Pop artist KENTON has released a brand new music video and acoustic version of his heart-wrenching track, “Without You.” Both projects seek to reimagine the framework for the singer’s vulnerable, autobiographical track about his aging father, deepening the song’s story-driven themes of grief and forgiveness. The official video for “Without You” is now available on YouTube, and the acoustic adaptation of the song is available on all major streaming platforms.

In his latest release, KENTON creates both a sonic and visual foundation to re-navigate “Without You,” a track with deep emotional ties for the singer, which appears on his latest album, Sweetmouth. The singer’s father, who was a lifelong music teacher, had a stroke in 2020, rendering him unable to play music the way he used to. During a Thanksgiving trip to Taiwan to visit his family, the multidisciplinary artist watched his father struggle, as he simultaneously unraveled his own conflicts with the man who raised him. As a young adult, KENTON felt shame, sorrow, and anger over the lost years he had with his parents due to their inability to accept him as a queer man. But in time, he’s come to forgive his father, as he sees his parents as flawed humans trying to do their best. “One of the most universal emotions we humans experience is grief. Whether it’s a partner, a parent, or a pet, our grief is a reflection of the love we share,” KENTON shared. “I wrote this song for my father, who, as his health declines, seems more and more like a child to me. All the misgivings and misunderstandings–they don’t matter in these last moments, fading fast like sand through my fingers. All I really want to remember is the love.” The song was co-written by KENTON, Wrabel, and Eric Cannata of Young the Giant.

Directed by Matthew Law, the music video stars KENTON, who gazes longingly at the camera while cast in a black-and-white vignette. He mournfully sings, “Dad, you look like a stranger / What’s a father to a son like me.” Grant Chang, portraying KENTON’s father, appears smoking a cigarette and facing away from a troubled KENTON as he reminisces about how his father used to engage with the world. Though his father remains “present,” he never turns to face KENTON, reflecting a relationship that cannot be fully reconciled, but has been forgiven. As the video ends, KENTON imagines his father with him on a beach, and he lets go of their past struggles. Through tears, he takes a final Polaroid photo of his father and accepts the moment he currently lives in. For the song’s acoustic version, KENTON enlists mixer and producer Nick Dorian. Stripping back the song’s foundation, KENTON’s raw pain and acceptance of his father take a more resonant depth, as Brandon Bae’s guitar guides him to a place of peace.

The son of Taiwanese immigrants, KENTON grew up in sunny California, a place where he struggled to find his footing as an Asian American. He graduated from USC’s celebrated Thornton School of Music, where he studied jazz. In 2011, he gained national attention with The Backbeats on NBC’s The Sing-Off. KENTON’s impressive multi-disciplinary resume includes touring with Ben Folds and Katy Perry during her Las Vegas residency, collaborating with popular projects such as Postmodern Jukebox and Scary Pockets, and supporting major artists including Benson Boone, Billie Eilish, Kesha, Demi Lovato, Portugal The Man, Cynthia Erivo, and Jennifer Hudson. On screen, KENTON has appeared in over a dozen national commercials and TV shows such as Superstore (NBC), Platonic (Apple), Night Court (NBC), The Rookie (ABC), and Perfect Harmony (NBC). Most recently, he voiced Mogui in Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld (Netflix) and appeared in Disney’s Wish and Netflix’s Wish Dragon. His music has been touted in the press by Billboard, EQ Music, Earmilk, The Fader, Atwood Magazine, Ladygunn, and more.

Both the acoustic rendition and official music video for “Without You” further reflect the anguish of losing someone who is still physically present but already fading. The video is now available on YouTube, and the acoustic form can be streamed on all digital platforms. For more information and upcoming releases, follow KENTON on Instagram (@itskenton), TikTok, and YouTube (@its.kenton), and visit his website ItsKENTON.com.