May 10th, 2013
EPIC got the chance to connect with Kennedy Jones just in time for his appearance in Chico alongside Borgore on their #TurntLife Tour. Throwing down at the Senator Theater Saturday, May 11, Kennedy Jones is sure to have the place turnt up with everyone salsa twerking their booties off.
EPIC: What was your first thought when you saw you’d be playing a show in Chico, Calif.?
Kennedy Jones: “My first thought when I saw I would be playing in Chico is party party party. I heard you guys are a big party town and I am excited to see if that’s true or not! It’s always exciting when I’m going to play somewhere that people tell me in advance that my supporters are particularly wild in that specific city!”
EPIC: You blew up as a trap artist relatively fast, in your personal opinion why do you think that is?
KJ: “First of all I feel like I didn’t even ‘blow up’ as a ‘trap artist’, which I am happy about. I feel like my true supporters know and expect ALL kinds of music from me, which is a fact that I love. I feel like this has all happened so quickly because of a combination of things. My Buygore family has supported me greatly, we all support eachother. Asaf has been really supportive of me and my music since the start, my management (Steve/Asaf) are always looking out for me, my booking agency is incredible (Circle Talent), friends of mine that are also producers (12th Planet, Borgore, EctEct, Carnage, Ookay, Diplo, Schoolboy, Brosafari, Brillz, GTA, Kill The Noise, Luminox to name only a few) have all supported my music from the start.
Also, my mom, my close best friends, my sisters, and extended family all cannot be any more loving and supportive of what I’m doing. There have been people next to me every step of the way. That had a HUGE impact on where I am today and I could not be more grateful and humbled by that fact. Last but not least my supporters are INCREDIBLE people. All of them are really unique in their own way and have really a passion to share and grow my music just as much as I do. I try to keep in close contact with them all by UStreaming frequently, giving them my phone number, and open email lines/Facebook messages and Twitter. I’m hoping that in the future, I can continue to support and be supported by my fans and other artists in the community, that’s what it’s all about.”
EPIC: Who were your musical influences growing up, and which genres inspired you to start creating your own music?
KJ: “To be quite honest, growing up I was pretty inspired by A LOT of musicians. I was never the type to say this ONE guy shaped my dream vision as a producer. If I had to chose one, George Clinton really has been an inspiration to me for a long time in my eyes as being a “super producer”. I got the honor of meeting Mr. Clinton at the Red Bull Culture Clash here in Los Angeles recently and watched him actually perform a few songs such as “Atomic Dog”. He has made so many iconic songs that will stay popular forever by having just the right formula for writing music and is still performing. That’s amazing.
I had alot of different musical interests growing up, from jazz, swing, big band, hip hop, rock, metal, country, pop, house, oldies and more. Just the simple fact that I was 8 years old singing Freddy Fender tunes at school and people would look at me weird, I was inspired. I felt like I was different than other kids my age because I really, really felt such an appreciation for the old music and not just one genre. From that point on, I felt such a history attached to music and realized how much I valued it in my life.”
EPIC: It comes to our understanding that you have “Irish Pride” tattooed on your toes, tell us a little more about why your heritage is so important to you.
KJ: “My mother and father, although divorced since I was very young, were both very proud of our Irish heritage. The name ‘Kennedy’ comes from my grandfathers side (my father’s father) and my mother’s side was the Ryan family, from Ireland. I just always try to keep in mind what my ancestors believed and what they did to make their lives successful in the past. It’s important, sacred, to me.”
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