Today we’d like to introduce you to Perrin Kileen.
Perrin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 2010 my parents decided to move from Milwaukee, WI to Colorado in pursuit of a business opportunity. I was going into 6th grade that year and my mom wanted to homeschool me and my two younger brothers for this new chapter. I’d finish my work around lunch every day and was free for the remainder. What followed was a search for any way to fill that time. It began with mountain biking during afternoons which would later turn into a full time commitment of travel and racing. During the nights I started to write. Short stories, songs, poetry. Anything I could put onto paper. The more I wrote the more the songs became my sole interest. I wanted to express my stories out loud, not just through my pen.
Going into 9th grade I went back to “normal” school. It was a rush. Dating, parties and a search for freedom quickly moved my focus from being a professional athlete into a professional rockstar. The issue was my lack of musical talent. I think that was the appeal though. I believed I could practice to perfection. So that’s what I did. I began to turn every relationship, heartbreak, lesson and mistake into song. During class I wrote. As soon as I would get home I’d record in my room on a makeshift studio set up. By the end of 10th grade I released my first mixtape titled “Growing Up.” It was not well received. We lived in a small town and my peers thought I was living a fantasy. Maybe I was. Not to mention the actual music was far from what it could be. It wasn’t good. Regardless, what started as a self expression found a home in my heart. I became obsessed. It gave me a voice in a world of silence. Hope. Just me and my plans to escape it all.
My parents wanted a bigger plan. They didn’t see music as a sustainable career. I disagreed but I had done well in school and was willing to apply to colleges for music. I got into Loyola New Orleans and a couple months later left Colorado. The vibrant night life, live music and unfamiliar city felt like it was calling my name. By this time I was starting to show promise in the music I made. I signed with a manager out of New York and began playing shows every other weekend. In 2019 I spent a month in New York and had two label offers on the table before everything came to an abrupt halt.
My manager and I began to struggle in our dynamic. About a month later I found myself working to terminate our contract. Meanwhile I dropped out of college and was considering moving back to Colorado. A legal battle ensued and the result was a block on releasing music for the next two years. The contract that I foolishly rushed to sign came back to bite me…Hard. So I made the call to move home and save up. I was depressed. Working full time at my family’s restaurant barely scraping by. I was still recording everyday but I was a ghost on social media. I didn’t know what to do. I felt lost. Music felt so far away. Then I found out I was going to be a dad. I realized if anything was going to change I had to take responsibility. So I began to.
I moved to Austin in 2023 with a burning desire to start fresh. I worked on music every chance I got. I built a community. I had lost momentum with my fans but I knew I could rebuild. This time I was going to make the right choices. My kids mom and I separated shortly after the move and agreed on split custody. I put fatherhood first. I took every chance outside of that to push my music career forward. The contract was expired by that point and it was time to get the ball rolling. I built heartbreakP as a way to grow from loss and change. I needed to put that to action. I put out music again. Little by little but as my plan became more clear I released three albums the following year and a music video for the first time in eight years. Through the video I met my current team I’m building with now. I’m grateful for every step along the journey to where I am today. It may not have been the path I imagined but it’s been beautiful nonetheless and so far from over.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest struggle has been around social media. I love to make music more than anything in the world. It’s peace of mind at its finest. However the last five years have drastically changed what it means to be an artist. The audience attention span had significantly decreased and with it the need for constant stimulation has grown. Sharing every moment of my life to build loyalty has been hard for me. The time spent to maintain a strong online presence eats into the time to create art. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it. I’ve realized that while it may take longer I’d rather have quality over quantity. The brand I’ve built is about the music, the community it brings.
I am not an influencer at the end of the day. I am a musician. That said, I don’t have endless resources and it’s forced me to be more creative on how to connect with my core fans. The creatives around me have been the difference. I used to think I could do it on my own but that wasn’t true. My last album “Purgatory” was a great example of that. The vision, the story and the music all made possible because of a team that believed in the art more than anything. Through that we’ve used social media to post quality, relevant content. It meant not selling out but rather showing the music as it was meant to be heard, meant to be seen.
I also believe the climate online has created a higher demand for in person connection. For “Purgatory” I did a release party. The people who took the time to show up are the same people that have continued to show support. With that said I’m planning a lot more in person events and shows this coming year. With the goal to build local and expand outward.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I go by “heartbreakP.” My name derives from the idea of growth through heartbreak, loss and mistakes. Turning the negative into positive. Music is my diary. It’s where I go to reflect. I write my lessons in songs and release the emotion when I record. I began in hip hop but over time my music has evolved into more alternative pop. In my work I tell it how I see it, whether good or bad. My perspective is mine and I own it as such. I don’t claim to be the best to ever have done it but I am the best at telling my story, describing the world through my lens in the way only I can. I am proud of that.
How do you think about luck?
I think a lot of people may hear my story and claim bad luck or just bad decision making. Maybe that’s fair. I’ve definitely made mistakes but everything thus far has put me where I am today. Stronger and more sure of myself than ever. Able to take responsibility. I consider myself lucky for the person I have become and continue to grow into. Every failure has been a chance to learn and try again. Every setback has shown a weak spot in my armor. I move with purpose because of the path I’ve walked. I’m grateful for it. For the first time in a long time I can feel the shift and not just internally. My last album out performed any of my previous work and the community I’m building feels like family. I am beyond lucky for where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://heartbreakp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartbreakp_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwsx1L9aWkZaTF8DY3Asv_w
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31yZFE3Gf0rsCyTyW5Lq4D?si=Bw8hHJvjSXKQRrQKXyoMDw
