Interview with Kendal Conrad

We first featured Kendal Conrad a couple of weeks with her single ‘Bodyguard’, a track about which we said the following:

‘With her newest release, she shines a light on her glorious vocal range and emotive songwriting – she is an artist that makes the country scene exciting. With a strong production and relatable lyrics this track has all the ingredients to become a worldwide hit.’

So impressed were we, that we had to find out more, so we caught up with Kendal this week for a chat!

Hi Kendal, to start can we talk about your recent single ‘Bodyguard’, a song that seems to have taken on a life of it’s own! Can you tell us how the song came about and a little about the impact it has had.

I came up with the idea for “Bodyguard” when I started thinking about the actual job of a bodyguard. A bodyguard swears to protect you and keep you safe at all costs. They literally guard your body. I thought it would be interesting to take this concept and look at it through the lens of a romantic relationship. A guy swears to be my bodyguard and protect my heart, but he winds up breaking it instead. The song has almost 15,000 streams on Spotify in under three weeks, so it’s been really cool to see it take off.

 

The song followed on from ‘Come to Your Senses’, which will join ‘Bodyguard’ on your upcoming EP. How excited are you about that release, and when can we expect it?

I am so excited for everyone to hear the rest of the songs! I am hoping for an early 2021 release right now, so we’ll see.

What was it that got you into country music in the first place – has it always been around, or a sound that you have discovered?

Definitely a sound that I discovered! My parents listened to predominantly pop and some rock. My mom had a friend that LOVED country music, so my first introduction to the genre was Shania Twain’s Come on Over album closely followed by Faith Hill. Soon I stumbled upon Taylor Swift, and country pop just felt like home to me.

Could you tell us about the artists that have influenced you in your career?

Two artists tie for the biggest influence in my music career, and they are Whitney Houston and Taylor Swift. I always wanted big vocals like Whitney but also the raw, honest storytelling of Taylor. I also really love Ariana Grande and Reba. All four of these artists are powerhouse women, and that’s the image that I strive for with my own music.

And if you had to pick out a particular highlight from your career so far, what would you pick?

Singing for 18,000 people at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open was pretty crazy. I was opening for Blake Shelton, and it was an added bonus that I got to see his show. It was a night I’ll never forget.

To finish, tell us about your upcoming plans for 2020!

I’m scheming about which single to release next, so keep your ears open around my favorite holiday.