This week at RockRevolt we had the opportunity to talk with Hunter Kennedy, an independent musician who performs under the moniker “Seven Story Fall.” He is fluent in every genre and continues to surprise his fans with his sound. So, here is our interview with Kennedy. Enjoy!
Who are you?
My name is Hunter Kennedy, I am a solo artist who performs under the name “Seven Story Fall” with a backing band for live shows that consists of three other guys from Wayne, MI. I’ve won multiple awards, toured the country and a huge part of me is I strive to be versatile in using many genres in my music as well as multiple instruments (modern and classic).
How did you get started in music?
It was a process really. I received a drum set and guitar for Christmas when I was 11 and then did six lessons for each instrument to get the basics learned. I then taught myself the rest and decided to join band in Middle School and High School to further learn – especially the ability to play multiple instruments. From this I decided to start a band and down the road realized I got things done at a higher quality a lot faster when I did everything myself, so I went solo officially in 2012.
Who are your influences and how do they play a role in your sound?
I have too many to count and some aren’t even musicians or people for that matter! Some bands I’ve learned a lot from are the Beatles and all their experimenting with genres and sounds, Paul McCartney’s solo career and him pushing on after such an impactful band. Blink 182 being one of my first influences into upbeat pop punk, Marianas Trench with the use of concepts, strings and costumes, Set It Off with their upbeat pop punk sound and including strings and other classic instruments into modern music. A feeling or just being in a certain location can spark interest in writing a song for me, so like I said, some influences aren’t just people.
What has been your most meaningful experience being a musician so far?
I think my most meaningful experience has been consistent and not just one moment and just being able to perform with some of the bands I used to listen to as a kid, is just surreal for me.
Favorite memory from a show you’ve played or a place you’ve travelled?
I have a tie for Liquid Sol Music Festival in Phoenix, AZ with Train, All American Rejects and a bunch of others. Center of the Universe Festival in Tulsa, OK with Twenty-One Pilots, Awolnation, Capital Cities and a bunch more. Both shows offered the bands great perks for performing – especially being so hot and outside. I was really impressed with how well they took care of the artists. The crowds were huge, the sound was excellent and just overall I had a crazy good time. I don’t party anymore so it’s hard to find stuff to stimulate me organically so I can say with honesty that I enjoyed myself at these two shows the most. Every show has its ups and downs but these just happen to work out the best.
What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
Well, my albums are concept albums and hopefully the message of that gets to people and we start treating each other, the world, other lifeforms, better than we have. If nothing else, I’d like to at least make it a consistent job for me. I love music more than anything and I’d just like to make it my job, I don’t need to be rich but if I could live off this music I’d be more then ecstatic.
Something about you that no one knows?
Umm ha-ha! Well, anything I’m willing to share that no one knows isn’t much. I’m pretty honest and don’t hide much; I just never lived like that. Here’s one that most don’t know: I’ve cut my own hair since middle school, on purpose though I just trust myself doing it a lot more and always seemed to do it better. except once on a cut I had a couple years ago, I just was very indecisive about what I wanted and the result sucked ha-ha. I fixed it though.
What is next for you?
I’m currently promoting my new single, hoping to get some momentum so I can book some shows/tour and release another single then in a few months a full length album. With tradition on being solo, I figured since Seven Story Fall is a LLC already, I decided to just use it as my independent / self-released label and release all my future music on it to really build this back up, my last label proved I can at least handle the business at this level and plan to do so until I team up with the right people. Until then everything will be in house. ADTR & Hopsin inspired me to release on my own label.
Anything else you want to add?
My new single “I, Spy” is officially out now only on www.sevenstoryfall.com & www.reverbnation.com/sevenstoryfall . I’ll be releasing another new single “We will fight” in the next couple months as well as a new full length album that will be part 2 of a larger multi album story a few months later.
