Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Kendra Kay

Kendra Kay is the powerhouse vocalist who’s taken the country music world by storm. Last year, she took home the awards for MCMA Female Artist of the Year and Fans’ Choice. Her music has spent seventeen weeks in the Top 100 on the Canadian Country National Airplay charts, and now she’s back with her brand-new single, “Steady.” Pop Culturalist spoke with Kendra about the release.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Kendra: For as long as I can remember, music was always a huge part of my life. I sang for the first time in front of a crowd when I was just eight years old. But it wasn’t really until a trip down to Nashville when I was fifteen that made me fall in love with being around music. That trip turned music from a hobby to a way of life for me.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Kendra: I’d have to say the amazing team of people I have around me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my team that’s been here since day one. They have inspired me to reach new levels and chase the dreams that I have. We grew from the ground up with a small-town country girl with a love for country music, and I am lucky that I have been able to stay true to my roots all through this journey, and I believe that authenticity that we have been able to nurture has helped garnish the stepping-stones to my career in country music now.

PC: You’ve had a lot of success already in your career. When you look back, is there a particular moment that stands out?
Kendra: There are so many moments for me that stand out thus far. I truly have been able to see dreams turn into realities. I would have to say that my first-ever stadium performance at the halftime show of the CFL Banjo Bowl is a moment that’ll probably be at the top of the list for me for a long time. There is no feeling quite like hearing the roar of a stadium from the stage—instant goosebumps!

PC: What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Kendra: I wish I knew more about the ins and outs of the music industry. There is a lot to learn about what goes on behind the scenes that many people don’t know about in the music industry, and it takes a lot of time and a lot of learning to understand the business side of things!

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Steady.” What was the inspiration behind the song?
Kendra: “Steady” is all about that person or people in your life who can keep you strong no matter the circumstances. They are always your rock when things get tough and you feel like falling apart. They are there to keep you steady in this crazy world. I am lucky to have an amazing group of people around me who are those rocks for me. I am grateful that they are always here to keep me pushing forward, and this song is all about that.

PC: You also released a music video for “Steady.” Walk us through the initial concept to the final product!
Kendra: I really wanted to be able to show who I am as an artist through this music video. I live a country lifestyle: riding horses, raising cattle, and farming. But my music has evolved over the past few years from that traditional country into a more modern sound, and I wanted this video to be able to blend those lines of my country life into the modern twist I have created, and I think we were able to display that!

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Kendra: Lady Gaga

PC: First album you bought?
Kendra: Gretchen Wilson’s Here For The Party

PC: First concert you attended?
Kendra: Terri Clark

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Kendra: Garth Brooks’ In Pieces. It was one of the first albums I fell in love with that helped me find my passion for country music.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Kendra: Grand Ole Opry

PC: A must-have on the road?
Kendra: DAVIDsTEA’s Cold 911

To keep up with Kendra, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.