Growing up in Asbury Park, NJ, home to the iconic music venue, The Stone Pony, it was nearly impossible for Kevian Kraemer not to be pulled into music’s orbit.
While juggling wrestling, surfing, and soccer, Kevian still kept his eye on the ball, musically speaking, taking drum lessons at Lakehouse Music Academy and eventually branching out into piano, saxophone, bass, and ukulele.
After gaining traction on social media with his homemade GarageBand tracks, he officially launched his career with his debut EP, Seventeen, led by his breakout single, “Attention.” Over the past year, the track has skyrocketed to over 10 million global streams.
Now signed to Atlantic Records, Kevian continues his ascent with the release of his highly anticipated new EP, Jersey or Mars.
We caught up with the breakout indie-pop artist to talk about his song “Rearview,” his upcoming debut headline tour, “The Jersey or Mars Tour,” and more!
“Rearview” feels like a pivotal emotional release. What was the moment that sparked the song’s creation?
Simon Oscroft and I wrote “Rearview” in the middle of July 2024, when I was just coming off of a two-year high school relationship that ended partially because I knew that I was going to be moving across the country to pursue music. Breaking this off with that person felt awful and was extremely tough, but even with that said, I knew it was a choice that was best for both of us. That’s exactly the thought and feeling that led to the song’s development and its message.
The line “your chapstick and my keychain” is a unique lyrical detail. How do small, tangible memories influence your songwriting?
Sometimes when I write, I do my best to really bring myself into the past moment that I’m picturing. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I feel like when the lyrics of a song are very conversational and descriptive, it makes the listener more invested and able to relate to them in many different senses.
The track’s energy contrasts with its emotional weight. Was that intentional, and how did you approach balancing those tones?
The bittersweet and yearning lyrics put to a light-hearted and energetic instrumental were entirely intentional. Simon and I tried to balance those two elements in an attempt to showcase my songwriting as an artist while also launching my project into a more band-oriented world, which is something that I intend to keep on growing as more music comes out.
The EP’s title Jersey or Mars, implies a choice between comfort and the unknown. How do you personally navigate that tension in your life and music?
Big question right here, dang. I think I’ve always navigated between what’s comfortable and the unknown by actively doing my best to embrace life’s changes, while also trying to maintain relationships with the people that I really love and care about. Even in my move from Jersey to California, my new sound for my music, and many other shifts in my life, I’ve always had my sister, best friends, parents, and music homies to lean on, which is how I think that I’m able to keep my head on.
Each song on this EP explores transitional moments. Which transition was the hardest for you to process while writing?
I think that when it comes to each subject that this project explores, it’s the overall theme that was the toughest to process and never left my head in creating each track: change is inevitable, and nothing ever stays the same. It’s with this record that I found clarity in that whole idea and did my best to sprinkle themes of embracing change within some of the songs.
Your previous EP Seventeen had a more coming-of-age feel. How does Jersey or Mars expand on that narrative or shift it?
I think when compared to Seventeen and its message, Jersey or Mars is a huge expansion to the last song on my first EP, June is Getting Old. That song was about accepting the fact that someone significant to me was moving across the country and that things would never be the same. I took this yearning, fear, and an excitement of sorts into this next project and put a little piece of that initial EP song into each of the eight new tracks.
You’re about to head out on your first US headline tour. What are you most excited, and most nervous about?
Going on this US Tour is something that I’ve dreamt of doing since I made my first record. I’m beyond stoked to give each crowd a crazy fun experience and allow them to hear each of these songs in the environment that they’re meant for. I’m also so excited to be on the road with my homies from back home and to meet/chat with everyone that comes to a show! Not feeling nervous about anything, if I’m being completely honest, I was brought up surrounded by live music, and this is what I live for!
From TikTok snippets to intimate shows like the one at Al’s General Store, how do you think your fans connect most deeply with your music?
I think that being able to put on a live show and an event like this one in downtown Los Angeles creates an excitement that isn’t attainable from only being on the internet. I feel like it’s extremely important to be accessible to my listeners and out in the real world doing real things, because at the end of the day, I want to build and also be a part of this community that I’m building around my music and artistry.
What city are you most looking forward to performing in, and why?
I think it either has to be between my hometown, Asbury Park, or Salt Lake City, Utah. On one end I’m ending the tour off with all my friends, family, and community in the venue where I played my first ever live concert when I was 8, but on the other end I never knew that we’d be able to sell so many tickets in a state that I’ve never even been to. We sold out Kilby Court, SLC, in the first hour of general sale, and now I literally can’t wait to play for such a dedicated and enthusiastic city! With that said, every single show is going to be special and absolutely unreal, so let’s just hope we can sell out each one!
You play a wide range of instruments. How does that multi-instrumental background influence the way you build songs?
I think that, in being a multi-instrumentalist, I’m able to explore so many different directions whenever I have an idea for a record. Sitting down with a producer and being able to just build an instrumental world to write over is one of my favorite ways to create. It’s almost like being able to choose the voice of a record and what voice I wanna speak the idea through, if that makes any sense HA.
Your music feels like an “endless summer.” What artists or albums helped you craft that aesthetic?
I grew up listening to classic bands like The Strokes, Incubus, and Led Zeppelin, but where I really think my music gets its shape is from groups/artists like The Backseat Lovers, Last Dinosaurs, Dr. Dog, and Remi Wolf. One of the most influential albums for my music is the album ‘In Rainbows,’ by Radiohead.
Growing up in Asbury Park, did the town’s music history shape your path in any way?
Oh yeah, 100%. Being surrounded by such an authentic and colorful community from so many different backgrounds allowed me to explore all parts of not only my artistry but myself. It gave me a very strong foundation of confidence and desire to completely be nothing other than real, on top of that the scene in Asbury Park has inspired my music in more ways than I probably even realize.
If you could set up a fan in any setting for them to listen to Jersey or Mars, what setting would that be?
I would put them smack dab in the middle of a venue to watch my band and I perform each song live! These records were meant to be experienced live, and it’s seriously such an insane gift to be able to take them on the road with this “Jersey or Mars Tour,” to allow people to experience each of these songs to their fullest capacity.
What is one quote you’ve heard in life that you’d want to ECHO out to fans?
BE KIND! LOVE YOURSELF AND LOVE OTHERS!