We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joe Kenney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joe, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Music has always been such a significant outlet for me. As someone who is not only passionate and emotional, but also struggling with Bipolar and Anxiety disorders, I have been fortunate that — from a young age — my parents gave me the opportunity and consistent support through the vehicle of music.

Mental Health Awareness/Destigmatization has always been an important cause to me, and so a particularly meaningful project has been the co-founding of Harmonic Hope & Healing, an organization focused on supporting mental health initiatives and championing the importance of music in personal and community wellness. We had our inaugural HHH music fest in May of 2024 in correspondence with Mental Health Awareness Month, and have started planning the 2025 festival — which will feature local musicians, testimonies about music’s value in their lives, a panel discussion by health professionals, a set of vendors that includes a sound healing space, and more.

You can learn more and support the mission by following us on Instagram: @harmonichopehealing

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started playing the piano when I was six, and attended college for piano performance (West Chester University, BM 2013). I am a voting member of the Grammys, and an active performer and recording artist. I perform 100-150 events a year between solo piano weddings and other private events, public events featuring my original music, shows with my 5 bands and multiple collaborators, and other freelance performing opportunities.

In addition to performing, I love the educational and business arenas of music, as well as interacting with industry contacts about securing potential performances and song placements.

I believe what sets me apart is my eclecticism — in both music and the scope of my endeavors — as well as my ability to bring visions to reality with tenacity and unrelenting optimism.

As a performer, I have been been featured with the Chesco Pops and Lancaster Symphony orchestra in the classical realm of music, and at the same time I have performed venues as a rock keyboardist at venues such as Ardmore Music Hall, World Cafe Live, Sellersville Theater, and various festivals.

As an award-winning pianist, composer, and recording artist with 5 albums and various collaborations released, I am passionate about creating as well as promoting my music. I also have an affinity for helping other musicians and artists bring their goals to fruition. It is a joy to offer to my clients the managing and promotion of music releases, booking of shows and tours, creating show graphics and social media campaigns, piano/improvisation/songwriting/music theory lessons (both virtual and in-person), as well as consultations on music business and for facilitating the realization of big dreams.

I also find that music teaches an understanding of myself and the world around me. This philosophy has led to my collaborative success producing the aforementioned 2024 inaugural Harmonic Hope & Healing Festival, an annual event designed to bring awareness to the role of music in healing mental illness.
In the same spirit, my latest project, the forthcoming publication of my book — the first in a set of seven — “Affirmations for High Achievers, Volume 1: Success” offers high achievers a pathway to overcome self-doubt and fulfill their potential.

You can stay up to date on my list of upcoming appearances at www.joekenneypiano.com/performances and send all business inquiries to joe@Joekenneypiano.com.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

When I graduated college with a BM in piano performance in 2013, I was intensely motivated by the goal to win a Grammy. It is a lofty goal that I have pursued doggedly and that has led to other successes and meaningful connections amidst that effort. While this is still on my list of goals, and while my accomplishments and pursuits have blossomed since being originally driven by that one specific goal, I now simply find my center and super-power in focusing on being an inspiration and courageous presence for my 8-year old daughter, Mirabelle. My mission is to be the best Dad ever; and the point at which that intersects with my career is the opportunity to model bravery and resilience for her, as well as to impart wisdom on the lessons I learn in the process of shooting for the stars. At the core, I have shifted from being goal-driven to love-driven.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Artists, like all humans, fundamentally want to feel seen — and listened to. Everyone is different in what fuels them and in what is valued as supportive; and most artists — as both creatives and CEOs of their own brands — will tell you what they need. It is an inherently vulnerable and brave pursuit to be an artist, and listening to and responding to what artists in your community are asking for is immensely meaningful. These calls to action can sometimes seem frivolous to a person not in the creative field, but — however seemingly trivial or insignificant — they can be everything to the artist. This includes pre-saving a song an artist is going to release, signing up for a subscription service of artistic or educational content, spreading the word through a social media share or through an in-person interaction, or simply letting the individual know that you see them and are moved by what they have to offer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joekenneypiano.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joekenneypiano
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joekenneypiano
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephkenney
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@joekenneypiano
• Other: www.instagram.com/harmonichopehealing
  www.instagram.com/affirmationsforhighachievers
  Www.joekenneyenterprises.com
  Spotify: www.bit.ly/JoeKenneyonSpotify (case sensitive)
  www.theproperhustlers.com
  www.joekenneyband.com

Image Credits

Photo credit: Andrew Miller.