Kean Kavanagh returns with 'Summer Nights', announces Whelan's gig

Kean Kavanagh has returned with stunning new single 'Summer Nights' - a hazy, dream-like offering that shrouds the listener in calm euphoria before morphing into a triumphant state of acceptance.

The single comes accompanied by the announcement that the Soft Boy Records co-founder, producer and A&R will play a headline show in Whelan's on December 19th, 2021.

A therapeutic and cathartic single, 'Summer Nights' lands in the wake of last year’s Dog Person project - a 10-track collection of tracks that explores melancholy, humour and the mundanity of life.

"I wrote this song about a recurring dream I was having the past year, and it was kind of disturbing me so I wrote and recorded the song to try and change the way that I associate with it," Kean says of 'Summer Nights'. "I wrote and recorded most of the instruments myself and then I got Ryan Hargadon in at the end to record some additional synths and some sax to finish it off.”

Fans will remember previous releases 'Roll Over!' and 'EMMA', both of which served to prove that Kavanagh had firmly stepped into the limelight both in Ireland and across the channel.

Kean had previously pulled the strings behind the scenes of Soft Boy Records; but is now becoming one of the most exciting names on the emerging music scene. A story-teller, word-smith and dexterous musician with a strong imagination, Kean’s career is set to project far beyond his Irish roots.

The Irish act nabbed credits across fellow Soft Boy Records co-founder Kojaque’s debut album Town’s Dead and performing alongside the Dublin rapper at All Points East festival.

Founded in 2015, Soft Boy Records morphed into a cultural behemoth that has made a major impact on the Irish music scene. Kean found himself sharing stages with names as big as Slowthai and Lana Del Ray, as well as his consequential solo-slots opening for Maverick Sabre and Vampire Weekend.

Last year, Kean appeared on the Everything is Recorded project FRIDAY FOREVER - curated by Richard Russell of XL Recordings - alongside Aitch, Flohio, Maria Somerville, Ghostface Killah and others.

Kavanagh also was added to the Herself soundtrack alongside fellow Irish artists Fehdah and David Kitt ('Follow The Sound'); Soulé ('Love Tonight'); The Stunning ('Brewing Up A Storm'); Inhaler ('Ice Cream Sundae'); The Cranberries ('Dreams'); B*Witched ('C'est La Vie'); and Úna Palliser ('Lass of Aughrim').

Tickets to see Kean Kavanagh live in Dublin and London (€14.35) go on sale this Friday, 1 October at 10am from Ticketmaster.ie

Check out the simple video for 'Summer Nights' below: