Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Gary.
Hi Kendall, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started singing, classically, at the age of four. Around the age of 14, I started pursuing a career with my music, and learned what I needed in order to get my career going—I began to write and produce music and build my brand.
At 15, my first single was produced and released. Then at 17, I flew to Nashville and wrote and recorded my second single that was later released in April of 2015. In March of 2015, I met a producer from the Cayman Islands, Jason Gilbert. We both knew I was not as ready as I wanted to be. He told me he would meet with me in August and see where I was. When I came back that August I was in a different mindset. I was all in. I came with current songs that I had written and made sure that he knew I was serious and wanted this because I did. In October 2015, “Team Kendall” met for the first time in Los Angeles and that is when my album first got started.
I released my album This Is To You back in 2018. Since then, I have been working on other music projects. In 2020 I released two singles: Not About You and Cannonball. With the release of Cannonball, I also had a music video. The music video for Cannonball was so fun to make because I collaborated with my talented cousin, Emma. She is a beautiful dancer and I knew that I wanted her to choreograph and dance to one of my songs. I really enjoyed being able to work with my “little” cousin and see what she came up with. I gave her creative freedom to do what she wanted and it was absolutely perfect! The music video for Cannonball debuted on The Country Network, but you can watch it anytime on my YouTube channel.
During Covid, I was home in Texas and started my small business. Now, in addition to my music, I am a cookie decorator! My small business is Kookies by Kenny. I graduated from Belmont University last November with a BBA in Music Business. I am currently working on some projects as well so stay tuned for that!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been a smooth road, but that is part of any journey. If you really want something, you keep working towards it and trying to make it happen. If it came easily, it would not be worth it. Part of the fun, in my opinion, is the work. When you love something and put everything into it, it is rewarding to see all of your hard work pay off.
The music industry itself is not for everyone and is not very easy to break into. I started learning about it when I was 13 and have been part of it since! I am now 24 and am still learning about it and its ever-changing self every single day. Going to Belmont really helped me understand even more of the industry from the business side whereas before I was learning strictly from the artist side.
I will say that I have been very fortunate to have found some great people to be part of Team Kendall. I would not say this is a “struggle” but it can be difficult to find good people to join you on your journey. It is SO important to surround yourself with good, supportive people who want to see you succeed. I have met with, and worked with, people who thought they could take advantage of someone young who wanted to be part of the music industry. It is not always easy to spot, unfortunately, but since I have found some great people to surround myself with, they have watched out for me and helped me.
2021 has been a challenge in itself for me, creatively and mentally. My grandmother passed away at the beginning of the year and that has really affected me. I have experienced loss of family members, but never like this. I have felt lost since she passed away and stuck creatively in my music. It is almost the end of the year and I am just now getting back to myself. I miss her dearly but I have used my music as an outlet for my grief and it has helped tremendously.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a country singer and songwriter. The music I write is inspired by the things I experience in my life. When writing my music, I hope that my songs will touch or move others, whether it’s in a deep way or in a lighthearted/fun way. As a fan of other musicians, I really enjoy listening to songs that I can relate to and jam out to! I think that music is an art form that can be therapeutic to the writer/performer as well as the audience.
I am most proud when people tell me that they are related to my music. I get a lot of that from Head Held High. I will never forget this lady messaging me and saying that her daughter had a rough day at school with some mean girls and she listened to my song on repeat. Hearing stuff like that makes it all worth it because I wrote from my experience and am able to help others get through theirs.
I hope that people take what they need at that moment. Whether it’s a song like ‘Head Held High’ where you need a reminder that you’re not alone, no matter how difficult things can get. Or even ‘Lie To Me’ for when you’ve been in a relationship where there wasn’t much honesty. I think every listener interprets a song in their own way and will take what they need from it. If only ONE person can relate, be moved, or touched by the music I write, then I feel like I’ve succeeded. It’s the cherry on top for me!
How do you think about happiness?
Being creative makes me happy! Yes, I love being creative when it comes to my music and small business, but I also like trying new things. Now that does not mean I am good at everything I pick up, but I do enjoy trying something at least once!
Also, my family makes me happy. Family is very important to me. I was fortunate to be home in Texas during quarantine and be with my family the entire time. I absolutely loved being home and in addition to that, my boyfriend was there too. Since he is gone most of the year with baseball, quarantine gave him and my family a chance to really get to know each other—this made me very happy! My sister just gave birth so now we have a beautiful little addition and I am just over the moon.
Contact Info:
- Email: thekendallgary@gmail.com
- Website: http://www.thekendallgary.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thekendallgary
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheKendallGary
- Twitter: twitter.com/TheKendallGary
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCWaJtnUP741rYZHuG6TBEBg
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/thekendallgary
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4A5jrAoXIUinDORM0QQIht?si=gFPM-AVNS9-jbDykZ8nSCQ
Image Credits
Cryste DeShields Photography
Terrri Cage Photography
Hannah Adkins Photography
Corey Morrison
Jeremy Brookover
