Dreamy synths, groovy saxophone, and downright sexy beats are just a few components of what makes Vincent Fenton’s music so captivating. Vincent Fenton, better known as FKJ, is a multi-instrument savant. He is well known for his compelling looping techniques and improvised sets.
FKJ, short for French Kiwi Juice, is from Tours, France. He spent time producing music in Paris, France but has no claim to one specific home. FKJ started playing the guitar at an early age but didn’t stop there. He went on to pick up the drums, saxophone, and keyboard along with many varieties of music. The genre-defying master of looping was frequently called a pioneer of New French House during the beginning of his career. Roche Musique, a French record label, signed FKJ in 2012. That same year he released his first EP, The Twins, a funky Disco-influenced EP that commands you to get up and groove.
In 2016, FKJ met Masego, his opener at a show in Denver. They connected over a shared passion for live Electronic Dance Music which inspired a recording session in Paris. While they improvised many tracks, the real magic happened when “Tadow” came together. Featuring gleaming saxophones, smooth vocals, and a beautifully chill vibe, “Tadow” went viral and was FKJ’s defining breakthrough track.
FKJ’s first self-titled album came out in 2017 and melded aspects of Electronic Dance Music, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Pop all into one free-flowing record. The album quickly gained momentum on Spotify and had him selling out shows worldwide. His live tour is truly a vision to be seen. You’ll watch FKJ switch between different saxophones, guitars and other instruments all while delivering a partially improvised set. He is no stranger to the festival circuit and shows his versatility with big names under his belt like Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle, and CRSSD festival.
In 2019, FKJ stepped into a real-life dreamscape when he played a live set for Cercle at the Salt Flats at Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. The concept was about being alone in nature and what that inspires. As the sun sets on the Salt Flats, FKJ delivered a breathtaking improvised set composed of his layered, looping vocals. The water reflected gorgeous colors all around him and his small stage covered in instruments. Silhouetted clouds floated above and below in a stunning manner.
Soon after FKJ’s beautiful time at the Salt Flats, he set off into isolation to complete his newest EP, “Ylang Ylang“. The EP is named after the SE Asian town and room in which he spent six months writing and composing. This most recent project draws away from the previous upbeat soundscapes and delves into more somber and reflective sounds inspired by the tragedy he narrowly escaped. The first song on the EP, “Earthquake“, gives us a first-hand account of the 2016 Tainan earthquake. FKJ was high up in his hotel when the room began to shake. While many buildings came down around him, he managed to escape the city safely. FKJ put his experience into a song and dedicated it “To the 117 souls who left us in the earthquake.”
French Kiwi Juice proves time and time again how wonderfully dynamic his music can be. He has a sound for every facet of life. Whether you’re putting on “The Twins” EP before a night out dancing with friends, heading to the beach and vibin’ out to his self-titled first album, or wanting to turn inwards and do some reflection with “Ylang Ylang”, FKJ has what your soul and mind craves.
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*Featured Image Via Luke Farrow*
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[…] really inspired by Tash Sultana and FKJ. I’ve been playing guitar for a long time and that used to be how I would play, like by […]