Student 1 Gives Us “kevinkevinkevin”
Today, Minneapolis-based artist and producer student 1 announces his fourth record truant out June 19 and is available for pre-save now. Alongside the announcement, the artist shares the first taste of the project with laid-back, bright “kevinkevinkevin” out now with its accompanying video. The forthcoming introspective project by student 1 is a raw, experimental exploration... The post Student 1 Gives Us “kevinkevinkevin” appeared first on The Garnette Report.
Black News 
Today, Minneapolis-based artist and producer student 1 announces his fourth record truant out June 19 and is available for pre-save now. Alongside the announcement, the artist shares the first taste of the project with laid-back, bright “kevinkevinkevin” out now with its accompanying video. The forthcoming introspective project by student 1 is a raw, experimental exploration of the difficult, messy parts–feeling absent, distracted and avoidant–while continuing the search for joy, freedom and hope.
The official album release show is set for release day, June 19, at Chicago’s Book Club with punk band Champions and support from hip-hop artist CRASHprez. Get more information here.
Entirely written, mixed and mastered by student 1, the twelve tracks on truant focus on personal, specific moments of aimlessness, feeling mentally absent, avoidance, and addiction, and how these moments inform who he’s become in both good and bad ways, while additionally feeling like the dysfunction these moments create is part of something bigger.
It was during the making of the project that the artist dug himself out of a creative funk. Student 1 shares, “It’s inspired by the problems these moments create and have created (as well as the desire to solve them), the headspace I was in, drugs, and not being able to articulate important feelings and thoughts. There isn’t a substantial focus on this aspect outside of some subtle mentions, but I do mention the loss of a parent, as my father passed away during the making of the album.”
The sole feature on the album is a Minneapolis-based artist named Demon Marcus. Student 1 says of the collaboration process, “When we’re making music together, it’s unlike making music with most people, so I truly wanted to highlight him on this project as much as possible.” Co-production credits include YUSF, LEEszn, and dog owner man.
Taking its name from Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, “kevinkevinkevin” explores dissociation, disillusionment and being misunderstood. Over a bright groove, the lyrics comment on judgement from others and wonder if things really are the way they seem. With encouragement from Demon Marcus, the artist took new creative risks. Facing his fears, he adds, “It started out as a beat I was too scared to record over, and then my friend Austin (Demon Marcus) helped me work up the courage to try something outside my usual pocket.”
The accompanying visual, directed by longtime collaborator Justus Louisiana with help from Erik Astle, allows the artist to get creative with storytelling in new ways. Louisiana shares, “The creative freedom I am allowed to have I don’t take for granted. [Student 1] puts a lot of trust in me and that trust makes me want to deliver. To us, there are no bad ideas–only ones to explore. This one came together so organically, we had an entire narrative but the video came to life almost on its own.”
Student 1 is an Ethiopian-Eritrean Minneapolis-based artist whose music blends melody and experimental production to explore his inner and outer worlds and profound topics like addiction, grief and mental health. Now, he’s gearing up to expand his sonic palette with his fourth project. In 2018, he shared his debut project, drag, and followed up the following year with his sophomore album, UPPRCLSSMN which features “YIN/YANG,” a trip-hop, chilled-out collaboration with critically acclaimed rapper and singer, Tierra Whack.
In 2022, he shared OFFTHEDUST!, mixed by collaborator, engineer and artist Alex Tumay (Drake, Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, 21 Savage), followed by an instrumental version. Known for his versatility, he has amassed millions of global streams and garnered attention from The Current, Star Tribune, and Lyrical Lemonade. Student 1 has performed hundreds of times on stages around the country, including SXSW, Soundset, Afropunk, and First Avenue’s 7th St Entry.
The post Student 1 Gives Us “kevinkevinkevin” appeared first on The Garnette Report.
