New York-based singer, songwriter, and producer Sean Kennedy has been writing music for most of his life, turning his real experiences into deeply personal, confessional and intimate songs. From releasing his debut single at just 15-years-old to steadily building a catalogue of heartfelt indie-pop albums, Kennedy has grown up in front of his listeners, documenting each chapter, milestone, mistake and triumph through his music. Now 22, he’s stepping into a new era with his fifth studio album The Person in the Mirror (via Rexius Records), which is a confident blend the familiarity of bedroom-pop with an extroverted indie-rock sound. Throughout the record, he explores memory, loss, family and the courage it takes to keep moving forward. With his gift for transforming journal-like honesty into emotionally resonant anthems, Sean Kennedy continues to carve out a unique space as a songwriter unafraid of vulnerability. For On The Record, we caught up with him to talk about growth, collaboration and the stories behind his new album.
Welcome to Unrecorded! For those who aren’t already familiar with Sean Kennedy, can you introduce yourself?
Thank you for having me! My name is Sean Kennedy and I’m a 22 year old musician from New York!
The Person in the Mirror is your fifth album, so how is this one different from previous releases?
Well first and foremost, this is the first album I’m releasing under my label. It’s been super exciting and I think it played a big role in the formation of this record. It wasn’t just me planning it out. I had different people at the label listening to the songs and giving feedback. It was really cool to see it come to fruition.
Why did you decide to write and produce much of the record at home? Do you think that impacts the sound or the feel of it?
I’ve always made my music at home. It’s pretty much all I know. I think it definitely influenced the feel of the album because it’s where I’m most comfortable. If I was in a studio with a bunch of other people, I think I would’ve been reluctant to try new things for this album.
Considering it’s such a personal album, do you ever find it difficult to decide what to keep private and what to share in your music?
I definitely went back and fourth a few times about whether I should keep certain songs on the album. I just eventually came to the realization that this record was all about me trying to dig deep into my psyche and work through moments in my life. It would’ve been a disservice to the album to keep off certain songs.
Several tracks feature guest musicians, what did they bring to the table that surprised you or shifted your vision?
There were several extremely talented people who contributed to this record. I think I often see collaboration as a way to utilize the talents of another person that you might not necessarily possess yourself. For example, Adam Accetta, who’s a family friend of mine, played drums on several songs throughout the album. The energy he brought to those tracks just couldn’t have been replicated by drum programming.
At what moment did you realize that you were writing a coming-of-age narrative?
I think I went into writing this album knowing it was going to be different. I was going through a breakup at the time, and I knew I really didn’t want to write a breakup album; it just didn’t seem right. I decided I wanted to write an album about self examination and look into how different events in my life have shaped me into who I am today. Writing this album from 19-21, I think it’s intrinsically linked to coming of age.
The heart of the album is ‘Eighteen’, so what does this song mean to you?
‘Eighteen’ is one of my favorite songs on the record. The way I see it, the song lays out the journey I go on throughout the record, and that’s why it’s the opening track. It talks a lot about time and how sometimes I feel like I’m moving against it.
Elsewhere on the album you explore some intense emotions, whether that’s adrenaline in ‘Insane’ or compassion in ‘Been There Too’. What are you hoping to convey with this emotional arc?
I think again, this album is really about self evaluation. A song like ‘Insane’ speaks to the patterns that I’ve noticed in my love life, and a song like ‘Been There Too’ speaks on my desire for my younger brothers to learn from my experiences. Family is an essential part to this record, because your family shapes so much of who you are as a person.
How do you think visuals further expand the storytelling aspect of the album?
I’ve really loved creating a visual world alongside this record, because I think it really enhances the message of a song. For example, the music video for the song ‘Break,’ which is about self-destruction, shows me in a literal physical altercation with myself. It’s such a fun thing to accompany the song with a visual metaphor.
Following the release of your album, what will be next on the horizon for you?
I’m not sure yet! I’ve spent the past 2 years writing this record, so it seems so weird to be done with it. I’m just happy to be rolling out this record and I’m excited to see where it takes me!
You can also find album track ‘Eighteen’ in our Indie Rockers playlist.
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