There’s a reason Hadley Kennary walked away with a 2nd place trophy at the Telluride Troubadour competition. She’s got a helluva voice. Hailing from Nashville — for the moment — Kennary’s prepping her EP for later this year, with the title track, “Crooked Roots,” premiering exclusively on Adobe & Teardrops. The single reflects Kennary’s early life, where she moved around a lot. She wants to put down roots but…where? Kennary’s interpretation of bluegrass includes a healthy dose of pop, which brings Mercy Bell’s countrified pop creations to mind. Honestly, Kennary’s big voice also makes me think of Brandi Carlile.
Kennary tells us more about the single, and what to expect from the EP, below! You can presave the song, which is out tomorrow (May 7th) here.
This song seems to operate on a lot of levels, and based on your press materials, I’m guessing your intention with the song is multi-layered, too. What inspired you to write this song? What is the story behind it? What is it about?
“Crooked Roots” was inspired by the question “Where are you from?” I grew up moving around a lot, and my definition of “home” has always been layered. As I’ve grown up, I’ve struggled to answer that question. I think a lot of people do: we leave one version of home to entertain another, we explore several different shades of home as we grow, and sometimes we watch the home we’ve known stay the same as we ourselves change. Writing this song was a big step in defining that for myself, letting myself be okay with not having a straight answer, and celebrating the fact that I get to call several different places home. Beyond the physical aspects of moving, this song is also about about the oscillating rhythm of change. I’m learning I can be incredibly resistant to change, and it’s an undeniable part of my natural pace. I think both of those perspectives are just part of being human, and writing this song was a way to allow space for both in my life.
Do you consider this song — and your music in general — a place for you to work through things that weighing on you or that you are trying to process? Do you find songwriting therapeutic? Did writing this song bring you solace or peace in any way?
I absolutely consider music a place for me to process. Songwriting is my favorite shade of therapy. From working things out on paper while they’re actually happening to subliminally writing my future self a reminder that everything is going to be okay, songwriting is my favorite way of making sense of my journey. Writing this song definitely brought me some peace when it comes to big changes and how I process them. So my definition of home isn’t one concrete thing or place – so what? It’s polychromatic, and it’s all a part of my story, and I’m grateful it’s mine.
What made you want to title the EP after this particular song? Do you consider this song the “centerpiece” of the EP?
I do consider “Crooked Roots” a centerpiece of sorts to this EP. I’ve spent so much of my life looking forward: setting goals, planning what’s next, envisioning the person I want to be and how to get there. Around the time I wrote this song, something was calling me to look back at what got me to where I am. I’m learning that’s what helps me be present: a balance of looking forward and trying to understand what I see when I look backward, and ultimately practicing gratitude for everything that has lead me to where I am.
What do you hope listeners hear in its music and lyrics?
I hope listeners walk away with some kind of peace with their own paths. Every root is an important part of growth, even if it’s a little crooked. For me, it took time to honestly appreciate my journey. It made me adaptable, it made me strong, and it ultimately made me who I am today.
Pre-save “Crooked Roots” here!
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