As Myles Kennedy releases his third solo album today, MetalTalk were lucky enough to sit down with the man who has – almost quite literally – worked with everyone, to discuss his new record and beyond. The Art Of Letting Go is a ten-track Myles Kennedy experience like nothing you have heard before. Powerful, vulnerable and not without riff-tastic twists at every turn, the album takes Kennedy into a new era of his music.
For a musician who seems to be constantly on the move with a work ethic in need of being studied, Kennedy first let us into how this album came to fruition. “I was looking at my schedule and saying to myself, well, I see a window, and I don’t want there to be too much time to hang out in between writing music. Otherwise, I could end up in jail.” With a gentle laugh, Kennedy quickly retracts his comment, “That’s not true.”
“I just wanted to write and record a real solo rock album. My first record, Year Of The Tiger, was quite acoustic. Then I did The Ides Of March, which rocked, but it was more like Southern rock with definite country vibes at times. With The Art Of Letting Go, I just wanted it to be, plug in, turn up loud, turn up the game, play some riffs and sing over the top.”
What Kennedy describes as very much a ‘solo journey’ started long before he entered the recording studio. “I am paranoid of getting in the studio and not having a record written. If I know I will be in the studio at the end of the year, I will start the writing process a good ten months prior, so we have plenty to choose from.”
With the amount of diligence within his music, this comes as no surprise. “I have nightmares of going into a studio situation and someone going, ‘let’s write these songs now in the studio’. The idea of writing in the studio is a daunting task to me.”
Lyrically, Kennedy’s music has always been built on a foundation of raw honesty, with his signature punch sprinkled on top. The Art Of Letting Go seems fairly conspicuous in its themes from the title, but unlike his previous albums, where there was a more congruent theme, Kennedy wanted to step in a slightly different direction.
“This record is more of a collection of songs. Though there is a theme in the last song, which was inspired by a film that’s very cool and very dark called Speak No Evil. We saw the original somewhere over in Europe, and what I love about the movie is that there is a moral to the story that really speaks to me, which manifests itself in that song.
“The idea is basically standing up for yourself.” Renowned for being well-loved within the industry, Kennedy opens up about the potentially negative side to this trait/ “I am a people pleaser to a fault sometimes, and that often ends not too well because people can take advantage of you. It’s not that I don’t have a backbone, but the movie did a brilliant job of conveying what can happen if you don’t.” The final product is excellent in the form of How The Story Ends, a track which ties up the album superbly.
As a whole, The Art Of Letting Go is a journey into Kennedy’s solo work that really explores his versatility and mastery of musicianship. However, for Kennedy, the highlight of his work has always been getting the mixes back for that first proper listen-through. “It is great because you have documented the idea, and now it is hopefully going to be around when you are gone. There is a certain solace in that.
“But then you’re off to the next thing. I love touring and performing, but creating and being in the studio is such a rush. I am always looking for those goosebumps or even welling up with tears when something is really good.”
Despite his rock ‘n’ roll persona, Kennedy has spent many years sober and advocates for what it brings to his work. “I try to maintain sensitivity as a creative person and as a songwriter. That is one of the reasons I don’t do much partying, as I need that part of my persona to be in full effect.”
Comparing himself now to years ago, Kennedy continues. “Back in the day, when I used to party here and there, I tricked myself. You think something is great, or you might miss something. Now, It is all about being present and hyper-aware of everything that is going on and manifesting it in the songs so that the clarity lends itself to the music.”
With The Art Of Letting Go now released, the fans are eagerly awaiting for the Myles Kennedy tour to begin. He kicks his UK leg for the tour in Glasgow on the 25th of November.
“I’m excited. Until then, I will be back home, just practising day in and day out. But my thing is always remembering these damn lyrics. You make enough records over the last few decades and there is just not enough room for all of those words in my head. But we are very excited to return to the UK to tour.”
