PAIGE KENNEDY releases 'Male Friend' | Announces UK headline Tour
VIDEO HERE
Paige Kennedy - 'Male Friend'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdRHPxMulcg
SELECT ACCLAIM FOR PAIGE KENNEDY:
“Think alt-pop with an ’80s quirk and a dash of indie sleaze, and you’ll be on the money” NME
“Whip-smart pop songs that touch on ideas of acceptance and gender expectations” Rolling Stone (UK)
“A wilfully wacky multi-hyphenate (writer, producer, mixing engineer) who distils their biting perspective on heteronormativity and tired societal norms into catchy alt-pop bangers” DIY
“Cool, frenetic, funky, beautifully produced, lopsided future pop” Chris Hawkins (BBC Radio 6 Music)
“I’ve had it on repeat since I heard it the first time” Gemma Bradley (BBC Radio 1)
“I like this a lot” Jack Saunders (BBC Radio 1) | “Genderqueer musical pioneer” Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music)
“Love that one!” Lauren Laverne (BBC Radio 6 Music) | “I love that!” Greg James (Radio 1 anthems)
September 24th - Paige Kennedy (they/them) releases new single ‘Male Friend’ - marking their first new music since 2024’s acclaimed Babylotion EP - and announces headline tour dates for February.
Leaning into their trademark quirk-pop with a sideways view of awkward social interactions, ‘Male Friend’ takes inspiration from the frenetic energy of narrative, night-out tracks like ‘Oh My Gosh!’ by Basement Jaxx and ‘TikTok’ by Kesha. Lyrically, we get a doomed tale of modern-day courting - as Paige explains:
“Male Friend was inspired by reading a police procedural (Mystic River) on the way to the pub. When I arrived, and began flirting with a girl who looked like Margot Robbie, it struck me that I was the true detective. I spent most of our conversation trying to deduce if she was flirting with me or my attractive male friend.
There are certain cultural tropes among queers (carabiners, Dr Martens, bouldering and cycling proficiency) that I wanted to highlight, but also turn on their head. At the end of the song, the subject of my attraction rejects me, while I’m too busy reducing her to stereotypes.”
The commitment to the bit is continued with a zany video:
“We wanted to lean into the ridiculousness of the crime drama genre, taking inspiration from some of our favourites, namely Broadchurch, Starsky and Hutch and Twin Peaks. George Burrage, James Cooke and Kieran Murphy (my band) pulled it out the bag with their performances as police officers.”
With such an eye for wry vignettes, and a whacky, off-the-wall persona - it’s no surprise Paige is building an ever-growing audience through social clips. This online reverence is translating into a killer live plot, and a show which gets feet moving on sticky floors and grassy fields alike.
ABOUT PAIGE KENNEDY
Paige Kennedy is an artist/producer based in London hailing from Kent. Their sound combines danceable baselines with quirky lyrics and hook laced songwriting. They've written, produced and mixed all of their music to date.
Paige’s self-released tracks have gained serious traction on BBC Radio securing accolades such as: Radio 1 Introducing Track of the Week; 6 Music Recommends Track, and tracks of the week; live sessions and interviews on BBC Introducing in Kent and Manchester.
They’ve also been played by: Greg James; Jack Saunders; Vick and Jordan; Arielle Free; Matt and Mollie; Adele Roberts; Gemma Bradley; Rickie, Melvin, and Charlie; and Tara Kumar on Radio 1, and Lauren Laverne; Tom Robinson; Chris Hawkins; Steve Lamacq; Mary Ann Hobbs; Shaun Keaveny; and Gideon Coe on 6 Music.
Live gigs have included a sell-out recent debut London headline at The George Tavern and full runs as UK support for She Drew The Gun and Moonchild Sanelly, to go alongside previous spots supporting BC Camplight, Billy No Mates and more.
Festival wise, they graced the DIY Stage at The Great Escape, and have recently played at Loud In Libraries (w/ Moonchild Sanelly), Get Together, Are You Listening?, Liverpool Sound City, Focus Wales, Ritual Union Bristol, Swn and Left of the Dial Rotterdam, the BBC Introducing Stage at Latitude Festival, Night Currents festival, Multitude Festival and Manchester International Festival.
Paige Kennedy Online
Instagram | TikTok | Bandcamp | YouTube
Live Dates
24/25 October - Boia Festival (St Davids, Wales)
15 November - Live At Leeds In The City (Leeds)
03 December - Trans Musicales Festival (Rennes, France)
06 December - Homobloc (Manchester)
Headline 2026 Dates
03 February - Where Else? (Margate)
04 February - The Prince Albert (Brighton)
05 February - The Louisiana (Bristol)
06 February - Clwb Ifor Bach (Cardiff)
07 February - Heartbreaker's (Southampton)
10 February - The Lexington (London)
11 February - Hallamshire Hotel (Sheffield)
12 February - Zerox (Newcastle)
13 February - The Hug and Pint (Glasgow)
