The eldest son of an Ethiopian family that relocated to Virginia Beach, Kenna is the kind of innovative artist who reminds listeners why they care about music in the first place. His musical influences range from U2 and David Bowie to Stevie Wonder and Talking Heads but it’s perhaps the fact that his debut album was produced by Chad from The Neptunes which is most telling of his edgy, hip-hop/rock sound. Kenna’s latest album, Make Sure They See My Face, raises the fresh ‘n’ funky sonic stakes even higher and is sure to get him the recognition he deserves.
Kenna has one of the most articulate, hopeful views of American Idol anywhere: American Idol is what it is. Do I watch American Idol? No. Do I think about it in any way shape or form as a way to true music and artistry? No. Is it an avenue to find really great singers? Possibly, but I don’t know because I don’t watch it. I think in the fabric of pop culture it represents a need to discover something great . We have to look at it and say “why is that happening? Is it ailing music? How do we help music come away from this in a better way?”
For Kenna, music began with a little band out of Ireland: I started out living in Virginia Beach with people like Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams (of The Neptunes). We all fell in love with music when we were young. For me it started with U2’s The Joshua Tree. That record made us all want to figure out how to make something, and like it.
A big reader, Kenna finds his artistic mantra in good old Russian Literature: I’m a big Kafka fan. I like the concept of finding stories in your dreams. One of my favorite Kafka stories is called “The Imperial Message.” I feel it’s the story of my life, trying to reach that one person in the far outreaches of a kingdom, trying to be a messenger.
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