Meaningful and relatable, ‘Insane’ is a very fitting showcase of Sean Kennedy’s rich, deep artistry. Hailing from New York, the young singer and songwriter doesn’t seek to reinvent the wheel; instead, he leans into it, navigating heartwarming and romantic pop territories with his potent, evocative vocals and effective, anthemic arrangements. A fierce student of human vulnerability, Kennedy describes the fragility of love through honey-like melodies and smooth hooks, making for pop matter that’s digestible, yet striking.
‘Insane’ is the perfect example of that. Introduced by gentle acoustic guitars and soothing electronic production, the track slowly raises the intensity, with Kennedy’s commanding storytelling capturing the listener’s attention. A plethora of orchestral textures and driving drums make the final piece extra-special, a true emotional anthem.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with Sean to learn more about his artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey Sean, how is it going? Thanks for chatting with us. It’s been more than ten years since your first forays in music, in 2013. You grew into a young adult, and so has your artistry. What motivated you to take up songwriting in the first place?
Hi! Thank you for having me. Yes, it’s been quite a while! I’ve always loved music, and I’ve been singing all my life. I think it was just a natural progression to take the melodies I was singing and write them down.
You have probably changed a lot in the last few years, and so has your musical output. Are you satisfied with who you are today, and more importantly, with your artistic character? What are some of your favourite artists?
My last album was made during the biggest transition of my life. I was preparing to graduate from high school and leave home for the first time. I think my life has stabilized a bit since then, and I’ve been able to look a bit more internally and write about that. I’m 21, so I’m still growing and finding my way, but I’m happy with where I am now! I think I’ve grown into my genre, but I really loved pushing myself for this latest record. I was really getting into Green Day and Kings of Leon, which I think you can see in little bits throughout this new project.
You have released a lot of material already; If I were to ask you for one advice to give your fellow artists, what would that be?
I have! I think I would encourage artists to just go for it. My first album came out when I was 15. I think it’s cool to see the evolution throughout my older work, and I don’t think I’d be where I am today if my younger self didn’t take those risks.
‘Insane’ is your latest effort, a stunningly poignant and vibrant record packed with energy and charisma. It’s a supreme slice of relatable pop; what does the song mean to you?
Thank you! I think this song is very special to me, because it’s one of the first songs I’ve written where the muse is myself. The track’s about me and my approach to love, and that’s kind of the theme for this upcoming album: Evaluating how I’ve become the person I am today.
Can you share some insights into its writing and production process? Would you say that ‘Insane’ is very much representative of your current sound?
I was sitting with a friend of mine, kind of just ranting, and I jumped up and left the room to record a voice memo. This almost fully formed chorus just came to me mid conversion. I would definitely say this is the most “rock” record I’ve made. I remember I played the demo for my label and they were really excited about the direction it was going, so that support really encouraged me to fully pursue the sound.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone or within a team?
I think I tend to learn towards doing everything on my own. I’m an inherently independent person. However, when I get really comfortable with someone, my best friend Giuliana for example, I get super inspired.
Artistically speaking, what challenges have the last two years presented you with?
For a while, I really didn’t know what was next. Right after I got signed, I got complete writer’s block. I just felt like I had already said everything. It wasn’t until I took a trip with my dad to go see my grandfather that I ended up writing the last track on this album. From there, I kind of saw the trajectory of what I wanted to say, and everything started to make sense.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
I’m super excited to say that my first album with my label will be released this fall! I’m so beyond proud of it, and I really can’t wait for everyone to hear the singles coming out these next few months.
