LoL Interview with Kendall Payne!

Kendall Payne is one of the most spiritual and influental artists. She is a huge influence on my own songwriting and has even worked with our very own Lifehouse (she did the backing vocals on Trying). An admireable person and enchanting music. A few days ago, LoL's own Skrappydoo got to interview Kendall on her career, her life and her causes. A big thank you from me to Skrappy for piecing 90% of this interview together for me and working with me to get it sent and answered. Here it is! Another LoL exclusive interview!

Nicky James/Skrappydoo: Today we have an amazingly soulful and heartfelt artist on our hands. Kendall Payne has a profound mix of spiritual and honest lyrics. With her role in the fight against human trafficking, it's hard not to respect and admire Kendall for all her work. So, Kendall, can you educate us on the issue of human trafficking? maybe throw some numbers at us and tell us how you got involved. Is there an end in sight for this tragic violation of a human's basic rights?

Kendall Payne: There is estimated 27 million people worldwide who are involved in some form of modern-day slavery. 80% of them are young women and children. The term "human trafficking" can be applied in all cases where "force, fraud or coercion" is used to get people to work or have sex against their will.  Next to the illegal trades in drugs and arms, human trafficking is the third-largest and fastest-growing criminal enterprise in the world.  Of the 800,000 people trafficked across international borders every year, more than 17,00 of them ended up in the United States of America. You can get information on how to get involved through the International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org).  It is a violent growing evil in this world and we must take a unwavering stand against it.

SD:You experienced success at a very early age.  What has it been like to grow up in the music industry?  Any advantages or any regrets?

KP: I regret that fact that I am considered "Old News" to the industry now because of being discovered so young.  I regret that my first record came out during a time when illegal digital downloading was running rampant, and if all the sales/downloads had been accounted for, I might not have been dropped from my label. I do not regret the experiences I have been given, the school of 'hard knocks' that I have graduated from (though sometimes I think I'm in the doctorate program- haha!) I don't regret the sense that I was born to do this, and people recognized it early on.  That has been a tremendous source of confidence for me.

SD: It seems that in the music business, despite your attempts to not be pigeonholed, people tend to want to label you in certain genre.  Do you consider yourself a Christian artist exclusively?  Can you speak to the experience of being a Christian in the music business?  How has your identity influenced backing, sales, and your career in general? 

KP: Yes, I find it funny when people call me a Christian Artist.  I do not fit that mold whatsoever.  In fact, I shopped my worship album to every single christian label and everyone rejected me.  So what I say about my art is this: I am an independent singer/songwriter. I am a Christian, and that means I am highly influenced and inspired by my faith.  But I am not a 'christian artist'.  I write about whatever I want to.  I prefer to be labeled "A Christian who is also an Artist"  or visa versa "An Artist who is also a Christian".  It cracks me up because if someone is Jewish and they made music we wouldn't call them a "Jewish Artist" would we?  Or if someone is a Muslim we don't say she's a "Muslim Artist".  Not unless it's music made specifically to be played and sung in their places of worship.  However my songs are played on Grey's Anatomy and on Pandora, being listened to by people who do not necessarily profess the same faith. So that is why I have a hard time being called, plain and simple, a "christian artist".

SD: Are there barriers and/or advantages to being a female in the music industry?   In your experience, is it different for a female artist than for a male musician in the business?  

KP: Honestly, I experienced a very fair playing field.  But that is due to a lot of factors.  I am a singer/songwriter so I am not vying for the headline spot at a hole-in-the-wall club.  I want a nice environment where people can sit back and really listen to my words. I don't feel that sexism exists in music, it's really just about preference.  A girlfriend of mine LOVES the Beastie Boys, while a male friend of mine is obsessed with Sarah Mclachlan.  It's not about being a male or female, it's about what music moves you- that transcends gender.  And now that I think about it, it's something I really appreciate about the music industry.  Of course there's the sex appeal issue, but I believe Men are under just as much pressure to appear or be "Sexy"- it's just that women don't need as much skin to deem you sexy.  Hopefully that makes sense.

