Artist Of The Week #317 - Paige Kennedy
This week's Artist of the Week is Paige Kennedy - who has just released their new EP 'Style Over Substance'.
Across four eccentric alt-bangers Paige finds the alchemy between emotional gut-punches and the absurd, whilst never straying far from a killer hook. With such an eye for wry vignettes, and a whacky, off-the-wall persona - it’s no surprise Paige is building an ever-growing audience through their music, and pin-point social clips. This online reverence is translating into an exciting live plot, and a show which gets feet moving on sticky floors and grassy fields alike.
They took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Paige, how are you? So your EP is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?
Hello, very well thanks how are you? Currently quite sleep deprived in a splitter van somewhere near Bristol having a blast.
Very exciting to let the people finally hear Tina which features my real life bestie Tina in the music video. Also great to have that artwork out in the world. Shout out to the designer Luca Pawson and photographer Keira Cullinane.
It is called ‘Style Over Substance' – what is the meaning behind that?
The crux of the name comes from my love for disguising heavily themed songs with humour and campy instrumentals. “Style Over Substance" suggests a frivolous EP but the acronym is literally “SOS", which illustrates how I was actually feeling - spoiler alert, it’s a break up EP.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
Drums were recorded in Pony studios Hackney with Upcycled Sounds very own Níko O’Brien with Kieran Murphy behind the kit. We bashed them out in one evening session, because music is expensive.
It was Niko’s idea for Kieran to do the jazz style drumming in Tina. The part is mostly built off a couple of improvised takes, making it a bit of a hyper pop/modern jazz crossover. Bass was at my house in London, performed by George Burrage and engineered by me. My long suffering parents hosted me and James Cooke for guitars and keys which we performed and engineered together. I also tracked and self-engineered vocals in my homemade vocal booth at my parent's house. The main theme of the recording process was the Summer Olympics 2024. I became particularly obsessed with synchro diving and bowl skateboarding, which I was watching between takes. Then I produced and mixed from my living room (I have endlessly tolerant housemates) and Nic Nell mastered from his home studio. As you can tell it’s a very DIY operation to save costs. I am also a control freak.
What are the key influences behind the EP?
Musically I was inspired by indie sleaze, hyper pop and jazz. Lyrically I was drawn to film directors who work in the horror/tragedy-becomes-comedy pocket e.g. Peter Strickland, Yórgos Lánthimos and David Lynch. A big literary influence was Patricia Highsmith, particularly Deep Water. I love her characterisation and darkness. The overarching theme was me experiencing cataclysmic heartbreak for the first time.
If the EP could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
I would have to say Flux Gourmet (Peter Strickland). There’s a medical theme and it’s a little creepy but the comedy and eccentricity brings levity. This EP sits in a similar tonal pocket. I do love the original soundtrack though!
Do you have a favourite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
"My mum says I should reframe this/so I pretend that I’m world famous-” - it’s a fun false rhyme.
Now the EP is out there – what next for you?
Well as I write this, my next move is a headline show in a few hours, in Bristol. It’s been a cracking tour so far. Someone gave me a small figurine of a baby and a paper inhaler in Brighton. My incredible band (James Cooke, George Burrage, Mim Shortall), sound engineer (Greg Chiche) and tour manager (Lauren Bell) have been bossing it so far. It’s an amazing feeling to have people come down to packed shows, ready to mosh and dance. I am literally living my dream. Further upcoming is the rest of the tour (I’m sure you’ll put the dates below). Then beyond that, I’m straight back to my day job (I don’t know if you know, music is expensive and I’ve got a tour to pay for). I’m manifesting some kind of massive sync deal so I can stop working crazy hours and focus on writing an album. We’re also gonna have lots of live stuff where we can, but at the moment the tour is in my crosshairs.
