Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Kelsie Kimberlin
THE RELEASE
Kelsie Kimberlin, a sensational pop artist, has delivered her debut EP, “The Drawer.” This eight-track album offers a powerful journey for listeners to go on by exploring Kelsie’s personal experiences and relationships. Because of the personal music, each song is highly relatable. A music video was made for each song, with six of them being made with AI technology, to add a visual element to the music. If you’re looking for a personal album of great pop tracks, “The Drawer” is available on all major music platforms through Symphonic Music Group.
The title track of the album, “The Drawer,” dives into the end of a toxic relationship. “Meet Me Anywhere” and “January Through December” explore relationships in different ways, whether it’s wanting more from friendship or enjoying the moments. “Fatal Attraction” is more haunting with a rock vibe that takes on dangerous passion in romance. With a video that Kelsie directed herself, “Twinkle” celebrates transgender youth with a focus on representation and acceptance. “Parking Lot” has become extremely popular thanks to the Latin vibe and a Cartagena-based music video. As the title suggests, “Summertime’s Gone” mourns the end of a summer romance. At the end of the album, “Recovery” discusses the struggles of youth and how much forgiveness and support play a part. With Grammy winners involved in the production of each song, “The Drawer” captures poignant experiences that listeners will be able to relate to.
THE INTERVIEW
What or who would you say was the main inspiration behind this album?
My personal experiences inspired my "The Drawer" EP, and, when talking to others, I heard so many similar stories that I wanted to express them in song. Writing about these experiences is also a form of therapy because the songs allow me to set the emotions free rather than bottling them up
What message do you want listeners to take away from the album?
I want fans and listeners to relate to what I am singing about and feel the emotions I felt when writing the songs. In this way, I hope the songs will help them find peace and understanding in their lives.
During the creation of your album, were there any obstacles or challenges, and how, if at all, did they affect the final result?
On my, there are always challenges when creating a song. My biggest problem, which might sound strange, is that I am a prolific songwriter and have recorded over 150 songs. So when it came down to deciding which songs to put on the EP, I couldn't decide because they are all dear to me. Therefore, I had to make playlists of dozens of songs and then have my team, family, and closest friends choose. I decided on the order once we came to a consensus.
Artistic ventures take a lot of work, often with collaborative efforts. Can you give some insight into how producers, engineers, or co-writers helped create the album?
I write all my songs so I don't have to worry about co-writers. That said, I have an amazing team and we are all perfectionists. Now, every one of my songs has at least two Grammy winners or Grammy nominees in the production process. There is an incredible amount of quality control that goes into every song. I have producers in three countries who each get a say in the production process. You can hear some cool orchestration on several of the tunes, and one of my producers writes all those parts. I am particularly obsessive about my vocals so I have a wonderful friend and vocal coach who is with me every time I record vocals. And I will sometimes do a dozen to two takes before we are satisfied with the result. I do not like autotune so I am meticulous about getting it right when I record. I also prefer to use some real instruments in every song if possible.
The creative process can be very personal and some of these tracks felt especially so. How did the songs, individually or as a whole, affect you and did the process shift your future music in any way?
Yes, this was a big shift for me because I had to admit things in some of the songs that were traumatic. For example, in the title song, "The Drawer," I sang about a psychologically abusive relationship, and I realized that I put up with that abuse for far too long. In the song "Recovery," I had to admit that I hurt those who cared about me by engaging in self-destructive behaviors during high school. I found that writing and singing these songs were very cathartic and helped me be an even better songwriter.
KEEP UP WITH KELSIE KIMBERLIN BELOW:
