The Interviews

The Kinleys

Interview by Jeff Krasky

Jennifer Kinley was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to talk to Senior Editor Jeff Krasky about The Kinleys and their music. Here is the text of that interview.

I’m sure that a number of your fans are curious about your hobbies and interests outside of music. Want to tell us about them?

When we were growing up Heather and I spent pretty much all of our free time swimming and singing. We were competitive swimmers all of our lives. Actually I'd love to be a coach if I was ever home long enough to be one. Maybe when I have kids I can coach a team or something and get them involved. I also like to play golf. Heather enjoys working with animals and she's done a lot to help out the national pound. She works with an organization called Act Now and she has really raised a lot of money along with this organization for the animals. They're really abused and neglected so that's one of her hobbies.

When was your first public music performance?

I would say we were probably 8 years old. We use to run around singing the Grease soundtrack and our mom heard us and decided to get us entered in a talent show. Oh you know I'm sorry it was actually an old age home (laughs) that we performed at and it was the most nerve-racking thing for both Heather and I. We were both scared to death. We eventually got over that stage fright and it became so much fun that we wanted to make it our career.

Phil Everly told you and Heather to write songs, which you've done quite successfully. Why do you think that there are so few singers out there that will go out on that limb and give it a try?

Well, it's amazing. When Heather and I moved to Nashville we were singers who just wanted to get into the country music. When we got to Nashville we realized how talented our competition was. Not only did they sing they wrote their own music and played their own instruments. I know Heather played guitar at that point but she was really inspired by the move to Nashville. We both really wanted to write because of the advice that Phil Everly gave us and it looked like something that would benefit us in the future and it definitely has. Ultimately I got into the piano. I love the keyboard. I play that. I tinker on the Mandolin a little bit too. It's so good to have that little extra knowledge so when you're talking to your band or musicians it helps to know what you're talking about (laughs)

On the same note, there have been self-penned songs on each of your albums. Can we expect to see this tread continue?

That seems to be the trend. We wrote half of the first album and half on the second. I don't know what's going to happen on the third. It's hard to find time to write when you're on the road as much as we are. That's definitely part of the challenge because you have so many things on your plate. Being on the road quite honestly doesn't inspire us as much as being at home. Being at home always inspires us to write and be creative. It's a challenge yeah, but we get it done hopefully.

I've noticed that the songs you write tend to be full of attitude and have a totally different feel than the other songs on the album and they definitely stand out.

Well thank you. We are inspired by each other and we usually know where the other one is headed. We really feed of each other well and have fun with it. It's definitely a special creation between her and I.

You mentioned in a chat session earlier this year that you were setting up some time with Kristyn Osborn of SHeDAISY to write. Have you had a chance yet, and how did it go?

We sure haven't. I know that sounds awful because we really have wanted to. Like I said the road carries you in your different directions and it's so hard to set aside time to write. You know another example of that is The Warren Brothers. We're good friends with them and wished we could get the time to get together but it's been difficult. Chely Wright is another one we try to get time to just hang out and have fun. It's hard.

Are you guys running a full tour schedule this year?

We really are. Actually, we're touring more in the first three months of the year than we ever have. We usually take January, February, and March off but we're not this year. So we're doing a little more touring than we're use to.

When the time comes to start putting together a new album, how do you and Heather go about selecting songs?

Well, whatever moves us. We don't get specific about lyrics or melodies. We just want to sit back and listen to a good song. So when we go to the publishing companies we request just their best songs. Great songs that really move them. We don't want to be limited to “we want to talk about only this” or whatever. We just want to be moved whether it be happy, sad, crying, laughing, you know.

If you had to pick a favorite song out of all of the ones you’ve recorded what would it be?

Oh gosh, that's so hard. Heather and I both think it's so hard to pick one. Every song is special in it's own way. It all comes in one package but there are so many different unique songs that I guess it's impossible to pick. There is one called “You're Still Here” that my husband wrote that's a little close to the heart. We split up for a little while during our relationship and that talks about no matter how far you go you're still there with me in my heart.

What is your favorite song on of all time?

I love Wynonna's “Is It Over Yet”. I absolutely love that song. It really shows desperately a feeling that I've lived and that I know a lot of people have lived through. Maybe a difficult breakup, something like that that just tears your heart apart and you just can't wait until it's all over. When will this be over? It just takes time and that's what’s a drag about it.

