Kenna Biography

Kenna Zemedkun is the son of Ethiopian refuges who spent the first few years of his life with his grandfather, in his home country, while his parents were trying to start a life in the west. He joined his parents in Cincinnati when he was three years old, but he spent the most important years of his life in Virginia Beach. That is where he was given his first U2 album Joshua Tree. It was a life-changing experience for him, launching him into one of the most important explorations of music that he would ever go on. Inspired, he began to study the vocals of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, spending much of his time teaching himself piano.He first decided to make music his career when he was in college, as he realized that the strict life of study was not for him. He began to make music with Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, who he had gotten to know in high school, and began to make demo tapes. He was encouraged to make an album by Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, but it took a while to find backing for the album. It was finally picked up by Columbia, however, and was released in 2003.Kenna has had some difficulties in getting his music picked up by record companies due to the uncategorizable nature of his music. With a sound that does not fit into any one genre, companies find it difficult to market the music. New Sacred Cow, the name of Kenna's first album, contained a strange melding of new wave, synth pop and hip-hop. His second album Make Sure They See My Face, was more focused and cohesive than the first album and was picked up by Interscope. Kenna is one of three things - a musical genius who will soon be recognized, a musician who is ahead of his time, or someone who is still finding his sound. Whichever way it goes, he is definitely one of the most unique artists on the market.