KennyHoopla released a new music video for his latest track ‘NEW AMERICA//’ featuring The Strokes’ guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. Following the music video, there will be an Orseno Remix of the track coming out next Friday, September 25th.
Directed by Liam Walsh, the music video sees Kenny in a muted, stripped-back visual wandering the grounds of a house, singing the track as he moves through its spaces. “The ‘NEW AMERICA//’ music video was a bit of a run-and-gun visual that captured spontaneous moments without overthinking it. Getting to shoot in the house from ‘Obsession’ was a bonus and let us create something extra to experience alongside the track,” shares Kennyhoopla.
Originally released on streaming Juneteenth, this track examines themes of cyclical inequality, generational trauma, and the illusion of progress, examining how America repackages its past rather than reckoning with it.
“At its core ‘New America’ is a cynical play on words. Modern society sells us a vision of ‘newness,’ but underneath the fresh paint, America is just making the bed but hiding the mess underneath it. History is being rebuilt with the exact same old bricks; the house is just a different color, and the foundation is still stained by yesterday’s blood. We are still fighting the same battles for equality that our elders fought, but the conflict has moved from the streets to the screen,” shares Kennyhoopla.
This track showcases his dynamic new sound as he continues to collaborate with some of the most iconic names in 2000’s indie rock. When speaking on his work with Albert for this track, he shares, “It was a dream came true to finally make something with Albert – I grew up listening to The Strokes like we all did. It’s still unreal. His guitar playing is a call to assembly that was necessary for this record. He did it.”
Fresh off the release of his fifth EP conditions of an orphan//, KennyHoopla continues to embrace the music that he grew up with, digging deeper than ever into his own personal experiences. His previous EP received praise from outlets including DORK, FLOOD, Ones to Watch, AltPress, Brooklyn Vegan, Stereogum and more. VICE called him “a master of his craft” while Wonderland stated he is “back with a fire in his belly and a sharpness to his vision.”