Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda Kennedy.
Miranda, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Kansas City, Missouri, but I’ve never stayed put for long. My home bases are KCMO, Denton, TX and Boulder, CO. I’ve always been moved by music, but it wasn’t until I was about 11 that I realized I could learn and write my own. I started teaching myself simple songs on an old piano and just couldn’t get enough of it. My first guitar was a gift when I turned 12, and that’s when it all really kicked into gear for me. I was mystified by the endless possibilities of expression.
I immediately started writing and singing and learning as many covers as I could on the guitar. My stepdad, JB, taught me how to book shows and set up basic equipment, so by the time I was 14 I was playing regularly for decent money and crowds. I’m really lucky to have JB I’m my life. He taught me how to own a stage and get my foot into doors. (We still play shows together around Crossroads, Little Elm and Aubrey!) By the time I was 18, I was itching to travel with my music.
After switching back and forth between Kansas and Texas every year of high school, I was ready for new adventures. So I saved a puppy named Bandit, hopped in the Jeep and headed on the road with just a guitar and some clothes. I traveled north through Kansas City and then spent a month in Big Rapids, Michigan making my first recordings with Jeremiah Pilbeam. But I couldn’t wait to keep traveling.
So Bandit and I headed west on a whim and ended up in Boulder, Colorado – the most beautiful home I’ve ever known. I slowly worked my way into venues and bars to play and, aside from the occasional long visits back to Texas, I made Boulder my chosen home for a while. I eventually traded the Jeep in for a Dodge RAM van to live out of, and those next three years of van life were the wildest times I’ve ever had.
I was living rent-free and performing for money on the foothills of The Rocky Mountains with my 130 lb road dog. And, of course, all I could think was, “What next?” So my good friend Jarrod and I got the idea to put together an eight-piece band called ‘Lady and the Gentlemen’ based out of Boulder. And what a beautiful band it was. We became pretty well known in our town and soon went on tours through Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, and California.
After about two years of wild adventures and shows, we started drifting apart and eventually the band was dissolved. Bandit and I headed back to Texas for some routine R&R, and I ultimately put some thicker roots down here. I missed my mom, and I was ready to take it easier for a bit. After having my heart torn and tugged at from all directions on the road, I decided on a less hectic and more focused direction with my music.
So here I am in Denton, TX. I’m 25 and Bandit is a lazy old porch dog now. I found my soul mate shortly after moving here, and I feel more vulnerable and sure of my music than ever before. My love, Kane Creasey, and I are now working on a project and building our launch pad together for our next adventure into a new place. We perform around Denton often and are excited to expand into the rest of DFW before we continue on.
Has it been a smooth road?
The expected hardships of being alone (besides Bandit) as a female musician on the road were difficult at times. But I was ready for it. It taught me how to say “No.” and see red flags quickly. I’m sharper because of it.
What I’ve truly struggled with was my brother’s situation. We were best friends growing up, but he went through physical and emotional trauma when we were teenagers that left him with schizophrenia and other mental issues. He became violent and not safe for me to be around.
I essentially lost my closest family member along with my sense of security. I ended up getting emancipated and lived with friends until I graduated high school. Through all of that terrifying heartache, music was my only constant. Honestly, my initial motivation to travel was to run away from everything; to prove to myself that I could create whatever reality I wanted. And boy did I prove that haha.
I came back two years ago to make peace with my past, and I now see challenges and obstacles in life as crucial lessons to face head-on. I’ve got a wonderful support system here that supports me while I grow and heal. And I’m finally able to reflect these deeper emotions through my music now that I’ve slowed down. I can’t wait to continue to tell my story through music because I know that I’m not the only one who has struggled with tragedies like this and I want them to also know they aren’t alone.
My main superpower is singing. I use my music to remind people that they aren’t alone, and I’m happy to say that it works often. <3 The most common response after performing is either an emotional conversation about one of my songs or a proposition to lullaby them to sleep at night haha.
I’m a very transparent person, and I truly wish to help everyone I come across. There is just so much unseen pain. And at the end of the day, people really just need someone to say “Hey. I see you. I’m here with you.” And that’s what I actively try to communicate through music and counsel. <3
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and the least?
What I like best about DFW is the diversity. You can find any genre of music throughout the metroplex and a venue that holds space for it. It’s a very vibrant and welcoming place.
Something I’ve noticed that I dislike about DFW is how cliquey it can be. I have no problem breaking the ice myself, but someone not as bold or outgoing might have a harder time when it comes to music and art, the more inclusive and accessible the better.
I worry about how many beautiful thoughts and songs are never heard, just because someone didn’t feel like they belonged.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I attribute most of the success in my life to my love of talking to people and connecting to my surroundings. I feel very deeply, and that calls people around me to do the same. I think a lot of genuine art gets lost to money or a sense of “being better than.”
So I try to be humble, open and welcoming with my energy and that’s given me a lot of opportunities to meet new people and be a part of some amazing projects
Contact Info:
- Email: mirandajadekennedy@gmail.com
- Instagram: @officialmirandakennedy
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMirandaKennedy/
Image Credit:
Noah Curbo, Kennie Monroe Wirth
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