With a gentle, unhurried tone and lyrics that embrace uncertainty, singer/songwriter Jens Kuross presents ‘Crooked Songs,’ an album that prioritizes emotion over simple solutions.
Stream: ‘Crooked Songs’ – Jens Kuross
Jens Kuross does not provide answers.
He isn’t aiming to offer closure, clarity, or lyrics suitable for cross-stitching onto cushions. Instead, he presents something far less neat… and much more captivating.
In his new album, Crooked Songs, the Idaho-based artist fully embraces ambiguity. The tracks are exquisitely melodic, emotionally honest, and just enigmatic enough to draw you in closer. Some feel like late-night confessions while others appear like unsolvable puzzles. All reflect an individual sharing their truth while still grappling with its meaning.
“The songs are highly personal yet not specifically about me,” Kuross explains. “I’m more interested in what listeners may discover about themselves through them.”
Crooked Songs – Jens Kuross
This interplay between intimacy and abstraction has always been a key aspect of Kuross’ artistic identity. After years of performing with The Acid and working alongside Ry X, he ventured out on his own, releasing several solo EPs before presenting his full-length debut in 2020: Art! at the Expense of Mental Health, Vol. 1. This record openly showcased its vulnerability, serving as a slow, honest exploration of emotions.
With Crooked Songs, Kuross, a former LA session musician, hones that vision further. This album, created and produced in his Boise home, represents a distinct evolution: it’s less structured yet more emotionally resonant. He creates space for interpretation without fully clarifying meanings – like a conversation that trails off mid-sentence, leaving you eager for more.
Co-producer Hayden Pedigo once described Kuross’ sound as a blend of “Arthur Russell and Harry Nilsson,” which encapsulates both its avant-garde explorations and the classic pop essence beneath. Kuross embraces this comparison, finding humor in it.
“I believe Hayden also mentioned I sound like ‘Randy Newman mixed with Grouper,’ which I might appreciate even more,” he notes.
It’s an apt description. Crooked Songs thrives in that hazy territory between narrative and auditory experience; between having a grasp on your feelings and lacking the words to express them. This album invites your interpretation rather than demanding it. You aren’t pressured to “understand.” Instead, you’re encouraged to absorb it.
Jens Kuross © 2025
Throughout the album, Kuross grapples with significant themes – love, loss, identity, resilience – while steering clear of definitive conclusions.
These are songs for individuals still navigating their paths.
Experience the complete album through our stream below, and delve into Jens Kuross’ Crooked Songs with Atwood Magazine as he takes you through each track and lyric of his latest work!
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:: stream/purchase Crooked Songs here ::
:: connect with Jens Kuross here ::
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Stream: ‘Crooked Songs’ – Jens Kuross
Jens Kuross © Mark Oliver
:: Inside Crooked Songs ::
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“What I Miss Most of All”
Atwood Magazine: Your lyrics express a sentiment of “leaving all those jealous days behind.” When writing this song, were you focusing on letting go of a person or the version of yourself tied to that relationship?
Jens Kuross: That’s an interesting question. I’m not even sure if it’s about a romantic relationship. I don’t approach writing with a specific agenda. For me, my subconscious handles the bulk of the lyric creation about 90% of the time, and this song is no exception. Essentially, my connection to my lyrics resembles that of someone hearing the song for the first time and trying to make sense of it.
“No One’s Hiding from the Sun”
This track intertwines confrontation with inevitability. When you wrote it, did “the sun” signify truth, consequences, or something different?
Jens Kuross: I appreciate how ambiguously “The Sun” is portrayed in this song. It can be viewed as either a beacon of hope or a source of dread. Again, I approached the lyrics without any intentionality.
“Stereotype”
There’s a conflict between faith, doubt, and personal accountability in this song. How did you arrive at the metaphor of “stereo, stereo, stereotype” to encapsulate that struggle?
Jens Kuross: Honestly, I’m not entirely sure. The song seems to engage with the questions and tensions you mentioned. I feel the stereotype line nicely highlights that those questions aren't exotic or remarkable; they may seem heavy, but everyone faces them. They’re so common that they become stereotypical.
“Beggar’s Nation”
The imagery of “beggars by the well” and “bleeding gasoline” is striking. Did you envision this piece as a personal reflection, social commentary
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With a gentle and deliberate voice, accompanied by lyrics rich in ambiguity, singer/songwriter Jens Kuross presents ‘Crooked Songs,’ an album that embraces feelings instead of straightforward solutions.