The known and unknown—that’s where Kaonashi thrives. Born on the mean streets of Philadelphia, but with an appetite for empathy and compassion in the scene, few can withstand the test of time while also carving a jagged path for the next generation. A decade of desire, soaked in a level of creativity far beyond most, has generated a continuous work of art that has no boundaries, only mere time itself. It all comes down to this.
“I’m amped,” explains drummer Pao. “It’s been a lot of work making this happen, and I can feel the pressure release every day as we get closer to [the release].”
I Want to Go Home, out now via Equal Vision Records, is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year. The group spent 2024 working on releasing a spectacular EP collection, and now they have turned their vision to the continuation of the full-length era that grabbed our attention so intensely. Now, the fans have latched onto the new music, screaming it back into vocalist Peter Rono’s face every night.
“Having so many people sing when I [sing], it doesn’t even feel like a new song. It feels like an old song on the set list,” says Rono. “Just the way people are reacting to it. They’re familiar with it already. It’s been amazing and I don’t use that word lightly.”
Amazing barely begins to really describe what the band has been able to accomplish for almost a decade. This new LP is the freshman year story and the final installment of the Dear Lemon House series. Rono is proud to have finally completed the arc and has all the facts out and fulfilled the story itself.
“I took from my influences and [wrote] this story for a decade,” he says. “I feel like I’m familiar with the characters more than I ever have been. It’s different in year 10 compared to year two. I’ve grown as a performer, as a writer, as a storyteller, so I feel so invested in these characters that I don’t know any other way to write it besides extremely emotional.”
“It’s cathartic to release this finally,” adds Pao. “I’m really excited for new horizons, (to) see what we get to do next because, now, anything’s on the table. We can do whatever. We’ve been working at this, Peter and I, for almost a decade now. Seeing this chapter close is pretty cool.”
They are having a 2025 to remember. They enlisted legends Anthony Green (Circa Survive / LS Dunes) and Piantini Toribio (Newcomer), for guest spots. They also just started their summer headline tour and are seeing firsthand how much of an impact they have on their fans. At the Palladium in Worcester, MA, they witnessed a fan jump from the upper balcony to the main floor. Pure insanity for a band that is bringing as much heat as we can possibly handle.
“I’m most proud of showing people they can make art too,” notes Rono. “We are making this art that’s around the world now, and being able to do that … I’m proud that we’re able to do that. It feels good to pass it forward.”
“Showing kids that they can pick up a pair of sticks or do vocals, or showing someone they can hop in with their friends. The world is really yours,” adds Pao. “Inspiring people is a really big one, and people need it.”
I Want to Go Home is out now and you can order it from Equal Vision Records. Follow Kaonashi on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for future updates.
Photo Credit: Kyle Bergfors