SD: You were able to tour with some amazing musicians during the Lillith Fair tours.  Can you tell us some of your favorite and least favorite moments from that?

KP: One of my favorite and really formative moments on the Lilith Fair tour was when we first arrived.  I was ushered to a private area where the first press conference was to be held.  I was standing with my producer, I'm sure looking petrified.  And I see Sarah Mclachlan across the room.  My heart starts pounding, I'm a fan!  She smiles so kindly at me and then proceeds to walk straight towards me.  Extends her hand and says, "You must be Kendall, I'm Sarah, Welcome!!!"  The graciousness, generosity and lack of ego was truly awe inspiring to me.  Here was someone who had every right to hull up in her corner and never speak to anyone who wasn't 'important'.  Not only did she approach me, she knew my name and wanted me to feel included.  I have been grateful to draw upon this experience for the last 10 years.  Her humility and genuine sincerity impacted me greatly.

SD: We all need to laugh at ourselves and it helps us as fans to know that the people we look up to are just as human as we are.  What is the most embarrassing, difficult or funny situation you’ve had to deal with while performing? 

KP: Well for sure when you have to burp in the middle of a song.  I had to swear off drinking soda's before performing because you're in the middle of a quite, touching ballad and all of the sudden you feel it rising in your throat!  That is a panic moment.  Or sometimes when you're bantering back and forth with the crowd and someone says something funny, the whole audience is laughing, but you couldn't hear the comment.  So then you start saying, "wait, what did he say?"  and then you still can't understand them (can you tell this has happened to me?!?) and then finally you just give up and realize it's now completely awkward and you have to find a way to get back into your show.  That is when I stopped inviting comments from my crowds, just because I felt so out of control.  

SD: You have had some disappointing issues to deal with on the business side of your music career such as problems within your label and such.  Can you speak to how that has affected you personally and as an artist?

KP: Yeah, it's really messed with my head.  I have a song on my upcoming album that talks about this issue.  The lyric says, "I once was so brave, no fear laced my faith... who am I today? what made me this way?" and then it goes on to say, "when the fall set in, I had to sink or swim.  And so I did my best to raise my chin.  Now all that I recall is how it feels to fall, and I never want to feel that way again."  What that means is this: after being on Capitol records and thinking I would sell millions and millions of albums, I have had to grapple with the non-success I've achieved.  The original 'Fall'- the first moment you doubt yourself- leaves a deep wound.  A wound that most of us never recover from.  Life, dreams, love is dangerous business and it can make you second guess everything you feel confident and sure about.  I think (or hope) there is a point to this process, even just to make us humble and able to relate to each other.  As an artist, it's caused me to second guess every lyric, melody, song, album..... and everything else.  And so I look back and say, I once was so brave.... who am I today? 

NJ: Trying is in an Lifehouse fan's top 5 (number 3 for me). Can you tell me what you remember about your experience recording Trying with Jason? How were you approached and what was the process like?

KP: Jason is a great songwriter.  I don't remember much of the process of recording that song, I just remember thinking it was a beautiful lyric and melody!

NJ: Kendall, Thank you so much for taking the time out of the studio to sit down with us and chat about your career. We wish you the best of luck! What can you tell us about your new album that you're working on? and is there anything else you'd like to say?

KP: I do have a new album coming out hopefully in the fall of this year.  The working title right now is "Wounds to Scars".  I recorded it with Charlie Peacock in Nashville Tennessee.  I think it might be the best album I've ever made!  :-)  And I'm not just hyping that for possible sales!  I am really proud of it.

You can buy Kendall's music at her Official Website. Or view her Myspace and ask her to be your friend and be sure to tell her you are from LoL! While you're there check out some of her truly inspiring music. I's currently listening to "Never Leave". This song is beautiful and I highly recommend it. Heres her song titled "I Will Show You Love" which was featured on the Season 2 episode of Grey's Anatomy titled "Losing My Faith".