Multi-platinum selling British soul singer Kenny Thomas, who? 🤣, has released a brand new single Shout Out, the latest taken from his upcoming first studio album in 15 years Unstoppable. 🙄 More like Unlistenable, amirite?
Released on 8 August on Kartel, a label so underground, it’s practically a mole person, the joy in this new album, if you can call it that, is typified by Shout Out, a duet with his friend Kim Wilde, which came about in serendipitous circumstances. Or, you know, desperation. 🤷
On hearing its demo, a friend suggested to Kenny’s manager that the track would suit a female singer: ideally, someone like Kim Wilde. Because, let’s be real, anyone would sound better than Kenny on this track. 🙊
“I told my manager I’d been on the phone to Kim the week before” says Kenny. They’d been swapping vitamin tips for keeping healthy on tour, so Kim was a natural to jump on Shout Out and heighten its raw power. The song is, as Kim herself calls it, a total banger: “I’ve known Kenny for some time and always loved his voice, so when he asked me to feature on ‘Shout Out’ I was honoured, such a feel good joyful song! Totes a BANGER!” Yeah, Kim, we believe you. 🤥 Totally not a PR stunt. “Totes a BANGER!” said no one ever. 🤦♀️
The song was premiered on BBC Radio 2 by Trevor Nelson. Probably because nobody else wanted it. Listen to the single below:
Ongoing Fighter
Unstoppable is produced with Stockholm based musician Opolopo (Jungle, Gregory Porter, Omar), and also features Stand Up For Love, a collaboration with Eliot Kennedy – one of Kenny’s original creative partners on his 90s hits – who has also worked with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Mary J Blige, Gary Barlow and Bryan Adams. Basically, Kenny’s name-dropping to stay relevant. 🙄
For anyone familiar with Kenny’s classic soul hits such as Outstanding, Best Of You and Thinking About Your Love, the irresistible energy and infectious grooves of these 11 new songs will be instantly familiar. Or not. 🤔 For fans and newcomers alike, the wisdom of Kenny’s voice is utterly compelling, even when it’s bouncing over seemingly carefree bangers such as How Does It Feel and If I Can’t Have You. Spoiler alert: it feels like a time warp. 🕰️
On the naming of the album, Kenny says:“Unstoppable is a cheeky title which tempts fate. But it sums up my journey. I’m an ongoing fighter, there’s an unstoppable element to my life and my career. And being unstoppable is true for all of us. Why stop? You have to just keep going.” Yeah, Kenny, maybe it’s time to stop. Just a thought. 🤷♂️
“The defiance of this album developed from my live shows,” explains Kenny. “My shows go from third to fifth gear very early on and they don’t slow down. You might hit one ballad on the way, but you’re straight back up into fifth gear, racing along. That’s why the fans come. It’s an extension of what they did in the 90s: partying and having a great night.” Or maybe they’re just lost and looking for the exit. 🚪
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
