27 August 2021 - 0 Comments

Kendall Elise has today released her sophomore album Let The Light In and the new single You Gotta Be A Little Mad.

Listen to the album here

Recorded at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios and mastered by KOG Studios, Let The Light In is a complementary mix of country music that perfectly depicts the vulnerability of humans. Each track with its own unique sound, all fitting within the context of the album's themes of reaching catharsis.

“Let The Light In encourages us to transmute our anger into action, find strength in vulnerability, to embrace the feared and misunderstood” explains Kendall.
“We are all learning how to unravel and mend the imperfect patchwork of coping methods we’ve scrappily stitched together.”

Also released today is new single, You Gotta Be A Little Mad, a full and loud song that takes elements from 60's girl groups with handclaps, three-part backing vocals and a throwback drum beat.

“I wanted this song to have a real driving sense of urgency to it. We’re carrying unhealthy coping mechanisms as a result of past hurt and trauma, but we are the only ones who can heal ourselves and break the cycle. It’s also about identifying and using any privilege we have to help raise up the voices of those who don't. It’s about being a little bit mad about the unjust way things are, but instead of letting it consume you, transforming that anger into positive action.”

The writing for Let The Light In began in 2019 during a three-day songwriting workshop held at the Christchurch Arts Centre, hosted by Bic Runga.

“We were asked to bring a half-written song to the workshop to work on. I had been feeling quite overwhelmed with worldly goings-on, as well as the personal level of stress and pressure I was under trying to work full time as well as build a career in music and had come up with the idea that somewhere Something’s Gotta Give.”

“During the workshop, I got to sit privately inside the clock tower of the Arts Centre and flesh out my idea – It was a very unique space and it felt like a really wonderful privilege – and reminded me of my song ‘The Clock Tower’. At the end of the workshop, I gave a copy of my album Red Earth to Bic, with no expectation that she would listen to it at all, but she did! A few weeks later I was absolutely floored when I received a message from her telling me that she had listened and loved it.”

Working as the producer on this album Kendall says the process for this one was a lot more considered than her last album.

“Ultimately my goal was to build on the experience I gained as co-producer on my last two records and aim to create a record that is a progression from Red Earth which I really feel I have achieved. I wanted to measure myself against my own personal achievements and create something that has come from self-reflection, acceptance of the many different facets of myself, learning; and translate those into songs that others could listen to and potentially relate to from their own perspective.”

The album contains the already released tracks Between Hello and Goodbye (a finalist for the APRA Best Country Music Song at this year’s Country Music Awards), Kendall’s unique rockabilly spin on Suzi Quatro’s iconic 70s hit Your Mamma Won’t Like Me and the steamy I Want.

CREEPING IVY RECORDS PRESENTS…

Kendall Elise - LET THE NIGHT IN - album release tour 2021

Saturday August 28 - live stream / free event -
Kendall will perform live on the Flying Out Facebook page from 2pm - HERE

Saturday September 18 - Nivara Lounge, Hamilton
w/ support from Beth Torrance - www.undertheradar.co.nz

Saturday October 2 - The Incubator, Tauranga
w/ support from Beth Torrance - www.undertheradar.co.nz

Sunday October 3 - The Back Room, Thames
w/ support from Beth Torrance - www.eventspronto.co.nz

Saturday October 23 - The Arts Centre, Kumeu
w/ support from Beth Torrance - www.undertheradar.co.nz

Friday November 5 - MOON, Wellington
w/ support from Stellarize - www.undertheradar.co.nz

Please note, these dates below are now postponed due to current COVD alert levels. The dates will be rescheduled, more news to follow:

Friday September 3 - Phoenix, Auckland
w/ support from Beth Torrance; Echo Children - www.undertheradar.co.nz

Saturday September 11 - Dome Cinema, Gisborne
w/ support from Beth Torrance; Maorissey - www.undertheradar.co.nz

Sunday September 12 - Woolshed Tavern, Reporoa
w/ support from Beth Torrance - www.undertheradar.co.nz

An album that once again raises the bar for one of New Zealand’s most intriguing artists, Let The Light In is out now across all DSPs. See Kendall Elise perform Let The Light In by grabbing a ticket to one of her North Island tour dates below - tickets on sale now.

Find Kendall Elise:
YouTube / Facebook / Bandcamp / Instagram / Website

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