Idaho-based musician and songwriter Jens Kuross releases the new single, “Stereotype,” from his forthcoming album, Crooked Songs, out August 29th on Woodsist. Following lead single, “Beggar’s Nation,” in which Kuross’ “emotional candor…forges a universal connection (Radiotrails), “Stereotype” is sparse and mysterious, yet warm and heart-stirring. Co-producer Hayden Pedigo comments, “‘Stereotype’ was the first completed song from the album that I heard after Jens and I had discussed what this record should sound like. I remember being shocked by how perfectly he nailed the feeling I wanted this album to have. It’s probably my favorite song on the record. The melody just stuck out to me, along with the echoey space surrounding it. I genuinely think it’s a perfect song.”
Jens Kuross has been hiding in plain sight: an unnoticed career as an LA session musician and songwriter, a carpenter in Idaho. He moved back to Idaho after souring on the LA music scene, believing after so many years that his music was never going to find an audience. The catalyst for Crooked Songs was a basement show where Kuross opened for Hayden Pedigo in Boise who insisted he make an album that resembled the live show—stripped back, weighty, and sincere. Pedigo says: “Jens played these beautiful, touching songs that sounded something like Arthur Russell-meets-Harry Nilsson.
Crooked Songs feels like the sound of someone making music for themselves for the first time. Using just voice and electric piano, the music is delicately enswathed by ambient synth— minimal without losing sight of his songcraft. Crooked Songs suggests an otherworldly naturalism akin to a ghost returning to earth to observe the passing of time, life, and light.
“I genuinely believe this album represents the music Jens was always meant to create,” Pedigo says. “There’s something incredibly heavy, beautiful, touching, and magical about these crooked songs. I hope you hear that in them, too. I think this album will find people at the exact time they need to hear it. It certainly was that way for me. Jens Kuross has tapped into something people need to hear.”
Kuross will open for Pedigo on an extensive North American tour kicking off in the fall. A full list of dates is below.
Jens Kuross Tour Dates: (all dates supporting Hayden Pedigo) Wed. Oct. 22 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Cell at FUSION Thu. Oct. 23 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Lulu’s Downtown Fri. Oct. 24 – Denver, CO @ Swallow Hill Sun. Oct. 26 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Parker Theatre Mon. Oct. 27 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club Wed. Oct. 29 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios Fri. Oct. 31 – Seattle, WA @ Ballard Homestead Sat. Nov. 1 – Vancouver, BC @ Wise Hall Tue. Nov. 4 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place (Outdoors) Wed. Nov. 5 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel Thu. Nov. 6 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriets Fri. Nov. 7 – Los Angeles, CA @ Barnsdall Gallery Theatre Sat. Nov. 8 – Ojai, CA @ Ojai Valley Woman’s Club Mon. Nov. 10 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah Tue. Nov. 11 – Tucson, AZ @ Pidgin Palace Arts Thu. Nov. 13 – El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace Fri. Nov. 14 – Marfa, TX @ Ballroom Marfa Sat. Nov 15 – Austin, TX @ Central Presbyterian Church Sun. Nov. 16 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs) Mon. Nov. 17 – Dallas, TX @ Sons of Hermann Hall Wed. Nov. 19 – Kansas City, MO @ The Ship Thu. Nov. 20 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge Fri. Nov. 21 – Minneapolis, MN @ Icehouse Sun. Nov. 23 – Chicago, IL @ Sleeping Village Mon. Nov. 24 – Indianapolis, ID @ Turntable Wed. Nov. 26 – Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall Thu. Nov. 27 – Montreal, QC @ L’Esco Sat. Nov. 29 – Brooklyn, NY @ St. John’s Lutheran Church Sun. Nov. 30 – Philadelphia, PA @ Black Squirrel Club Mon. Dec. 1 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage Wed. Dec. 3- Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Altar) Thu. Dec. 4 – Nashville, TN @ The Blue Room at Third Man Records Fri. Dec. 5 – Memphis, TN @ 1884 Lounge
Greg started Culture Fiend as a way to discuss the many facets of pop culture. Greg usually surrounds himself with Star Wars action figures, Legos and a healthy supply of interesting films and unusual records.
