By Kevin Ferrisi –

Ken and the Plastics is back with new music. Following the recent release of his new single, “I Want More,” Ken and the Plastics is looking ahead to his next chapter. The track serves as the first release from the upcoming album called Ken and The Plastic Explosives. The project will follow his self-titled debut album, Ken and the Plastics, marking Ken’s first full-length release since introducing his work to listeners. While details remain under wraps, “I Want More” offers fans an early glimpse of what is to come from Ken’s next record.

For Ken, “I Want More” began with a quiet moment of reflection during a relationship that left him questioning what he truly wanted. “I was laying in my bed with my ex and thinking, is this it?” explained Ken. The song was inspired by both personal experiences and a pattern of short-lived relationships that shaped much of the past year. While the track touches on wanting more from a romantic and physical connection, it also explores a deeper question about self-awareness and fulfillment. Through the song, Ken examines what it means to seek something greater, whether in a relationship or within oneself, and challenges listeners to consider what they are truly looking for in their own lives.

While “I Want More” explores themes of reflection and personal growth, the song also serves as a bridge between his self-titled debut album and the direction of his upcoming record. Ken described the single as familiar to listeners who have followed his work, while also offering a glimpse of what lies ahead. According to Ken, the new album will venture into darker territory, featuring heavier and more experimental music that expands on the themes introduced in the lead single. Though the record continues his introspective approach to songwriting, he said listeners can expect a broader and more ambitious sound throughout the project.

The upcoming album reflects a period of searching and creative experimentation for Ken. While his previous work explored similar themes of self-reflection, the new material is shaped by feelings of restlessness and a desire to push beyond familiar territory. That mindset has led him to embrace a wider range of sounds, including unconventional electronic elements and self-made samples drawn from everyday moments. The project incorporates more playful and unexpected storytelling techniques, allowing him to explore new ideas while continuing to examine questions of identity, fulfillment and personal growth through his music.

As a solo artist, Ken handles both the writing and production of his music, a process that can be challenging without a dedicated creative team to provide feedback. While much of his work is created independently, he has collaborated with fellow musician Brynn Diamond, who was featured on his previous project and recently joined him in re-releasing a remastered version of “Another Rainy Day.” Originally released in 2019, the song marked the first track Brynn Diamond was featured on and distributed to streaming platforms. Although he occasionally has opportunities to work with other artists, most of his creative process remains a largely solitary effort, leaving him to navigate the writing, production and editing stages on his own.

Many of the songs on the upcoming album remain works in progress, with ideas and lyrics still taking shape as Ken continues to work through the creative process. The record draws heavily from a difficult year and a half marked by family struggles, personal change and periods of isolation, emotions that have found their way into the music. While creating the album has offered a sense of renewal and freedom, it has also forced him to confront feelings of loneliness and self-doubt. Looking at the project as a whole, Ken views it as a companion to his self-titled debut, describing the two records as a yin and yang. Some songs echo the sounds and themes of his previous work, while others revisit familiar experiences through a new perspective, creating what feels like an ongoing conversation between the two albums.

While Ken is no stranger to writing candidly about his life, he acknowledges that some of the material on the upcoming album may be difficult for those closest to him to hear. Several songs confront generational trauma, abuse and the lasting impact those experiences have had on his life, making the record his most personal work to date. At its core, however, the album is intended to reach others who have faced similar struggles and remind them that healing and survival are possible. One track, “Unlearning,” examines the harmful patterns and self-criticism passed down through generations, drawing from both his own experiences and those of his mother. Despite the weight of the subject matter, Ken balances these themes with bright synth-pop production, creating a contrast that allows difficult conversations to unfold through music.

For Ken, music has become a way to process experiences that are often difficult to discuss openly. One of the album’s most confrontational tracks, “How Does It Taste,” channels years of anger, frustration and unresolved trauma into a direct response to family dynamics that he believes have gone unaddressed. While he recognizes some listeners may find the song uncomfortable or interpret its lyrics differently than intended, the track represents an important act of release. Throughout the album, themes of grief, survival and accountability are paired with an intensity that reflects the emotional weight behind the music.

Ken and the Plastics uses drag as both performance and personal expression, using it as a way to explore identity through music, movement and character work. He moves between traditional and nonconforming styles, shaping a stage persona that reflects his own experiences rather than fitting a fixed idea of gender. For him, music plays a central role in that process, giving him space to work across different genres and moods while building out the emotional core of his performances. Through that blend of drag and songwriting, he treats the work as an ongoing process of self-exploration, where performance becomes a way to better understand himself and communicate that journey to others.

Ken and the Plastics began as a childhood idea rooted in his early fascination with music and performance. Growing up near a garage band that played during the summers, he would dance outside and imagine himself as part of a group one day. That imagination eventually turned into a name he gave himself, with “Ken and the Plastics” originally intended as a playful band concept. In his vision, any collaborators he worked with would become “the Plastics,” turning the project into something flexible and ongoing, even as a solo artist. The name also reflects a series of personal influences, including his interest in visual art and the “Ken and Barbie” cultural reference, as well as his own experiences in high school, where his androgynous presentation led classmates to call him a “Ken doll.” Blending elements of masculinity and femininity, he embraced a style that often left people unsure how to define him, a duality that continues to shape both his identity and his work.

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