Kentucky Eileen is your new favourite folk quartet – they’re those sudden friends that you feel like you’ve known all your life. Born out of the orchards of the Okanagan and laser-focused on their Nashville-style sound, they bring a modern Canadian flavour to American folk music. These boys pack smiles for miles and deliver you meaningful tunes, hand-written and packaged just how you like ‘em.
On their new single “Not Long For This World,” the band slows things down and contemplates their mortality. The song is sweet and uplifting — welcoming the biggest transition we undergo with thoughtfulness and delicacy.
What have you missed about touring?
We have missed the interaction with new fans, and that scary nervousness about performing to a crowd who has no idea who you are. That is an amazing feeling.
How do you manage having a good time at shows, but also trying to stay mentally and physically fit?
This is an important question… We do our best. Touring independently, especially across Canada’s vast spaces, takes a lot of work. We’re trying to ensure we get stretches and walks in, and that we eat well.
Who are some of your musical influences?
We’re all over the place for influences, so it’s hard to pin that down. Josh & Sam grew up in bluegrass families, Mitch grew up playing and listening to classical music, and Dan listened to grunge rock. We’re not exactly sure how it all came together as a melodic folk band, but we’re grateful it did.
Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.
“After The Goldrush” by Neil Young… The words & the music are absolutely sublime. It’s one of those songs that will immediately imprint itself in your memory the very first time you hear it. It’s truly a special one, and we think it’s as close to perfect as you could get!
How are you using your platform to support marginalized people?
We’ve been thinking on this for awhile, and have worked in bits and pieces at this. We do land acknowledgements at our performances to express our gratitude and respect for the long indigenous histories that precede our colonist roots. We support the voices of the marginalized and we’re always, always listening… It’s our dream to be part of a strong mosaic of beautiful, different people supporting each other.