KEATON HENSON
RELEASES HIS SEVENTH STUDIO ALBUM
OUT NOW VIA PLAY IT AGAIN SAM
NEW SINGLE ‘STAY’ OUT NOW
“House Party plays with concealing and revelation, offering a glimpse into some of his most private emotions” – CLASH
“House Party pulls back the curtains on the temptations of stardom, fitting them inside a pop outpouring that’s as polished and airy as it is devastating” – The Line of Best Fit
Today, Keaton Henson has released his stunning, seventh studio album, House Party, out now via Play It Again Sam. The album is available on CD, LP & digital formats HERE. Tonight, Keaton returns to the stage in Bristol for the opening night of his sold out UK tour that continues through to Manchester, London and Brighton.
House Party is Keaton Henson as you’ve never heard him before; a conceptual and sonic departure that sees him inhabit a parallel version of himself who, from the outset, aggressively pursued fame and all its trappings. This narrator, who is embodied by the pink-suited Keaton of the Tristan Pigott-designed album artwork and imagery, also allows over the course of 12 stunning and pop-driven tracks, the real Keaton to explore his own story and motivation.
Discussing the album, Keaton says “I wanted to make an upbeat confident pop record about depression and being a performer, written from the viewpoint of an artist who has hollowed himself out over a long career in the name of success, an alternate universe version of me, who is left empty and lonely from climbing to the top, but is still only able to express these feelings in the language of confident, performative pop songs.”
The album includes the blissfully bleary ache of first single ‘Envy’; sunny love song ‘The Meeting Place’; album opener ‘I’m Not There’ with its mellifluous jangle pop melodies masking the feelings of disconnection and isolation at the album’s heart; and the beautiful, defences-down apology from Keaton to his wife on ‘Late To You’, in which he blurs the lines between himself and the album’s narrator.
Keaton narrates themes of love throughout House Party, including the exploration of toxic and codependent relationships, ‘Two Bad Teeth’, and ‘Parking Lot’ with its us-against-the-world mentality. Elsewhere, the true desperation and sadness of the pink suited character is told. ‘The Mine’ acts almost as the album’s centrepiece – the moment the facade falls, the music is sparse, the band have left the room, and the true loneliness of the character is witnessed. The chanting ‘Hide Those Feelings’ that closes the album is Keaton’s final word – a somewhat sarcastic summary and universal mantra on how everyone is masking their true feelings.
Discussing new single ‘Stay’, Keaton says “This song was intended to utilise and maybe challenge some classic songwriting tropes and clichés. I want it to sound initially like the classic “don’t go, stay the night” song, but reveal that it’s not romantic or cheeky or lustful, but just because the protagonist is just so unhappy and is desperate for connection, and can’t face the idea of being alone tonight. It feels quite selfish and bleak. But I hope the really classic and upbeat music hides that on first listen.”
House Party was teased at the end of last year as Keaton launched his TikTok with a selection of pop covers, ranging from Taylor Swift to Boys II Men, that were eventually released as an EP, Keaton’s Party Playlist.
Fans lucky enough to get tickets to Keaton’s UK tour before it sold out in a matter of minutes will hear songs taken from the album live for the very first time. The tour kicks off in Bristol tonight and journeys through Manchester, London and Brighton.
Keaton Henson – House Party tracklist:
I’m Not There
Rain In My Favourite House
Envy
The Meeting Place
Two Bad Teeth
Stay
Late To You
Parking Lot
Holiday
The Mine
Hooray
Hide Those Feelings
UK tour dates:
9 June – Thekla, Bristol – SOLD OUT
11 June – Yes, Manchester – SOLD OUT
13 June – Moth Club, London – SOLD OUT
15 June – Chalk, Brighton – SOLD OUT
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