INTERVIEW: KENNEDY
- Posted on September 3, 2007 1:11 PM
- 2 comments
Interview By Zarina Raja
Kennedy had me hooked as soon as I laid eyes on his glasses. My mum has always told me I’m like a magpie, as she watched me gravitate to anything shiny in shops, a glazed expression of glee on my face… these glasses though, they looked like they were encrusted in loads of tiny diamonds. They were shaped like 70’s sunglasses, glittering out at me, catching the light and winking seductively throughout the interview. And then there was Kennedy – bursting with charm and dry wit that soaked our conversation, swamping me in tales of venues on fire, affairs with his mother’s friend (not forgetting the friend’s daughter) and his future plans for a new type of Tesco.
Kennedy is ready to obliterate the UK music scene with his new single ‘Who’s Lovin Your Mama’ - a dirty-pop, sex drenched track writhing with a catchy 70’s beat and intriguing innuendo.
When did you arrive in England?
I got here on Monday and went straight to that carnival in Notting hill. It was great but kind of surreal. I had been on the plane all night and then I found myself at this carnival – I was like ‘Woaah.’
What did you get up to there?
Oh, drinking a lot of Red Stripes. I was in London a while back and ran into the receptionist from the hotel I had stayed at before, so I ended up hanging out with her and her sister for the whole night.
Have you had a chance to see anything else in London - any of the tourist sights?
No, not really. Aside from the carnival, I’ve been having a lot of meetings.
Yeah, it was a great way to break me into London. Also, I got so drunk that I wasn’t jet lagged.
That’s a good way to by pass it, although the next day must have been a bit…
Well, the last four days have been a bit bluuuurghh...
Have you ever been to any of the festivals over here? Glastonbury? Reading?
No, I haven’t, I think I just missed them too. I am going to Devon this weekend to play at a house party, so I’m very excited about that!
Is that going to be an intimate gig or a huge party?
It’s like the most happening thing in Devon this weekend. I guess there is like a couple of hundred people – they have this boat that they fill up with beer –it should be fun.
You have a new single out ‘Who’s Lovin’ Your Mama?’ – What are the lyrics suggesting?
I’ve told this story so many times – I will try and make it sound interesting. A while back, my mum tried to set me up with one of her friends which I thought was kinda weird because her friend was almost 50. But then one night, we had loads of boxed wine - it’s kinda like the old lady drink in the states - and one thing led to another and I ended up hooking up with my mum’s friend. Then, about 6 months later, I was in Vegas where my mum lives, her friend was out of town, but her daughter was in town and I ended up hooking up with the daughter. That’s how I came up with ‘Who’s Lovin Your Mama.’
That’s quite a story…
Yeah, it’s nothing that I’m proud of….
How did the mum take it?
Uhh, not so well…but the daughter didn’t seem to mind. It was kind of like The Graduate I guess. My mum ended up moving out of Vegas though – not because of that.
Is your mum still friends with her?
Um, no. It wasn’t because of that! I think there was some other stuff too.
Have you ever had a crush on any of your friend’s mum’s?
Yeah, I did when I was in Junior High. My friend Jason – his mum was really cute. She had a really great accent. I remember being a kid and being like ‘your mum’s so hot.’
Did you tell that to your friend?
Oh, no. Actually, this is the first time I have ever told anybody.
Well, it’s going to be all over the web now.
After I kept it inside for so many years.
Where do you get inspiration from when writing your songs? Is it always things that have happened to you?
I embellish a bit. A lot of it is usually based on the truth and then I kind of take it over the top a bit.
Bending the truth…
Yeah. Sometimes, I will write songs that are from my own personal fantasy world.
There’s a very strong 70’s theme running through your music – assuming you were alive then – what were you doing in the 70’s?
Haha, I was breast feeding which is my favourite thing to do.
Your music is classed under 70’s disco, techno, electronica, hip hop and classic rock. Which genre suits you most or are you happy with all of them?
I think it’s pretty eclectic. I definitely hit all those areas, but I think it’s kind of just pop. I guess I’m a blur of all of it. There is definitely a 70’s theme. I work with theses producers called Count De Money and they do this kind of music called dirty pop. The first time they played me a track which became ‘Mum Made Me a Pimp’ it sounded like Barry White or something.
Are you a Barry White fan?
I like his singles, but more than anything I like what he represents.
So when did you start making music? Have you been interested since a young age?
I have always been really into music. I was in a Cure cover band at school. I was horrible, I could barely play. All my friends were in the band so they kind of just tolerated me. But then I started to write my own songs and got into it after that.
I guess I was kind of a late bloomer; some kids get into it when they are about 7.
You’re a big Cure fan then?
I used to be when I was in High School. The Cure and The Smiths were like my favourite bands. This kid in my in my English class had every Smiths tape and he was like ‘Do you want these? These guys are gay.’ I took them home and thought, ‘these guys are awesome.’
Do you still have them all?
The cassettes? Yeah, I do but I don’t have a cassette player though.
Are there any musicians you would like to work with in the future - if you could work with anyone?
