist and forgive with family members. As the talented creative explains: “It’s important to me that this album isn’t just for me. Yes, it’s my way of reconciling my past and present, but it’s also an encouragement to all the immigrant, queer children who never felt they belonged. There is life beyond being just a sweetmouth.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Sweetmouth’ on Spotify:
