LISTEN: Devin Kennedy Shares Ballad “Hurt U”
LISTEN: Devin Kennedy Shares Ballad “Hurt U”
Have tissues on standby.
Words By: Bre Offenberger
Devin Kennedy, a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who is on the brink of worldwide acclaim, has released his latest single, “Hurt U.” The track is an insanely catchy ballad, spilling with pop elements that radio stations simply won’t be able to refuse.
The track opens with keys that Charlie Puth would be proud of, and they continue to ring as Kennedy looks back on his time with his partner, finding he can only think of good memories. Behind subtle pluckings of a guitar, he reminds her of how beautiful he thinks she looks when she’s just waking up. He promises he has eyes for no one else, and he would never even consider leaving her because no one makes him feel the way she does.
As the track continues, subdued trap drums — which sound like they wouldn’t work in this kind of track but do marvelously — whisk around Kennedy as he reassures her of her worries. The track fades out with gorgeous harmonies and a persuasive argument of unconditional love that most people would die to have directed toward them.
Of the single, Kennedy shares: “’Hurt U’ is one of the most honest and genuine songs I’ve ever been a part of. My co-writers and I set out to create a whole world within this track, including specific lyrical details that are relevant to my life. The story we’re telling here is the experience of falling so in love with someone that you would bend over backward to make sure that they’re comfortable and content. This is about that person who you connect with so deeply that you know there’s nothing that could ever happen to change how you feel about them.”
Kennedy wrote “Hurt U” last summer within the span of three hours, thanks to the help of David Hodges and Whakaio Taahi. This single follows “Sundress,” a song meant for summertime, and “Mean To Me,” an all-too-relatable track about being hurtful to yourself, especially when you don’t deserve it. It’s easy to tell Kennedy was destined for the limelight — and he’s known that most of his life, too. He was able to play guitar, bass and drums even before reaching double digits, and he attended Berklee College of Music. Since then, he’s written and produced songs for Ben Platt, EBEN, Jake Miller and Alex Aiono, among others. The more music Kennedy releases, the more anticipation rises for an album, so hopefully he comes through with more easy-to-love tracks soon.
