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Soulful pop musician KENTON has released a live rendition of “Let Light In,” one of his most introspective anthems and the closing moment on his latest album, Sweetmouth. The thoughtful and reflective track gains clarity with its live counterpart, echoing KENTON’s greatest vocal strengths while beautifully encompassing the song’s messaging in its cinematic representation. With live strings, gentle piano, and a full choir, “Let Light In (Live)” is now available to watch on YouTube and stream on digital music platforms.
On KENTON’s debut album, Sweetmouth, “Let Light In” represented both a homecoming and a rejuvenation for the multidisciplinarian. The crooning musician had “lost wars” but reflected on his desire to “let light in” as a way of seeking personal redemption from a world of difficult endeavors. It served as a cathartic and contemplative bookend to his track, “I’m Breaking My Father’s Heart.” The listener travels on the redemptive journey alongside him, hopefully inspiring others to take similar steps of their own. The updated track is further bolstered by KENTON’s live vocals, which emphasize the anthem’s choral notes and bring the track’s emotional resonance to life. The live version, filmed by Tristan Pelletier, roots itself in a beautiful, no-frills performance space and features a live choir consisting of Rachel Gonzalez (also on guitar), Mario Jose, Kana Shimanuki, Fletcher Sheridan, Valerie Tambaoan, and Jarrett Johnson. To complete the live track, KENTON brought in a string section featuring Camille Miller (violin), Aiko Jimena (violin), Drew A. Forde (viola), and Niall Taro (cello), and piano from Sam Hirsh. KENTON navigates the cut’s urgency, softly elevating the song with stunning, impassioned vocal refrains. “‘Let Light In’ is a love letter to my younger self,” explains KENTON. “It’s a reckoning of all the things I ran from, that I could never really cover up. It is time I stop trying to sweep blood behind closed doors, and let light back into my life.” KENTON enlisted mixing and recording engineer Ryan Nasci (Harry Styles, Young The Giant) and assistant engineer Jon O’Brien to bring the music video’s evocative and stirring sound to fruition.
The son of Taiwanese immigrants, KENTON grew up in sunny California, a place where he struggled to find his footing as an Asian American. He graduated from USC’s celebrated Thornton School of Music, where he studied jazz. In 2011, he gained national attention with The Backbeats on NBC’s The Sing-Off. KENTON’s impressive multi-disciplinary resume includes touring with Ben Folds and Katy Perry during her Las Vegas residency, collaborating with popular projects like Postmodern Jukebox and Scary Pockets, and supporting major artists including Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Kesha, Demi Lovato, Portugal The Man, Cynthia Erivo, and Jennifer Hudson. On screen, KENTON has appeared in over a dozen national commercials and TV shows such as Superstore (NBC), Platonic (Apple), Night Court (NBC), The Rookie (ABC), and Perfect Harmony (NBC). Most recently, he voiced the character Mogui in Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld (Netflix) and was featured in Disney’s Wish and Netflix’s Wish Dragon. His music has been touted in the press by Billboard, EQ Music, Earmilk, The Fader, Atwood Magazine, Ladygunn, and more.
Make sure to stream “Let Light In (Live)” now and watch the video on YouTube. For more information regarding upcoming releases, follow KENTON on Instagram @itskenton and TikTok @its.kenton and visit his website ItsKENTON.com.
