BY LESLEY HASTINGS
Last Friday saw Missouri native Kenny Foster release “ Poor Kids” , the second single to be taken from his upcoming album “ Somewhere In Middle America” which will be available on all major steaming/ download platforms on October 19th. Produced and engineered by Grammy-winner Mitch Dane, and mastered by Grammy-winner Vance Powell at their legendary Nashville studio Sputnik Sound, the album is the long-awaited follow up to 2017’s phenomenal “ Deep Cuts”.
Having been privy to a preview of the album a few months ago at an intimate industry listening event, I remember how this latest single was among the tracks which really hit hard and it’s great to be able to hear it again at last! As well as being an incredible song in its own right this bittersweet ode to childhood serves as the follow up to the title track, released in January, building on the wider story Kenny aims to tell through the project which paints a loving and vivid picture of his roots while at the same time recognising its flaws. He documented the process of creating this record and the people and places that inspired it by taking his videographer, photographer and producer on a road trip from Nashville, where he now lives, to his hometown of Joplin, Missouri, which will result in a multi-platform content to be released in conjunction with the album.
“ Poor Kids” is a co-write by Kenny, Chris Rafetto and Brendan Cooney, the trio apparently finding common ground on several themes which are sure to resonate with anyone who, like myself, didn’t have ( or indeed need ) much in the way of material things while growing up but for whom “ the living was good” regardless … but we were still looked down on and pitied by those who labelled us “ poor kids”. But to quote Kenny ( thank you, socials!) “ Look, whatever words someone uses to describe you ( whether they’re true or not) you can’t let them become the narrative for your life. Insults usually say more about the sayer than the hearer”. Amen to that!
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Listen here https://ffm.to/kenny-foster-poor-kids
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Talking about the write, Kenny explains “ “Kids can be cruel. As if growing up wasn’t hard enough, you had these little jerks to contend with,” he says. “They’d say stuff just to be mean, even if it wasn’t true. I can’t imagine how much of their self-worth and brainspace was wrapped up in their ability to put others down. As I get older I realize some of those kids never grew out of that phase. Brendan brought a great idea to the room that day, and it only got richer as Chris and I added our pictures and experiences to the story. It needed to be both nostalgic and present, a reminder that no matter what “they” call you, there’s a truth separate from a name, moniker, tag, stigma. There’s a real life being lived behind every insult, and more often than not: it’s sweeter than the words that get picked.”
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For those who can’t wait until October to access the full album, it will be released exclusively to the Foster Fam Subscribers who have early access to purchase the album on July 29th…to join, fans can visit kennyfostermusic.com and receive an immediate download of the Bonfire Edition of the album’s title track.
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Additionally, Kenny will make his highly anticipated return to the UK this August with a main stage performance at Millport Festival with other shows to be announced soon. This will be his first visit here as a Father too, congratulations to him and Sara on the birth of their son Townes Eamon Foster last month!
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