Who are some of your musical influences?

We love the Everly Brothers. They inspired us to start singing together no doubt. They also inspired us to start listening to country music. In listening to their music and learning about them we found out that they lived in Nashville and that Chet Atkins played a big part in their career and they played the Grand Ole Opry and all those things so we started listening to country music. Then we heard The Judds and they were a huge influence on us. We loved the blues influence they had on their music. That's when we really thought that country music is where we belong.

In the 6 and a half years that you and Heather spent in Nashville before getting your big break, was there ever a time when one of you really wanted to call it quits, but the other wouldn't let you?

I knew that there was a time. The first year on the road was very difficult for us. We were putting our team together. We were trying to get everything situated. Hiring a band, management, business manager, and producers. It's a lot on someone who is pretty green as far as the music industry goes. It was very stressful. We went through a difficult time on the road and we started to take it out on each other but we got through it.

Yeah, I think it would be great to have someone else on the road to fall back on instead of being a solo artist out on the road with no one else to support you.

Right yeah, we do. We've learned that we need our time apart because we're together so much. We get separate rooms on the road. We do comfort each other just knowing that the other one is there. It's comfort like you wouldn't believe to know the other one understands.

It’s a well known fact that artists touring together love to pull pranks on each other. What’s the worst prank you’ve been on the receiving end of?

Clint Black's crew and band on the last show with them. We did a tour with them the first year we were out. They put Vasoline on all the drumsticks and guitar necks. They cable tied the guitar necks. They had different set lists out for us with songs like "Get Jiggy With It" and stuff like that like that. It was just a really funny day. I was a little traumatized. They had one of their guys come dancing across the stage in a diaper during one of our slow songs. Finally we let the audience in it and said ok guys we didn't know any of this was happening, we've got our set lists all screwed up and it's because it's our last day with Clint. They really enjoyed it. They got in on the joke too.

What's the worst prank you and Heather pulled on someone else?

We really haven't done to many big pranks. We've been on the receiving end more than enough times and that's probably why we haven't done anything like that.

On II you worked with the producers of your debut album and Radney Foster. What was it like to work with Radney and how did his vision of your music differ from Tony and Russ’s?

They're at opposite ends of the spectrum. They are so different in the way that Radney is just like free love. He's kind of like an old hippy. Well, not old but he has that kind of mentality that when you get in the studio he just wants you to be creative. He doesn't want to pick it apart too much. He doesn't want it to be to perfect. He wants the emotion and the magic to come out and he wants it to be real special that way. Where Russ and Tony are more particular about details. That's how they differ but they are all wonderful producers and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to work with all of them.

On II you sing lead vocals on “I Need You Now”. Can we expect to see more lead performances on future albums?

I would love to and yes I'm sure you can expect that. I love singing and we just wanted to establish a sound on the first album that was recognizable and now we can expand a little bit.

If you could pick a dream tour mate, who would it be?

I just love Shania. I think she's so good. Heather has said in the past that she'd love to tour with The Everly Brothers. That would probably be our dream tour mate for sure because we look up to them so much. They are just our heroes.

How do you feel about the current pop influence in country music?

I think it's a trend right now that's very popular and I think it's great for the artists. The artists need to be themselves. I think Ronnie Milsap was pop. There were pop acts that happened long ago. It's just depends on the artist. I don't think that it means that everyone is going to go pop. It just means that particular artists are now doing that and I think that's great. If that's what moves them and that's what they want to be that's good for them.

Do you surf the Net at all? Have any favorite sites?

Yeah I do. I love Ebay (laughs). I love to go on and see the developments on our web site and check up on that. I really do enjoy the Internet. I think it's a wonderful information source that's good for everyone.

You've said that “I'm In” will be the next single when can fans expect to hear that on the air?

October 23rd is the add date. “I'm In” will come out then. Radney Foster wrote it with Georgia Middleman who is a new artist that will be coming out. It's such a great song we're just glad we got to record it.

Do you have a message you'd like to tell your fans that are reading this?

I really appreciate everybody's support and I know Heather feels the same way. We appreciate them listening to country music and supporting it and allowing us to do something that we love to do. They keep us out there; they keep us motivated and moving. We thank everyone out there for listening.