Keaton Henson - Envy

Keaton Henson
Envy

Envy is the perfect stepping-off point for Henson’s next collection of material. ‘House Party’ looks to be some of the artist’s most fascinating, surprising, and perhaps melodic work to date.

Following the announcement of his upcoming seventh album ‘House Party’ acclaimed singer-songwriter Keaton Henson has released its lead single ‘Envy’. It follows his incredible previous album, the surprising, ‘Monuments’ which tackled the loss of his father. We previously described the record as a ‘candid, devastating catharsis that demands your attention’, praising the way Henson gets ‘deep under your skin’ with ‘his voice and his words managing to connect with the emotions we try to bury, try to bottle up inside’.

All words that will come as no surprise to fans of the elusive singer-songwriter, however the description of his new record as coming from the perspective of a parallel version of himself, a fame-hungry, pink-suited popstar of a narrator who from the outset, aggressively pursued fame, glory and all its trapping, at any cost - just might. 

With Henson, his visuals are a crucial indicator of his state of being and the direction of his music, as his sound. With ‘Envy’, both aspects surprise and delight whilst providing intrigue at his conceptual curveball. Visually his pastel pink suit and ‘rockstar’ shades evoke Father John Misty, whilst his contemplative expressions encapsulate the pensive and destroyed by the trappings of fame musician Henson is portraying. 

Sonically it opens with perhaps the brightest acoustics of his career to date, almost folk in nature. It is a fitting accompaniment to Henson’s incredible vocals, which once again have an impactful, yet delicate nature to them, even as he bends his falsetto-like range to these new pop-style melodies. An extended guitar solo towards the track's conclusion feels rooted in bluegrass and country. It is a surprise how warm the track feels in comparison to some of Henson’s earlier compositions. It is thrilling to see Henson take his sound, even just temporarily, into this new space. Interestingly, in a similar vein to his previous album, a recorded message closes out the track. On 'Monument' it was his father that left a devastating impact on the listener, with 'Envy' I believe but I am not certain, that it may be that same voice once again, 

Lyrically, ‘Envy’ seems to represent the character Henson is portraying as feeling unworthy of the pain/sadness he is going through. Unconvincingly the persona sings “Make fun, I don’t mind, I’m alright, who wouldn’t want to be like me?” as if to say how can someone so enriched by fame and in a literal envious position by others, dare to complain. 

Whilst it's a narrative that has been treaded by culture across decades, Henson’s perspective on it feels unique due to the obvious pain and anxiety he has tackled throughout his career. When this is combined with his incredible songwriting, we’re left as listeners with a beautifully crafted persona and narrative world, that whilst intentionally the parallel opposite to Henson, feels distinctly familiar, leaving you constantly questioning perspectives. This a fitting example of the fascination with fame and its power of destruction which lies at the heart of the record.

Stylistically, there are some incredible moments and shots throughout the visuals adding deeper layers to Henson’s new character. Whether that be the grandiose country mansion setting filled with baby pink balloons or the herd of bunnies that bounce around him. A personal favourite is the shot of a traditional portrait; in it, a child is smiling and holding their pet. Meanwhile tucked in the frame we can see a seemingly pensive Henson, his forehead only visible, before a sudden burst of confetti fills the air. In just one shot, Henson has perfectly encapsulated the characters seeming emotional ruin of fame from childhood to adulthood. 

Envy is the perfect stepping-off point for Henson’s next collection of material. ‘House Party’ looks to be some of the artist’s most fascinating, surprising, and perhaps melodic work to date. I can’t wait to see how the journey Henson will take the listener on unfolds. 

‘House Party’ by Keaton Henson arrives June 2023. ‘Envy’ is available on all streaming services now.