Info needed: Kenna

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This morning while getting ready for work I had my breath taken away by a Claymation video for a song called "hell bent" by a group (person?) called Kenna. Can anyone tell me anything about them? (DJ Martian, I'm sort of looking at you here.)

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sorry I don't know about this.

― DJ Martian, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Person -- Kenna. Who has single-handedly spoiled my dream of being the first Ethiopian on MTV.

Here's the story I've seen: grew up in Ethiopia, came to the U.S. (Ohio, I think?) around age 13 or 14, got into western music via Joshua Tree-era U2, pals around with the Neptunes and (sadly) Fred Durst, and seems like a pretty cool individual in interviews. But I, of course, am biased.

Haven't heard the whole single, though -- only caught some of the hype and a 10-second snippet that sounded like your standard pop/electronica, something like U2 and Radiohead and Seal getting all blended up together and released on a major label. Was the track good? Please please please tell me it was good. Please. I want to go into Ethiopia uber alles mode here.

― Nitsuh, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I was kind of transfixed by the video, but the song itself was pretty cool, especially the rhythm track. (I will say, though, that assuming you got the proportions right, mixing together Seal, U2, and Radiohead sounds like a GREAT IDEA to me.)

The song didn't really put me in mind of Radiohead. In fact, it didn't really put me in mind of anyone. Now that it's been brought up, I can see a slight influence, but Kenna strikes me as a much more coherent lyricist.

Based on my reaction to that song, feel free to laud Ethiopia.

― Dan Perry, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Woo-hoo! We win! Screw you other countries with your high standards of living and your massive health-care industries and your workable democracies!

As for the Radiohead thing, well ... it was a 10-second clip with mournful vocals, so I'm not swearing to anything.

― Nitsuh, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I want to hear it. Though, for the record, combining U2, Radiohead, and Seal sounds like a horrific idea to me.

― Melissa W, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Maybe we should ditch that particular combination of references? As I said, I'd heard roughly 10 seconds when I posted that.

I just dug up a few of his tracks on Morpheus, though, and they sound quite good--big pop of a sort I'm not usually drawn to (whence the U2 reference), but completely automated/electrified and quite innovatively assembled in most spots. The Radiohead reference applies only to the verses of "Hell Bent," and the Seal reference was only meant to convey that the stuff was (a) slightly progressive, (b) largely a studio creation, (c) coming out of a sort of soul lineage, and (d) glossy and poppy in that particular early-Seal way. Hopefully you know what I mean.

He occasionally sings like an Ethiopian, just a little bit. Which is interesting to me, because -- to my knowledge -- there's never yet been an Ethiopian singing Western pop entirely in English.

― Nitsuh, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Revise (c) to read: coming from a slight soul vocal influence, but in a rock context. In the sense that, say, Seal is, obviously.

― Nitsuh, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I also feel a need to add that he's very definitely putting most of this stuff together with the Propellerheads' ReBirth software. Which is weird, cause, you know, I only recognize it because I use it sometimes.

― Nitsuh, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Okay, I am downloading Hell Bent right now and this is WAY too glossy for me. His voice isn't that distinctive, either. A few years ago I would have loved this.

― Melissa W, Tuesday, 7 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Update: Hell Bent is the most annoying song EVER.

― Melissa W, Thursday, 9 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, that's discouraging. I haven't heard it again yet and I desperately want to.

― Dan Perry, Friday, 10 August 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

"hell bent" is a really good song and the video is awesome too. In fact, I think the video is the best part about it. It's been playing on MTV2 a whole lot. Anyway, you can check out the original video that was created by Mark Osborne as an IMAX film at www.moreshort.com. The original title of the video is MORE and it's not Claymation, it's called stop-motion animation. The guy in the video is actually made of latex wrapped around aluminum wire.

― Timothy Rosenfeld, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

In reply to Nitsuh, your details are accurate exluding one thing. Kenna, as far as I know, moved from Ethiopa to Ohio when he was three years old, not 13 or 14. He was raised in Cincinatti where he was influenced by the American music he listened to (U2, the Cure, etc) And for the record, Kenna is amazing. Some of the music seems a little too "pop" for my taste, but I am nonetheless drawn into it. His music is alive. I'm a big fan of "Freetime" and "Hellbent". Anyway, ciao.

― James Hunyar, Monday, 15 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

Does anyone know if and when the Kenna album comes out???? Please send response to my e-mail...Thanks!

― Lulu Thomas, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I wish I knew when the album is coming out; I've been scrounging all over for more info and can't find anything. I suppose the place that will eventually be the main source of info is his website, but as far as I can tell no concrete details have gone up yet.

― Dan Perry, Friday, 2 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Kenna album "New Sacred Cow" comes out Dec. 30.

