An Interview With the Promising and Very Talented Singer, KENZIE MOORE!

Photo Credit- Adam Chin

Kenzie Moore (RIYL: Adele, Alicia Keys, Sia) recently released her debut full-length, “Dear You.”  Through her heartfelt lyrical content and impeccable vocal ability, each song off Dear You, tells of an unpopular, complicated tale this is so relatable to listener. Kenzie somehow intertwines life’s biggest complications into melodic tunes that set her apart.

Off the debut 11-track album, produced by Scotty Grand, comes lead single “Body of Armor,” a song about being someone’s armor, a shoulder to lean on when things are not okay in a relationship. Kenzie describes a fighter, an individual that puts their feelings and emotions aside to be their armor.

Kenzie is currently working on several music videos which will be coming out over the next month.

Learn more about Kenzie in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! Now that we are entering the fall of 2016, what are some words you would use to describe this year? What have been some of the highlights for you and yours music? 

Thank you for having me! This year has been crazy.  To go from graduating college in May, moving from Chicago back home to Detroit, and of course, releasing a full-length album.  I cannot believe how fast it has gone by! To be honest, I never really thought I would be able to graduate on time while simultaneously working on the album.  But after many sleepless nights, mental breakdowns, blood, sweat and tears, it happened.  I’m just really lucky because I have such a large support system with my family and close friends.  I wouldn’t be able to do any of it without them.

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your earliest musical memory?

I never imagined pursuing an actual career in music until well into my college years.  I mean, it was always a joke amongst my friends that I would be a professional singer, but I never, ever thought I would actually attempt going after it.  I always sang around the house and in school.  In fact, my mother always talks about how she would receive phone calls from my primary school teachers saying I was “disrupting the class by singing”.  They clearly didn’t like my impromptu concerts as much as my best friends did. (Laughter)

Anyway, I guess my earliest musical memory was singing in our condominium complex’s pool when I was a young girl, only to be called over by a woman.  She asked me about my music and if I liked to sing to which I replied yes.  I had been doing my rendition of Ariel’s songs from The Little Mermaid, a frequent in my toddler repertoire.  After talking to the woman for a bit, I walked over to my mother and she asked me what that woman talked to me about. I told her it was about music.  My mom asked me if I had known who it was, which I didn’t.  Well turns out, it was Celine Dion.  I mean, if that’s not a sign that I forever would have a pathway in music, I don’t know what is.  I, of course, at the time had no idea who she was so I just shrugged.  Trust me, if I could shake my younger me, I would.

Photo Credit- Adam Chin

Let’s talk about your just released debut full-length album, “Dear You.” Where did the inspiration for this collection come from? How long did it take to put together? 

Well my inspiration is from all over the place.  I definitely utilize a lot of my own experiences. The most important part, and I think any songwriter would agree, is that inspiration strikes anywhere so its really important to write down everything that crosses your mind, musically and/or lyrically speaking.  Of course, I don’t even think half of what I write is ever used, but I always feel better having more lyrics to choose from.  Once I have a strong chorus and/or general idea of the message I want to send within the song, I will sometimes use books or poems to help build more of the emotional wording if I’m struggling with writer’s block. As insane as it sounds, the album itself was really recorded within a total of ten days.

Since I live in Michigan, my travel time was really crunched so I was only able to record a certain amount of time within Los Angeles and Nashville.  But, by some miracle, I was able to do it.  A lot of that miraculous work was helped with the amazing producers I was able to work with, who were so patient with me.  I’m really lucky to have worked with such talented and just really great individuals.

How has it been going making music videos to go along with the tracks off the album? Have you been having fun making them?  

Its really exciting to kind of see my music progress from words on a page to recording, all the way to doing live video sessions. Its been such a blast to work on these videos because I got to record them with my band that I’ve performed live with a couple of times now. They are such great guys and I really just love hanging out with them.

What if anything has surprised you about the music industry? What do you think has been your biggest challenge? And what do you think has come really naturally to you? 

A lot.  I mean, really a lot.  I didn’t realize how much work really goes into just a single record.  And also, how much of  a group effort it is to make a record.  I was lucky to have such patient people to work with me while I was learning all the ins and outs about this industry, and I still am learning so much.  To be honest, this all happened so fast.  It’s sort of still hitting me that I have an album out and that there are people, other than my family, actually listening to it! It has been a lot of stepping stones to get used to everything, I really don’t think anything comes naturally to me.  Its a lot of hard work but I love learning about every aspect of the process.

Photo Credit – Adam Chin

Who are some of your favorite artists and what bands continue to inspire you and your music? Who would you love to work with in the future? 

Wow, that’s a tough question.  For me, I really love, love Adele and Sia.  Both are such tremendously talented artists and musicians, in their own way.  I would love to work with either of them.  Writing, recording, producing.  They both excel at everything that takes place during the record making process which is so unreal.  Very few musicians these days are involved in every level so I am in awe of these ladies.  I would kill to meet them, let alone work with them.

When you aren’t performing, working in the studio, what do you like to do for fun? How do you unwind from it all?  

So for me, my family is everything to me.  i have a huge, fun, hilarious family that I love being around.  So, I spend a lot of time with them and my close friends. I’ve had the same best friends forever so they know me in and out, and yet, they still stick around. (Laughter)  I also am a total bookworm.  I read all the time.  I have hundreds of books in my closet, bookshelves, nightstands, my room looks like a library threw up in there.  I read every night before bed, which I’ve been doing since I can remember, so that’s probably the best way I unwind.  I’m also a die-hard Game of Thrones and Its Always Sunny in Philly fan, so if I get the opportunity to, I will definitely be watching those.

At the end of the day, what do you hope is the message of your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

Well, the truth is, i don’t have some deep dark history that I can write deeply emotional songs about.  I had a lovely upbringing with a big, close, loving family.  So, when it comes to the creative process, I like to write about more everyday situations that I think any normal human goes through, especially while they are growing up.  Fighting for those you love, unrequited love, tough relationships, etc. I really want listeners to hear that those feelings they have are completely normal.  People experience these things everyday and I just hope my songs are relatable enough that people love them as much as I loved writing them.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music?

Not anything in particular, I just hope people enjoy the album! I had such a crazy fun, fast-paced time writing it and I’m really excited to share it with the world.  I also love hearing what people think of it so tweet at me! I would love to hear from you guys!!