FeedsSINcerely red
Young artist looks forward to debut CD
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Curtis Kokenos, or SINcerely red, will release his debut CD in February.Curtis Kokenos considers each of his songs a letter to himself.
That—coupled with the Greek translation of his name, which means red—explains the name he takes when he hits the stage and that will be on his first CD, released next year. SINcerely red.
“I try to take everything and put it in my music,” said the former Westland resident. “I’m trying to get people to know me through my music.”
Only 20, Kokenos lived in a number of places growing up. His parents, Chris and Jenny, toured as Christian musicians Not Our Own, although his father didn’t pick up the guitar until he was 26. He eventually left his job to follow that calling.
Curtis, who plays guitar, drums, piano, sings and writes his own songs, started much earlier.
“I’ve been involved with music my whole life,” he said. “I’ve been playing ever since I can remember.”
His parents—particularly his father—inspired him, so it’s no wonder that he learned the guitar first and then graduated to other instruments. When he’s laying down tracks in the studio, he said he still follows that formula: guitar first, drums and piano later.
He’s taken his music more seriously in the past eight months, but has already played venues such as the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, the Hard Rock Café in Detroit and more.
He said performing in front of an audience—large or small—is one of the most rewarding parts of his young career.
“It’s what you’ve built yourself up for,” he said. “You get to put yourself out there. It’s what you’re trying to do with your life. It’s a great experience.”
The songs from the forthcoming Nothing Left—to be released in February—reflect his musical inspirations, which include John Meyer and Dashboard Confessions.
He’s working with another fledging company—No X-It entertainment—in promoting the CD and getting his name out.
Matthew Trevarthen, manager of the company, said he recognized his talent the first time he heard him—when Kokenos was determined to perform even though he had been in an automobile accident the day before and had a slight concussion.
“That impressed me,” said Trevarthen. “Then he got up on stage and just tore it up.
Kokenos said he will put all his energy into the Thursday show, too.
“If you don’t put 110 percent into it, you’re never going to know if you can excel in it,” he said.