― mat sterling, Thursday, 8 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

When I saw Kenna's video for "hell bent" for the first time, I almost started crying. That's how fucking beautiful that song and video was. I love it. Kenna is one person, and your right, he is from Ethiopia. You can check out his bio on www.mtv.com I can't wait to get the new cd. Love, Amira

― Amira Essed, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i hate to generalize music or try to label a certain artist as a mix of others. Kenna is a great song writer and great singer. i haven't heard as catchy of lyrics over this good of an electic based sound in a long time. i wonder if kenna spun the music as well. anyway, i'm glad there's another musical talent singing something we haven't heard eight times over, how bout you?

― Jeff Nelson, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

dj martian generation = can only express awe with exclamation of 'fucking beautiful', best said in trent reznor voice.

― ethan, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

on a skool trip to the imax theater a couple yrs ago, my eyes was suddenly interrupted as this unknown claymation video appeared. that was the first, and the last time i thought i would see that unknown claymation video. while flipping channels one nite, out of nowhere the claymation video appeared but as a music video for a unique song named "hell bent". the music fitted perfectly, matching its characters w/ their mixed emotions and tears. ever since then, i've been hooked to Kenna's music. i am a bit disappointed though, at the fact that i cant find their cd. i've d/led probably their entire album... if u loved "hell bent", i recommend these songs as well. "war in me" -this is my favorite followed by "hell bent". its quite depressing...just the way i like it. "vexed and glourious" -a more upbeat flow w/ sum electronic skills involved which puts together a great six minute experience. "sunday after you" -vocals r soothing along w/ the piano added in "new sacred cow" -basically the same style if ne1 knos when their cd comes out...or where it is...please email me. thanx and i hope u d/l these songs above and enjoy it as much as i did. :o)

― juanita hong, Thursday, 22 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think this thread proves that there's a lot of Kenna-related googling going on right now, and not enough material out there to support it.

― Nitsuh, Friday, 23 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

ok, this cd is amazing. "hell bent" is obviously great, "red man" is more of an upbeat song that i think we'll be hearing later on the radio or maybe seeing on mtv2. "sunday after you", "war in me" and "man fading" are incredible songs too. this cd has someone for everyone. i also downloaded the music video for "hell bent". such a depressing video, and the song has it's sad parts too, but for some reason, i am hooked on this song more than any other song i can remember. can't wait til this cd hits stores so i can support this artist.

― justin cordray, Sunday, 25 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Does this cd have someone for me, Justin?

― Mitch Lastnamewithheld, Sunday, 25 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Man, what the hell. So is this guy the American Finley Quaye or what?

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 25 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

yeah, the cd is so damn good. i'm listening to it right now. i can't get enough of it. you should check out morpheus and get a couple songs to hold you over til its release.

― justin cordray, Sunday, 25 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

mitch, you know what i meant.

― justin cordray, Sunday, 25 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

If you go to ifilm.com you can watch the original movie short from the Kenna video. The last time I checked it was voted #1 movie short. It has a different soundtrack though; in my opinion the "hell bent" video was better. But it's still good! I'm now looking for somewhere to dl the music video..

― Chibi Chan, Sunday, 9 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

I completely agree with Jusin. The entire CD is amazing. I've listened to Kenna since May and each and every song has an important meaning. If you go to LetsSingIt.com and look up Kenna and read the lyrics they all have hidden messages that mess with your head a little bit. All of you except for justin or this Nitsibishi guy are fake Kenna lovers. You heard Hell Bent and think you can claim Kenna as your favorite artist even though you haven't even listened to more then one song. Go and listen to the album, take it to the heart and then come back and talk...

― Jukie Bagels, Monday, 24 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yes, in four months none of the people who've expressed any interest in Kenna have found any of his other songs on the Internet, despite them being all over the Gnutella-based networks. Keep it real, Jukie!

― Dan Perry, Monday, 24 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Nitsibishi?" Are you somehow posting via time warp from a late-80s middle school?

Regardless, let it be known that my comments at the outset of the thread were mock-nationalist and not meant to imply fandom.

― Nitsuh, Tuesday, 25 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Kenna is awesome, i've seen the video a few times, but i heard the track red man before it came out. Awesome. Download it!

― Nooch, Wednesday, 26 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I am shocked to see this message board all talking about Kenna. I felt like the only person who had ever heard them where I am from. I have been to music stores and even gave up and asked them to order it for me. That song is haunting I can't seem to give up looking for it. They couldn't even order it. I won't give up though and hope to see it in stores one day. He should be proud.

― Rania Holder, Wednesday, 26 December 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

I just got a Kenna promo 12" of a song called "Freetime". I haven't listened to it yet, but I just thought I'd get on and gloat! I'll report back on how it sounds.

― Andy M., Sunday, 27 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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