Jens Kuross, a name previously lingering in the periphery of the music world as a fumbled LA session musician and cabinet maker in Idaho, has finally unveiled his true artistic voice with Crooked Songs, his debut album for Woodsist (August 29, 2025). This isn’t the polished, industry-influenced sound of his past, but a raw, deeply personal offering that captivates with its mysterious warmth and heart-stirring simplicity.
As Hayden Pedigo, who co-produced the album, eloquently details, Kuross’s revelation came during a stripped-back Boise performance. Armed with just his voice, an electric piano, and delicate ambient synths, he crafted an otherworldly sound akin to a ghost observing the ebb and flow of existence. The influence of artists like Arthur Russell and Harry Nilsson is subtly woven into the fabric of Crooked Songs, yet Kuross carves out his own unique space.
Watch the accompanying video of his lead single, Beggar’s Nation below. All songs were written, performed, recorded, and mixed by Kuross at his home in Boise, Idaho.
This album feels like a musical homecoming, born from a period of industry dismissal that paradoxically allowed Kuross to create without external pressures. “Today I feel like singing, to stop this world from changing me,” the album’s closing line serves as its powerful mission statement.
In Pedigo’s words: “I genuinely believe this album represents the music Jens was always meant to create. There’s something incredibly heavy, beautiful, touching, and magical about these crooked songs. I hope you hear that in them, too. I think this album will find people at the exact time they need to hear it. It certainly was that way for me. Jens Kuross has tapped into something people need to hear.”
Pre-Order Crooked Songs via Bandcamp: https://jenskuross.bandcamp.com/album/crooked-songs