Kenny Hotopp - Early Times EP (2025) Hi-Res

Waterford, Wisconsin-based singer-songwriter Kenny Hotopp releases his new EP, Early Times, a five-track collection of songs exploring motifs of marriage, fatherhood, and the resilience of love.

Talking about the EP, Hotopp says, “These are stories I’ve lived or witnessed, but I leave space in the lyrics for you to find your own meaning, your own moments. Some are fun, a few are serious. But every song came from a real place, and I think people will feel that.”

Recorded at Sueno Royal Studios in Eau Claire, Early Times was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Matthew R. Sayles. Musicians on the EP include Hotopp on vocals and guitar, Nathan Bilitz (bass), Patrick Morris (drums), Mark Eskritt (organ), Matthew R. Sayles (electric guitar), and Jerod Kaszynski (saxophone).

Essentially, Hotopp’s sound is rooted in elements of folk and Americana, yet dollops of bluegrass, R&B, and psychedelic country add tasty tangs of flavor.

Highlights on the EP include “Will Go On,” vaguely reminiscent of Bob Dylan with its layers of creamy, drawling tones. Hotopp’s baritone voice infuses the lyrics with rich timbres, as if dipped in aged whiskey. Co-written by Hotopp and a friend from Eau Claire, this track sets the appeal of the EP.

Darker and more resonant, “Pull Me Through” parades silky, bluesy textures as Hotopp’s vocals reveal deliciously intense passion. Eskritt’s organ and Kaszynski’s saxophone add slinky, voluptuous colors that ooze aching emotions.

Rippling with bluegrass surfaces, the title track ripples with twangy waves of nostalgia. The song was inspired by lyrics found in an old journal, and the retro savors of the melody evoke the ghosts of previous generations.

A personal favorite because of its gentle, quixotic swaying motion, “Lost Track of Time” drifts on mellow, undulating textures as glowing harmonies surround the deep, evocative voice of Hotopp as he expresses his ardent feelings to his lover.

On Early Times, Kenny Hotopp delivers a smooth, beguiling group of songs while exploring introspective emotional domains.