Throughout the interview, Kennedy is completely unassuming in his rockstar status. He is entirely personable, never wavering from an eager smile, even when discussing the stresses that come with his position. “It can all be a little overwhelming but at the same time, I don’t know what else I would do. Being away from my family is always hard, but I get to play music and never forget how long it took me to get to this point where it is a constant.”
It is wild to think the musician had ever doubted his security within the industry. “It was only until about eight years ago that I still thought it could all end. Until I had a friend that said to me, ‘you do realise you can probably do this now for as long as you want’, which made me finally see it, which I honestly didn’t until then.
“I just kept taking every tour and just kept rolling. But now I feel super comfortable, as if the foundations have been set up, and it is just a matter of enjoying it. That’s part of what The Art Of Letting Go is about. I am at this stage in life now where I just want to take it all in and be present. I don’t take any of it for granted, just savouring every freaking minute.”
Though Kennedy used to question his place within the ever-uncertain industry that is music, we now could not imagine a place where his name is not known. For someone so well respected, we had to ask what advice Kennedy would give to emerging musicians who want to tread that same path.
“First of all, I would ask, how bad do you want this? That is a very important question to ask straight out of the gate because it’s a very different lifestyle, and it can be very challenging. There are a lot of ups and downs. I mean, that sounds like a cliche, but there are, and you have to be prepared for that.”
Cliche or not, the career that has served Kennedy so well is not for the faint-hearted or the wrongly motivated. “If you want to do this for fame or financial gain, then I would advise going down another route. But if you want to be heard and have something to say that you feel people would want to hear that might help them in their lives, then you have to go for it.
“Or ultimately, if you just love music so freaking much that you can’t imagine life without it. I once had a teacher say you make music not because you want to but because you need to.”
Kennedy got his big break in 2004 when he formally joined Mark Tremonti’s band, Alter Bridge. Still with the band and going strong, Kennedy has navigated the last twenty years through the ever-changing patterns of the scene. “A lot has changed since I was starting out in the game.
“There is a lot of noise to cut through now. The internet is a vast place where many people want the same thing. But I do believe the cream of the crop eventually rises to the top. If you have something other people find compelling, it will find a way.”
Kennedy has spent much of his career working with that cream of the crop whilst being a compelling part of it himself. Despite collaborating with almost every hard-rocking legend out there – including jamming with Led Zepplin – we had to ask who he would still like to head backstage to meet.
“Oh man, when people ask this question, I always draw blank. Well, I’ve never met Sting. The Police were a big thing for me growing up. I did get to meet Devin Townsend recently. That was great. He is extremely talented, and we are touring together soon, which I’m stoked about.”
It takes Kennedy another moment to think before he bursts out in kind laughter. “I feel like I’ve met everybody! I honestly feel like, gosh, all the boxes are checked. It’s crazy, how did all of this happen?”
Kennedy’s completely humbled response is met with the overwhelming need to find Sting and set up this meeting ASAP. Sting, if you’re reading this, give us a time and a date, and we will make this happen.
But potential future collaborations aside, we have also been hearing the question: will you be working with Slash again? “I hope so. It’s just about figuring out everybody’s schedules. But we recently did that tour together a few months ago, and there is nothing like it. To go out with my mates and play around the world. I just love making music, so you never know.”
At this point, Kennedy suddenly launches upright in his chair and exclaims, “Elton John! I would want to meet Elton John. That’s who I would want to meet.” It is a moment met with another bout of laughter as we wrap up the interview with the upcoming Myles Kennedy tour hot on our lips. The UK leg starts on 25 November in Glasgow. All dates can be found here.
“I’m stoked, I can’t wait,” says Kennedy before profusely thanking us and taking some time afterwards to casually chat with the team about rock and Elton.
It was nothing short of a pleasure to meet Kennedy and delve into the man behind the music. The Art Of Letting Go is out today and is strikingly good.
And Elton, if you are reading this, a backstage pass to the Myles Kennedy tour awaits you.
