The rising bedroom pop singer lets us know that she is ready to amp up her sound.
If there is one thing for certain, it’s that love isn’t always perfect – just ask rising pop singer KENI. Between her easy left-pop single “Sid and Nancy” and her latest smooth sailing hit “Proximity”, the singer unpacks the tumultuous stages of a relationship and the intensity of the new chemically-charged relationship. At only 19-years-old, the singer-songwriter debuts an ear-ringing sound, that effortlessly glides over each sultry and smooth production. Serving up nods to Britney and JoJo in her latest video, Keni reckons herself to be a bedroom Britney as she describes herself travelling along the same wave of Phoebe Bridgers and Hannah Montana.
“Britney is fully one of the most talented performers ever,” Keni went on to say. “Her music videos are just unmatched in hotness and the dancing kills me. There’s something so addicting about her on screen and I wanted to emulate that the best I could.”
Amping up her work rate during the pandemic having dealt with some personal problems, the singer let us know that 2021 is going to be the year of Keni as she gears up for a takeover.
Check out the interview below…
Hey Keni! How are you? How would you sum up your past year?
I’m feeling amazing. 2020 was nuts. I had a breakdown in the winter and was in dark place for a minute. After said breakdown subsided I started working with the most amazing people in the world. I met my now manager Kelly Mulroy and creative director Aerin Moreno and now I’m thriving.
How did you first start your musical journey? What is your earliest memory of music?
My parents aren’t very musical but they do have good taste so I was always listening to something awesome growing up. My earliest memory of doing music myself though was when I was five and made my whole family sit in the living room while I sang a horribly written song I wrote.
You grew up in LA which is music melting-pot, how do you think the city has influenced you?
I love LA so much and I’m so happy to have grown up here. There is always something to look at. I was writing songs literally just from people watching when I was a preteen and scared of everything. Most of my friends are artists so I’ve always been surrounded by individuals who pride themselves on doing their own thing. Growing up with that as my example really helped build my artistic confidence.
You’ve just dropped your new single “Proximity”, talk us through the production process and inspiration?
I was in a session with my BFF Jake and I played him a super underdeveloped voice memo of it and he loved it so we just rolled with the idea. We made the chorus first and played it for my manager and her best friend. We were all just dancing to it downstairs in her house and eating pizza. I was watching a lot of Britney videos at the time and playing Just Dance with my girlies so I was really wanting a fun song we could dance to… and I think I delivered.
The song fluctuates between pop and R&B how would you describe your sound?
I would describe myself as Bedroom Britney or maybe Hannah Montana and Phoebe Bridger’s love child.
The accompanying video also sees you pay homage to Britney and JoJo, what inspired you to do this?
Britney is fully one of the most talented performers ever. Her music videos are just unmatched in hotness and the dancing kills me. There’s something so addicting about her on-screen and I wanted to emulate that the best I could.
The song has a more upbeat melody and feel compared to your last “Sid and Nancy”, what prompted this?
I’m not a sad person really at all but for some reason, I always write melancholy songs. Super weird. I think because this song developed more melody-driven first it was easier to make it fun. Once the chorus was dancey and exciting I couldn’t fathom putting anyone in their feels.
Who would you love to work with?
My top four would be Gwen Stefani, Britney, MGMT… and then like Soulja Boy.
What can we expect from you in the future, any EP/ albums on the way? If so, talk us through what we can expect?
You can expect to dance, to cry and to watch some out of this world videos. 2021 is going to be the year of the KENI.