Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenny O’Brien.
Hi Kenny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first started playing the guitar and singing in a little band I formed with a couple friends in middle school while attending South Miami Middle. We practiced a bunch of Misfits songs and then played a Halloween show together. That was pretty much it for that project. Then I started playing in metal and hardcore bands in High School. We did a lot of fun, riffy, breakdown heavy songs. We played a few shows and then I joined several other bands throughout my time in high school with various friends. After I moved to Orlando I began a project called TAO BC (The Art of Balancing Chemicals) with my then roommate Brian Helmer, it was a two piece Instrumental Metal band and we practiced extensively and played a few shows. Afterwards, I began playing the acoustic guitar and joined a folk punk band in Orlando, Uncle Tonto. We would busk (Street Perform) regularly on Park Ave in Winter Park. We recorded a couple of EPs together and played a lot of local shows. We went through a bit of turmoil towards the end and I left, they continued on without me for some time after relocating to Tampa. I began my first solo act under the name Office Bonfires and recorded one album with the help of my good friend Josh titled Dancing Is Forbidden). Then I took that act to New Haven with my friend Efrain. I decided to take the initial sound (which was more acoustic) and decided to go heavier and thrashier. We recorded an EP together called Second Hand Middle Man. We played a lot of local shows in New Haven. I then moved back to South Florida and started work on another solo act called Fossil Ashes. After meeting and forming a friendship with my longest lasting collaborater to date, Luis, I changed the name to CRNVL BRKR (pronounced Carnival Barker). We practiced and put together a good collection of songs and performed a lot of local shows together. It was a great time and we had struggles finding other members to fill out the sound. Luis then went on to start his own project and I continued to try and find other members to keep the songs alive. I’ve since moved to Little Havana and still enjoy playing sets at open mics and occasionally playing a full set at local venues like Churchills and Bar Nancy (before they closed, RIP). I still enjoy playing, practicing and writing and am still open to collaborating with other musicians.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I often have difficulty taking outside direction. I’m pretty stubborn and sometimes can blow the whole operation up if I feel to manic.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I really just enjoy writing and performing. I’m not really interested in much else. I’m proud of songs I’ve written and what they may say to someone struggling with mental health. I’m not sure about being unique, but who’s to say?
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I don’t know, I’m pretty open with people close to me. I feel like they all mostly know the things about me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @crnvl_brkr
- Youtube: @sirkennyobrien
- Soundcloud: @crnvl_brkr
