Madeline Kenney Sucker’s Lunch

Release Preview

About

Oakland artist Madeline Kenney bounds toward the unknown on her third album, Sucker’s Lunch, expanding on the idea of what a love song could be – a little more cautious than exuberant, more nuanced than blazing devotion. Sonically, the album expands upon Kenney’s earlier, guitar-driven sound – a definitive step forward from an artist adept at communicating universal sentiments in a voice unmistakably her own.  

To help realize her vision, Kenney once again enlisted Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack, previous collaborators and friends. Together, the trio carefully constructed the songs in a few compact sessions in Oakland, San Francisco, and Durham. Stack and Wasner’s rhythm section trace circles around Kenney’s off-kilter guitar, with verdant curls of synths, saxophone, and complex harmonies. Lambchop’s Kurt Wagner lends his distinctive tenor to lead single “Sucker.” The resulting songs are immediate and deeply moving, somehow feeling familiar while they defy expectations at every turn.  

“I’m not interested in something easy or immediately apparent,” Kenney says. “My experience writing these songs wasn’t easy, it was painful and difficult. I was terrified of falling in love, and as much as I’d like to write a sticky sweet song for someone, it doesn’t come naturally to me. Instead I wanted to explore the tiny moments; sitting alone in my room guessing what the other person was thinking, spiraling into a maze of logical reasons to bail and finding my way out again. When I spoke with friends about the theme of the ‘idiot’, it became apparent that everyone understood that feeling and was relieved to hear it echoed in someone else.” 

Thematically, Sucker’s Lunch sees Kenney soberly contrasting the risks and rewards of falling in love, eventually deciding to dive headfirst into her own foolishness and relish in the unknowing. The tracks explore new love from every angle – “Picture of You” is a soundtrack- worthy lamentation of never truly knowing what someone has been through (“growing up is so hard, I don’t know why”) while tender vulnerability shines on “Tell You Everything” (“When your eyes say ‘we’ve had a day, love’, I get to fall in”). Kenney audibly loses her mind on “Double Hearted,” where the playful arrangement and lyrics spark a firestorm of heartache and wild abandon. “Cut the Real” pairs synth drones with syncopated lyrics to work through a depressive mind state, and the near-devotional “White Window Light” accepts uncertainty as a beautiful gift. 

“There’s so much love in it,” Wasner says of Sucker’s Lunch. “It’s the story of someone figuring out how to be a person in the world, and how to be with another person without losing oneself.” Sucker’s Lunch shines in its ability to speak the strange, ambiguous, impossible truth – nothing less than a balanced meal for the wise fool in us all. 

Artist Bio

Madeline Kenney has always followed her creative instincts wherever they lead, crafting a musical career marked by constant evolution. Raised on piano and with a background spanning neuroscience, dance, visual arts, and baking, music ultimately became her primary artistic outlet. Since her 2017 debut Night Night at the First Landing, co-produced with Chaz Bear (Toro y Moi), Kenney has built a reputation for her intricate songwriting, layered production, and collaborations with artists like Jenn Wasner (Wye Oak, Flock of Dimes) and Kurt Wagner (Lambchop).

Her latest album, Kiss from the Balcony, is a testament to both personal and artistic growth. Created in collaboration with Ben Sloan and Stephen Patota, the record emerged from two week-long studio sessions in Oakland, where the trio transformed sketches and fragments into a fully realized album. Originally conceived as an EP, the project expanded as the chemistry between the three musicians brought unexpected depth to the songs. Sloan, with his background in experimental percussion and sound design, added an electronic texture to Kenney’s songwriting, while Patota’s guitar work provided a grounding warmth.

This record sees Kenney refining her exploration of love, power, and self-discovery. Songs like Slap and Scoop examine the complexities of identity and resilience, while They Go Wide reflects on both romantic and professional struggles. Though deeply introspective, Kiss from the Balcony embraces playfulness and hope, capturing the fearless curiosity that defines Kenney’s work.

Throughout her career, Kenney has maintained an adventurous approach to music, balancing meticulous craftsmanship with an openness to spontaneity. Whether directing music videos for artists like Hand Habits and Boy Scouts, collaborating on other musicians’ projects, or pushing the boundaries of her own sound, she continues to evolve, embracing each new phase with curiosity and conviction. With Kiss from the Balcony, she reaffirms her place as a singular voice in modern indie music—bold, thoughtful, and always willing to take risks.