Kenny Hotopp shares sobriety and change in new 'Shifting Gears' video

By AI, Created 4:21 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Americana artist Kenny Hotopp will release the music video for “Shifting Gears” on May 12, pairing a personal song about sobriety and self-discovery with home footage and concert scenes from Milwaukee. The single is also part of an upcoming 12-song album focused on reflection, resilience and renewal.

Why it matters: - Kenny Hotopp is using “Shifting Gears” to turn a personal reset into a public artistic statement. - The song and video center on sobriety, change and self-discovery, themes that often resonate beyond the artist’s own story. - The release also tees up an upcoming 12-song album built around reflection, resilience and renewal.

What happened: - Kenny Hotopp released the official music video for his new single “Shifting Gears” on May 12. - The Americana folk-soul artist pairs the song with visuals that move from a quiet morning at his Waterford, Wisconsin home to live concert footage from a Milwaukee performance later that night. - The release presents a day-in-the-life portrait that links the private and public sides of Hotopp’s work.

The details: - “Shifting Gears” is described as a relaxed but powerful Americana track with warm, Nashville-inspired tones. - Hotopp wrote the song during a period of personal reassessment. - A milestone birthday helped spark the decision to make meaningful life changes. - Hotopp was also influenced by seeing musical heroes embrace sobriety and reach new creative heights. - The lyrics include: “Now I’m shifting gears / My sight lines clear / On where it is that I need to be.” - The song’s arrangement leans on an easy groove, soulful chord progressions and a heartfelt delivery. - The single will appear on an upcoming 12-song album that blends Americana, folk and soul. - Chad Hensiak and Drake Hensiak of CAH Promotions, LLC filmed and produced the video.

Between the lines: - The video’s structure reinforces the song’s message by contrasting ordinary routines with the release of live performance. - The project positions Hotopp as an artist focused on lived experience rather than polished persona. - The sobriety angle gives the release broader emotional weight and may help the song connect with listeners navigating their own transitions.

What’s next: - Hotopp’s upcoming 12-song album is expected to continue the themes introduced in “Shifting Gears.” - The new release signals a creative phase built around clearer direction and emotional renewal. - More music and visuals are likely to follow as Hotopp expands the album rollout.

The bottom line: - “Shifting Gears” is both a song release and a personal turning point, framed as a candid look at change, sobriety and forward motion.