Artist Spotlight: Kenzo Cregan
By Gabriella Anifantis
@kenzocregan on Instagram
Los Angeles native Kenzo Cregan has music in his blood. The singer attributes his artistry to his melodic upbringing in a household of musicians. He garners inspiration from classic blues and rock, to more alternative influences such as Mac DeMarco. Pairing rich sounds with relatable everyday issues, Kenzo charms audiences with his tracks. This summer, he is set to unveil three new singles, all before heading on his fall tour in September. Check out the full Q&A to learn more about KENZO, his upcoming releases and his musical journey.
SPEC: We read in a past interview that your love of music began at age three. Can you talk to us a little bit about your musical journey? What's your story?
KENZO: Three years old was the time I picked up a guitar for the first time. I started to just explore it and strum it, and honestly, I didn't really know what I was doing. Both my parents were very instrumental, and that definitely started my interest. My dad, Jim Cregan, is actually a musician as well. I saw him playing a show, just like a little family festival with this band, and
they were playing the Topanga Days. I remember we were sitting on the grass and he was playing guitar. I got up and walked to the front of the stage, just looking up and staring at him. He was the one who introduced me to actually playing. My mom was the one who showed me a lot of albums. She showed me the Beatles and told me who The Stones were. They were musical in different ways--my mom introduced me to the bands and my dad was the one who showed me “This is how you play.” It created this relationship that I have with music.
SPEC: Which artists inspired your taste growing up? Are there groups or musicians that shaped the music you produce?
KENZO: It's evolved from so much stuff. I think because of my upbringing, I was introduced to a lot of old, old music. Especially old rhythm and blues. And there was the Beatles, and Stones - all the stuff you go through as a young man. Picking up the guitar you learn all the classics. In my twenties, I got super into Paul McCartney's solo works. Specifically, Paul McCartney's Ram is an album that really inspired the Kenzo stuff. Mac DeMarco, The Black Keys, Dan Auerbach, are some others. My goal is to bring my listeners through my musical journey. My sound is evolving as I'm releasing things, and I sort of think it's cool to bring the listener through that journey instead of doing behind-the-scenes and then putting the music out.
SPEC: In terms of style messaging or audience, how would you describe your music and what, or who do you want to address through what you create?
KENZO: That's a big question. Relatability is a big thing for me. I think we get super bogged down with whatever we're going through. We sometimes forget that we're not alone in those experiences. I think with the stuff that I write, I try to convey commonality between people and try to create a sense of community. You'll hear a lot of my songs that are about the sort of everyday stuff that you go through, like relationships and self-reflection. I want people to listen and think I know what he's talking about, and I've gone through that shit.
SPEC: You have a pretty extensive list of releases coming out this summer. Can you tell us a little bit about these upcoming projects and some challenges you faced while writing those singles?
KENZO: This next song that's coming out is a song called “Ginger Ale,” which I co-wrote with two of the main members (Cameron Olson and Cameron Boyer) in a band called Weathers that I'm opening for on this upcoming tour in September. Lisa Heller who's featured on it will also be singing with me. Essentially we wanted a female feature on it because it's about a toxic alcohol-driven relationship. I don't want to spill too much of it, but you'll hear it in the lyrics that are coming out on July 23rd, and the video will be out the 28th.
SPEC: You have plans to go on tour this fall. How are you feeling about this and what kind of challenges do you think the post COVID world faces in terms of live performances?
KENZO: It's going to be interesting. I'm going to be going from zero to 60. I feel excited, I’ve essentially done no live shows. I have one live video of me playing on Jam in the Van, which was the closest thing I've done to a live show since February of 2020. I think people are really hungry for [live performances] though. I think audiences are going to be really stoked to see touring bands.
SPEC: If you could give your younger self advice, what would you tell them?
KENZO: I would tell my younger self to be more open-minded in terms of musical taste. From hip hop to classical to whatever it may be.
SPEC: What does the future look like for you? Do you have any plans for EPs or any dream artists that you would like to collaborate with?
KENZO: After “Ginger Ale” I have a couple more that I co-wrote and co-produced with this guy named Don Migs, who is unbelievable. He has been brilliant to work with. We already have an EP worth of songs in the works right now. We're looking to hopefully do an album together, but we'll see. The goal is to at least have two EPs. In terms of dream collab, if I could work with Dan Auerbach that would be sick. He had this really good solo record that came out in 2017 called Waiting on a Song. It's got sort of an Americana vibe and his production is really cool. It would be really cool to collaborate with someone like him or even a guy like Mac DeMarco. We have a lot of differences in our music but I think there are enough similarities that it'd be cool.
SPEC: What is something that your audiences don't know about you? Possibly a fun fact, or something about the upcoming releases that would surprise listeners?
KENZO: I'm a huge Lakers fan and huge basketball fan. It's a large part of my identity. I'm sort of trying to implement that a little bit more into the Kenzo brand. Whoever ends up following me after this—let's talk basketball.