Kelsey Lewis

Kelsey Lewis is a singer songwriter to watch out for, songs that are worth listening to and a voice that shines. She is an American singer songwriter with a bright future and her album Beautiful View highlights that. So read on what she has to say.

http://www.kelseylewismusic.com/

1. How did you get into music?
-I had always loved music. Growing up, music was always in our house and a big part of our family! We would always listen to great 80 classics like, “Baby Come Back” by Player or “If You Leave Me Now” by Chicago! Other musical influences I had growing up were in the Country, Pop, and Christian music genres.
It was actually pretty early in my life when I discovered a passion for music, though. It was during the second grade school talent show, when I performed, “Feet On the Rock” by country artist, Randy Travis, when I immediately fell in love with singing and performing. It was a pure “out of this world” experience getting to perform for the first time. I had always loved to sing, but the second grade talent show really marked me, because it was in that moment that I believed for the first time that I could do it…..I could perform in front of my peers…..and I was “ok” with it.
Since then, I feel like my heart has been like a racehorse with blinders on….very focused, and very determined to make this amazing experience called “music,” a lifetime career. Everything about music…..the way it communicates, illustrates, feels when it hits your ears….it just feeds my soul. I truly believe music is one beautiful gift….a language sent from God….and I want to learn how to speak it the rest of my life.

2. What inspired you go to serious with it?
-Well, I believe my first school talent show lit a small fire within me, but I don’t think it really ignited until an opportunity arose with a company by the name of AMTC, which stands for Acting, Modeling, Talent for Christ. It was an educational program that taught artist how to flourish in their craft. You would go through a month or two of classes and then they would take all of their students to Florida for a week to introduce us to top media executives through an international talent convention. It was an incredible experience and I learned so much from being apart of it. I learned how much dedication was involved in going after careers in the entertainment industry. After I had come back from the amazing experience, I had a talk with my family and I told them, “Guys, I think I am ready to do this. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” AMTC was in the summer of 2009, so this life decision was made not too long ago.

3. What inspired the album?
-Life inspired the album. Every song is an account from my own personal life. These songs take you through my relationships, life learned lessons, and up/down feelings of an emotional, life loving, crazy, free falling teenage girl. A free falling soul, happily falling into love, hope and life all while celebrating the good and growing from the bad.

4. Were you happy how it turned out?
-Oh my goodness, I was overjoyed with how it turned out. I loved every song and production choice. My incredible producers, Richie Biggs (engineer for Amy Grant, The Civil Wars, George Strait, and Andrew Ripp) and Mark Hill (bassist for Reba McEntire) really understood me not just from a musical level but from a personal level and were really able to draw out and capture what I had hoped and dreamed for each one of these songs. These songs would not be what they are without them! So, yes, I was VERY pleased with the turnout, to say the least!

5. What was the recording process like for the album?
-The recording process was a whole lot of fun! It was my very first experience in a studio and so the entire experience was all shiny and new! We had a blast experimenting. We tried all kinds of crazy ideas……there was even a moment when we were making kazoos out of toilet paper rolls, rubber bands and wax paper; we wanted to try to a kazoo sound in “Calendar.” At the end of the day, the trumpets resonated with all of us though, so we scratched the kazoo idea. I think the greatest part about being in the studio though was getting to share unique, special moments with very unique and extraordinary people, who love music just as much as you do! I got to work with some incredible musicians and shared some awesome moments with them during that time. There were times, while in the studio, when we had to get serious and put our “work caps” on, but there was also a lot space for laughter, stories and coffee breaks! Anytime it would get too serious, we would make sure to counteract it with a little bit of fun!

6. What inspires you when writing songs?
-Life experiences, feelings I discover I’m feeling and lessons I am learning at the moment….those are the things that fuel my writing. Things that I am personally struggling with too; that always makes for a good potential song.

7. How does the song structure for you come about when writing songs?
-That is a great question that I am still trying to answer myself. It’s hard to say. I guess it depends alot on what I receive first. Sometimes, a song will come to me with the start of a chorus and or sometimes, I feel like it’s best to start with a verse. Each song has it’s own heartbeat and manifestation. I personally believe that if there is a specific structure, it might possibly inhibit the natural flow the song will want to lean to. You kind of just have to go where the inspiration takes you. That’s what I do, and I have found that it has been very beneficial to me so far.

8. How often do you a time when you can’t write a song?
-Oh I get stuck a lot. Unfortunately, that is just how the writing life tends to be….so I’ve been told. Just like with life, there will be seasons of fertility and seasons of pure, utter, nasty as all get out, drought. Sometimes, inspiration will literally be pouring out of my fingertips and then other times I will literally be scrapping corners for any sign of ideas. In knowing that this is normal, it really helps me cope with moments of the dreaded “writer’s block.” I know it’s a process….that I am just going through a “dry” season.

9. Are you happy with the reverbnation love?
-Oh my goodness….are you kidding? I feel BEYOND blessed and thankful for all of the overwhelming support! As a songwriter, there is nothing more enriching to see the songs that you hummed in your shower for years, the songs that you sang into your phone recorder so you wouldn’t lose the melody, the songs that illustrated a very crazy time in your own personal life, can now be heard and, hopefully, enjoyed by others. It means so much to hear everyone’s feedback and I can’t say “thank you” enough to everyone who has written me encouragement, support, and has followed me and my crazy, musical journey! I feel very honored and blessed by reverbnation’s devout support.

10. How important social media to you?
-Social media is VERY important to me. It is a way for me to communicate, celebrate, vent, and share with my fans all that is happening along this journey I’m on. I want to be able to express that with everyone and be able to connect in palpable ways and I feel that through social media nowadays, it is becoming easier to become engaged and more personal with your fans….and I just love that.

11. What does it mean to connect with your fans?
-It means so much to me. The reason I want to make music is for that hope of being able to make people smile, bring them joy, remind them of a memory or a time and place they once felt that way. Through my music, I hope to be able to connect with them through the language of song….a language we all speak. Connecting with others through music is such a beautiful thing that God has gifted all of us, and it means the world to get to share the stories God has given me to join, help, and ignite other stories.

12. if you could collaborate with anyone who would it be?
-Oh I would most definitely say Joy Williams(The Civil Wars), Taylor Swift and Sara Bareilles. These three women inspire me in the way they are able to capture emotion in their voice, lyrics and performance. Such great artists, and I would probably die if I ever were to receive the honor of performing with one of them.

13. What does 2013 mean to you?
-I love this question. For me, 2013 stands for a time of discovery. A time to discover more about myself, about my music, about what inspires me, what’s good for me and what’s not. 2013, I believe is a time of growth and grace. A time of taking chances and growing up. A time of change….in which I am open for and learning to embrace fully.

14. What is next for yourself?
-Well, that is another awesome question of which I do not know. I would love to begin performing out more on a full-time performance schedule and maybe even start touring. As for future material, I am always writing and ready for the next album when me, Mark and Richie are ready to dive into it again! Until then, I am taking every opportunity I can get, living life, and trying to seek the next steps God has for me all while trying to take in and enjoy every moment.