The front woman of Columbus-based pop rock band Hello Luna gives an inside look at her story, band life and the power of vulnerability.
Hello Luna has been on the Columbus music scene for a hot minute—sharing lineups for big names such as The 1975, Muse and 30 Seconds to Mars. Along with high-energy performances, they blend pop songwriting with a hard hitting, upbeat and dynamic sound. Kenzie Coyne is arguably the most visible persona of the group. She pairs the IDENTITY Capsule with a mix of grungy metal chains, black cargo joggers and classic vans—screaming punk street style and making a statement on whatever stage she rocks.
Kenzie connects with Hello Luna's audience on a deep level at many of their shows, sharing tidbits of her search for hope in dark times. She shares insights below into her upbringing and what it means to be vulnerable.
To break the ice, how would you describe your personal style in 3 words? Oh geez that’s tough. Probably: Edgy, alternative and dark.
As the front runner of Hello Luna, performance is obviously a big component of your persona both on stage and online. Does that pressure ever become too much for you? Does it ever affect how you view yourself or other people? I’ve been doing it long enough that I’ve developed a pretty good balance. It used to overwhelm me much more, but I’ve gotten better at unplugging and keeping the two separate. I’ve really learned how how to embrace the different aspects of myself. I’m not always on. I’m not always an entertainer and that’s okay.
Mental illness is a big part of your story and how you express your music. What was the process of becoming comfortable sharing it with the world? Many people feel they don’t have the means or support to do so. My life was so publicized by the news. When my dad's case broke every news outlet was running it. I was traumatized. It also forced me to face my past and I had to learn how to talk about it because it was public information. I was broken for a while. I got worse before I got better which is why a lot of people give up. It’s so hard. Learning to admit the pain and face the hurt consumes your life and there was a time I wasn’t sure if I’d get back to normal. I am blessed to have people in my life who supported me through the toughest parts. It was hard work every day, but I felt called by God to open up about it. That’s what kept me going.
Was there ever a time you felt ashamed of your story and the adversity you’ve experienced? How did that shame affect you if so? I’ve experienced a lot of fear. Fear of not being understood. Fear of the way people would view me being so outspoken about my abuse. I can’t say I’ve ever felt being ashamed about being a victim. I'm too pissed to feel any shame about it. You either hide or get pissed. It’s not pretty, but it’s real.
With your growing fan base, do you feel you can connect with your audience on a deeper level because of your struggles? What are some ways that has manifested? I’ve connected with so many people through my story. I’ve had people share stories with me that they’ve never told anyone else. I feel blessed to be the beginning of their healing journey. I’ve had people tell me “you are my voice”. That’s all Gods work. I wouldn’t have the strength to do it without Him. Seeing the work manifest and truly help people is incredible. It’s what keeps me going.
You just released your new single Sweet and Deranged, with the inspiration coming from events in your past. Could you go into a bit more detail about how the song came together, the inspiration behind it and what it stands for? I wrote “Sweet and Deranged” following my dads release from prison. When his case broke I was forced to face massive amounts of abuse from my childhood. I was exposed to life threatening violence at a very young age. Dealing with PTSD through his public trial forced me to face my past. I had 4 years to recover. “Sweet and Deranged” is a sober look at the experience of dealing with that pain and that hurt. Coping with living with a monster. The anger, denial and pain. It’s the most vulnerable song I’ve ever written.
Here at ProneToWeakness, we embrace the dark and scary parts of ourselves in order to connect with a larger community. We reject the fluffy, sugarcoated version of mental health so prevalent in culture today. With that being said, how has being a part of Hello Luna affected your own mental health journey? What are some of the ups and downs of band life? Hello Luna has been my vessel to connect with the world through my pain. It has been the single most important aspect of my mental health journey. It gave me a platform to heal and to help others. It’s not always pretty. My personal life intertwined with the band was exhausting. I’m better with it now luckily, but none of the healing part is pretty or easy.
Our first collection—IDENTITY Capsule—is all about embracing what unites us as a community. We are the silent and the weary. The dread and despair become louder and louder but we continue searching for meaning, for substance. Tell us, what does “IDENTITY” mean to you? Identity is the realization of the deepest parts of myself. My identity is realizing my brokenness and understanding that I need a savior. That I am broken but I can still shine with a light beyond myself.
To wrap up, any big plans for mid 2023 and beyond? You’ve got a hot start to summer with this new single. We have a big summer planned! We are dropping a new single every month with a video. We have a tour planned June 22-24. We are very excited about our Columbus show June 24 at Rumba cafe! This October we’ll be dropping an EP and have more tour dates to announce!
Check out Hello Luna with their new single Sweet and Deranged as well as the IDENTITY Capsule full lookbook.
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