MANCHESTER, NH – From Massachusetts’ cranberry country to France’s Grande Champagne vineyards, French-American singer/songwriter Keenan Cooney traveled miles to find his musical groove.
Though he’d been composing and singing since he was young, Cooney began to take his talent seriously at age 20 when the world paused during the pandemic. With time to spare, the Southern New Hampshire University alumnus and Berklee College of Music student found himself back at the piano, getting right into rhythm. Cooney’s natural ear led him to hundreds of tunes, but with limited resources, he found it difficult to fully bring his musical visions to life. Three years and a move abroad later, the Lakeville, Mass., native discovered the solution to his unfinished compositions: a band.
In 2023, Cooney’s brother, Austin, introduced him to his former colleague, French drummer Etienne Bardoulat, after learning Bardoulat and Cooney had similar musical tastes. The two became fast friends, and after just one jam in Bardoulat’s residence—an 18th-century Cognac chateau—they put their collaboration to the test by attempting to finalize some of Cooney’s songs. With a need for dimension, Bardoulat invited his French bass-and-guitar-playing pals Max Nicolas and Pierre Arénas to join in. Cooney’s melodies quickly gained momentum, and a bicultural band, kemp, was born.
For Cooney, being in the band means finally having an outlet to explore his ideas.
“Being around people who play music [inspires] me to pursue different avenues of [my] musical aspirations,” says the 25-year-old musician. “All of us know that if we have a concept for a song or melody, we can share it and see if it forms into something.”
In August 2025, kemp released their debut single, “Terminal Fever”—Cooney’s first output of original music. The alluring track fuses California pop with Latin rock, creating kemp’s signature “suede” sound—characterized by its smooth, leathery disposition.
“The most magical thing about music is the unspoken language aspect,” he says. “[It] allows you to connect with people on a deeper level than if you speak [the same] language—that’s pretty special.”
kemp’s sophomore single, “Lady in Blue” is available on streaming services worldwide.