Yeah, there is a ton of people I would like to work with. Olivier Newton John…there are a lot of artists I would like to work with who have died. Current artists, I would love to work with the Neptunes – I really like a lot of hip-hop stuff like Kanye West too.
Is there anything lined up in the future with these big artists?
I’m just starting to get the ball rolling with this record so I haven’t really started planning anything yet. I write all the time though. In the past I have worked with Greg Alexander who was in the New Radicals. He is really great to work with and a great song writer. You learn a lot when you work with people, especially when they are better than you!
Your singles are quite light hearted and jokey – but do you take your music quite seriously?
I’m very serious about having a good time!
What is the most memorable gig you have been to as a fan?
Probably the first time I dropped acid. I was in the desert. There was this show with Beck and a bunch of weird electronic bands. I was like, ‘this is awesome!’
At one point people were setting guitars in fire.
How old were you?
Fifteen - It was really fun so that is pretty memorable. Actually, I went to see The Rolling Stones about 6 months ago. I had never seen them so I didn’t know what to expect but they were SO good. At one point, the whole stage picked up and moved out to right in front of where we were sitting. The stage was about twice the size of this table and it was just them with instruments in the dimmed lighting. It was like they were playing in a bar or something.
Have you got any memorable gigs as a performer?
Well, I don’t know if this is good or bad but I did this one gig – I used to drink a lot when I was on stage and would end up in just my under wear. This place holds like 2,000 people, so I’m just standing there singing and this girl runs up on stage behind me and pulls my pants down. So, I’m just standing there with everything hanging out.
What did you do?
Well I have a video of it from behind. I watched it and all I did was look down and go like this ‘Oh S***.’ That was pretty memorable! Another one we did was kind of funny. Do you remember when Great White set the place on fire and loads of people got killed in the States? Shortly after that, my drummer did this thing where he poured lighter fluid on his singles and lit it on fire. It was one of the most amazing shows. I was singing and I feel this heat behind me. I looked and there was this fire on the symbols and he’s hitting them. The fire almost touched the ceiling which had foam on it. We got off stage and the guy who runs the club was really upset. He said we could never play there again - ever. We had a show the next night in a different club and the owner said ‘we talked to the club that you played at last night…If we seen even a lighter on stage, we are going to take you out.’ Six moths later, I went back to New York to the original club where we set it on fire. I asked if we could play there again. He said I could play there but I had to give him three hundred dollars in cash and that he would hold on to it until we were done. I think the venue was called Trash.
How did the fans react?
They just stared – almost horrified.
Talking of fans, have you ever received anything strange from a fan?
I got an action figure from a fan. They had taken a Kiss action figure and had put the Harry Potter head in it and had made a whole package for it that said ‘Kennedy the Action Figure.’
Has anyone ever thrown anything weird on stage?
Hmm, apart from underwear? It’s always good to get hit by a drink once in a while - especially if it’s a glass.
I watched one of your live shows on your Myspace, it looked really interesting. For those who haven’t seen Kennedy live, can you tell me what they should expect?
I just try to bring a dance party, whether I play by myself or with a band. We make it a party. I guess the idea for me is to almost take the focus off of me and put it on to people cutting loose and having a good time.
You have dancers don’t you?
Yeah, we are still working on their singing skills. But, they do try to sing, Sometimes there is three or four and sometimes there is one.
Do you have some future dates in London?
I actually played last night at Yoyo. I think I might be playing in September; I will be in London for a couple of months.
What are you currently listening to on your i-Pod?
Apart from listening to myself – I write a lot so I am always listening to tracks and trying to come up with stuff. I know Oliver Newton John is one of them, her first single was a cover of the Bob Dylan track – it’s a great version of the song and I can’t stop listening to it. There’s also Movement, Billy Idol, Randy Newman, Blur – I love that song ‘Coffee and TV’. I can listen to it over and over again; The first time I heard it, I didn’t notice it. Now it’s crept in and I can’t get over it.
What is in store for Kennedy over the next year?
I’m hoping to open my own supermarket chain. It’s going to be kind of like Tesco, but it’s just going to sell Kennedy merchandise including my new action figure. Also, tour the world and hopefully not go to rehab – actually, maybe my goal should be going to rehab.
Lastly, sum up Kennedy in three words.
Hmm, Hot. Tight. Pants.
Kennedy's Album 'Kennedy For President' is out on 8th October 2007
His new single 'Your Mama' is out 24th September 2007
For more info on Kennedy, check out his Myspace at http://www.myspace.com/kennedy
Check out Kennedy's pals Count de money for some dirty pop tunes at www.myspace.com/countdemoney
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Comments (2)
Sassy
oooh... LOVE IT. makes a change to the one syllable answers from most stars. I can't wait to see him live... his MySpace says there's a 'secret gig' coming up on the 19th Sept. Where I ask you... WHERE???
Posted on September 4, 2007 5:18 PM
c
yup,this guy is the real deal fo' real! next gig at the cobden club,london on sept.19th.
Posted on September 7, 2007 1:19 AM
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