‘A slow-burning R&B ballad with a yearning chorus.’

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Kenton Chen has supported artists such as Sara Bareilles, Mary J Blige, and Jennifer Hudson. He has also done plenty of work with the excellent Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ), a musical collective spearheaded by pianist and composer Scott Bradlee. As part of PMJ’s mission to transpose contemporary songs into vintage arrangements, Kenton has performed rearranged versions of Taylor Swift, Hanson, and Nine Inch Nails. 

Based in Los Angeles, Chen operates under the stage name ‘Bridesmen’ – referring to the oft-neglected component of a wedding ceremony. The name thus operates as a metaphor for social marginalisation. As a gay, second-generation Asian immigrant, Chen’s music explores the need to be understood, accepted, and loved. His new single ‘Someone Who Loves Me’ takes the form of a slow-burning R&B ballad with a yearning chorus. Chen’s vocal delivery – part-spoken and conversational – conveys the vulnerability of the lyrics. With layered backing vocals swelling with intensity, the refrain – ‘I just want someone who loves me‘ – is anthemic. 

The music video – featuring a diverse cast of different races and sexualities with their bare skin exposed – further compounds the piece’s vulnerability. Chen explains, “The idea behind having bare skin is pretty simple. Each person is beautiful in their own skin. I want to highlight that. In our nakedness, we can’t hide behind any brand, or gadget and we have to face how we feel in our own bodies. When we come together at the end of the video, I want people to realize that we are on the this journey together”.