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KENTON journeys through family, identity and healing in “Sweetmouth (Sugar Free)” (EP)

KENTON

“Sweetmouth (Sugar Free)” is an extremely reflective acoustic EP that guides you through its six tracks as it explores memory, identity, and emotional reconciliation. Created at a moment of deep discovery, the project reveals KENTON’s process of forgiving others, of realizing who he is within himself, and of internally processing what he experienced as a queer Asian American child growing up in the United States.

The EP opens with “I’m Breaking My Father’s Heart – Acoustic,” a gentle track about the disconnection between what parents desire and what you believe is true. “Never Born – Acoustic” is inward-looking, exploring the existential uncertainty of financial suffering at home and prayers that hang in the air, unanswered.

“Let Light In – Live” is a release that captures emotional awakening, where letting go of past pain is the first step toward recovery. “Without You – Acoustic” is one of the most affecting moments on the EP, which recounts a tough relationship with a sick father. “Wannabe American – Acoustic” laments the falseness of the American Dream and how it commodifies the Asian identity.

On the final song, “The Times – Acoustic,” KENTON directs strength toward a message of survival, hope, and endurance in an emotionally suffocating world. “Sweetmouth (Sugar Free)” is also the voice of the collective, and it’s a gift to immigrant and queer youth searching for belonging in spaces that often do not welcome them.

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Photo credit: Ricky Chavez

Connect with KENTON on Website | Spotify | Instagram | TikTok

A seasoned music writer at Honk Magazine, covering new releases and artist spotlights with a focus on blending insight with captivating storytelling, helping readers connect deeply with the music and the artists behind it.

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Artist Spotlight

Atmo Nura creates lasting emotion from fading memories in “Last Real Song”

Atmo Nura

Atmo Nura releases “Last Real Song,” which brings a deeply emotional experience. A song that explores the memories, voices, and emotions that won’t go away, even as time passes. Against the glow of a motel and the endless sunsets of summer, the song gently blurs the lines between yesterday and today, creating a reflective mood that is both cinematic and intimate. It’s a thoughtful piece that asks listeners to sit with each emotion, not speed through it.

The production supports that vision with lovely drums, a steady beat, and chilly hi-hats that keep a calm, compelling momentum going throughout. Every instrumental layer is in service to the storytelling, never overpowering it, so that the emotions are always at the forefront. It is in the development of the song with the lines, “This is the last real song” and “you don’t hear it with your ears, you feel it with your soul,” that the message seeps in organically into the listener’s imagination, further cementing the song’s reflective nature.

“Last Real Song,” written, performed, and envisioned entirely by Atmo Nura, is an artistic statement borne out of emotion and atmosphere. It’s a listening experience that resonates long after the final note, leaving a lasting emotional impression, thanks to a judicious mix of evocative imagery, heartfelt storytelling, and understated production.

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Artist Spotlight

Kae Sera lights up the night with irresistible emotion on latest release “THE MOON”

Kae Sera

Kae Sera is back with a fresh take on “THE MOON,” reimagining her most-streamed original as a late-night summer house anthem that feels intimate and expansive at the same time. The sultry vocals are based on a moody atmosphere and a sense of understated confidence that allows every musical detail to breathe. The fluid production makes for an inviting place where emotion and rhythm can flow together easily. This rework feels both familiar and fresh.

From the snap of the opening kick and the tight percussion to the cool chord progression, the production lays down a hypnotic pulse that gently pulls the listener into the song’s orbit. The performance immediately grabs the audience with opening lines such as “you wanna know my story” and “my words are expensive and they are not for sale” and uses subtle expression rather than excess. The track glows naturally late at night, thanks to the contrast between its muted instrumentation and expressive vocals.

“THE MOON” is particularly memorable for its combination of dancefloor appeal and emotional depth. The rhythm is house-inspired, but it never detracts from the reflective mood, and everything adds up to a complete listening experience. Kae Sera takes a much-loved original and turns it into something new, sophisticated, and emotionally resonant, delivering an album that stays with you long after the music ends.

Connect with Kae Sera on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook

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