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Digging Up Bones Xclusive: Interview With Matt Kennon
"It's safe to say I underestimated how strong you are."
Hello once again Randy Travis fans. Time to briefly press the pause button on 'America Will Always Stand,' which I am sure is booming from your stereo. I hope you all had an exciting and safe Fourth of July weekend thus far. Today, I was able to get some questions answered by the individual who wrote the promising new song on 'Around the Bend' known as 'Turn It Around.' The man behind the pen is songwriter and musician, Matt Kennon. There is no question that he is making a quick and sudden impact by penning 'Turn It Around' for an icon of the country music scene in Randy Travis. Kennon discusses his experience working with longtime Randy producer Kyle Lehning, as well as speaking to the legend himself.
When and how did you start writing music?
In 2001, I co-wrote a couple of songs. But upon arrival in Nashville in pursuit of my artist career I was told numerous times to survive financially and to have a better shot as an artist you had to write songs. After a lot of co-writing and completing some songs I was very proud of I realized this was too a passion of mine and a talent that I needed to put to good use. So there it is.
What inspired you to write 'Turn It Around'?
My producer at the time that I was doing an album with was Kyle Lehning, who has produced Randy since day one. Noah Gordon (my co-writer, awesome writer and one of my best friends) and I knew they were looking for songs and we could get it to him. We actually wrote this with Randy in mind. The idea came from a relationship I was in with a girl I thought was the one and she had me to believe that I was in need of turning my life around for us to continue down that forever road. Needless to say, I turned my life around for all the right reasons instead and got away from her after writing the song!
Can you describe the phone call when Randy told you he was going to record the song?
Kyle told me and the day they cut it I was on the phone with Kyle and I asked him to tell Randy thanks for giving the song a shot and "Kyle said hey you tell him, here he is." So we got on the phone and his speaking voice was exactly like his singing voice. We talked for about ten minutes and it was really cool just talking about Kyle, the song, and music in general. I was totally stoked because this was my first cut ever...to have a legend like Randy singing a song you were a part of writing, what an amazing feeling.
What is your favorite Randy Travis classic tune?
Diggin Up Bones, He Walked On Water, too many to list...
What is it like working with legendary producer Kyle Lehning?
Kyle is first class producer and friend. He is a very kind, generous, and honest man. I would not be half the artist/songwriter I have become without him developing me and investing his time and his infinite wisdom into me. Kyle is a lot of fun to work with. I'll always remember what he has done for me and forever be grateful for us working together for 3 years.
Are you ready for 'Around the Bend', Randy's first all country album in eight years?
Without a doubt. I would like to see Randy make a huge comeback in COUNTRY Music...explode back on the scene!!!!
I would like to thank Matt on behalf of the Randy Travis Fan Nation for participating in this brief interview during a holiday weekend. It is much appreciated. Kennon is without a doubt going to be a successful writer in this business, so keep an eye out on him over at his official MySpace domain, http://www.myspace.com/mattkennon. Also, check out my custom 'promo' video I put together for 'Turn It Around' which you can find at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmoV-BzG6HQ.
July 15th is just 'around the bend.' Prepare for the ultimate return!
Forever and ever amen,
Anthony Maurizio
anthonymaurizio2k2@yahoo.com
http://www.myspace.com/kid_dynamite85
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good interview
turn it around is awesome and i hope 2 hear it on the radio!
Thanks.
I really enjoyed the interview! Keep it coming!
THANKS ANTHONY
Great interview. As Ronda says KEEP IT COMIN! Have you spoke to any other song writers from Around The Bend?
lehning
matt must be pretty fine tuned if he's been working with someone like lehning for 3 yrs. like i said b4, turn it around is amazing and i really like it alot.
Kyle Lehning/Randy Travis
That duo cannot be touched. They work so darn well together.
An Old Interview with Kyle
An Older Interview with Kyle
Not Letting Me Copy and Paste Old interview
Well, not sure if this will go through just as a typed comment but twice now i have pasted in the comment area the older intervie and it doesn't seem to be going through. Strange.
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Will Try One More Time - Older kyle Interview
Kyle Lehning/Randy Travis
I couldn't agree more about this two-some; as they say "great minds think alike" and for those two, it is evidenced by the choice of songs and overall music production.
I apologize for all of the other posts. I tried to copy and paste an old interview in but each time I did, it only resultedin a subject line showing up. For some reason, it wouldn't take it when I pasted text into the comments section. I'm not sure why but i won't bore you all with empty posts again (lol).
Always and Forever...An RT Fan
Linda and Guide, Greg
Good stuff
Thanks Anthony for the blogs and your latest entry with the interview with the song writer of "Turn It Around".
He is one young lucky man (if that first photo in this entry is of him) to have worked with Kyle Lehning. And to have someone like Randy to record his song. I'm sure he was ecstatic when he learned that Randy had come across one of his songs. Had loved it, to want to record it.
That is one more character issue that I love about Randy . He doesn't just seek out songs penned by the more seasoned/popular songwriters in Nashville. He often records songs by unknowns.. "Would I", "Where Can I Surrender" are two that come to mind, by artists that are not established in Nashville by name recognition. Or via hits already by others.
By the way, "America Will Always Stand" is a beautiful patriotic song. It should have gotten much more support from radio then what it did.
Dee
Good Stuff
I agree, Dee, I thought it was an interesting read.
I too wished America Will Always Stand had been played more on radio but as usual, once other artists started releasing other patriotic songs, they seemed to have dropped it like a "hot potato."
Always and Forever...an RT Fan
Linda and Guide, Greg
A+ interview
wow i hope to hear kennon write some more for randy. the words and the melody of turn it around make the song very special.
jb
concert in Longbeach
Anyone out there go to the concert in Longbeach, great show
as always, he sang songs we have not heard in shows for
a long time. Waiting on the Las Vegas show in October.
As always Randy was great......
Michelle in Las Vegas
Show in Longbeach
No, but saw him in March here and I understand that with the exception of Dig Two Graves in place of Faith in You, it is pretty much the same show. That's all right, though, I'm still going on Saturdaynight to houston. Woohoo, only six more days.
Glad you enjoyed the show. I hope everyone gets to one or two this year.
Always and Forever...An RT Fan
linda and Guide Greg
Around the Bend
We are so close to the release of the CD! Thank you Anthony, Team Travis, and WBR for all of the great coverage! Everything I own (besides the album) has a dent. Haha!
Thanks Anthony!!!
THANK YOU FOR ALL THESE GREAT BLOGS AND FOR EMAILING ME THOSE LYRICS I ASKED FOR!
fans, anthony....
check out this pic i havent seen before
Everything You Own Has a Dent?
Man, you don't know how true that is around here so hopefully my CDs will arrive without any dents or scratches in them by way of mail or UPS.
Only one more week now and all our little packages should arrive; we can only hope we can recall from all the places from which we've ordered them. Of course even one will suffice for the day. i can hardly wait but it is afterall just Around the Bend..
Always and Forever...an RT Fan
Linda and Guide, Greg
.
Turn It Around #1
After listening to all the songs repeatedly on the Audio Player here, I have to say that Turn It Around has become my #1 favorite thus far! Good writing Matt!