Country star Brett Kissel runs his life at full throttle
Country superstar Brett Kissel is taking all kinds of risks on his ‘very extravagant’ new album but he’s not the kind of guy to play it safe,
When: 8:30 p.m., Aug. 6 Where: Queen City Ex
Brett Kissel has been ridiculously busy over the past year and he’s not about to put the brakes on any time soon.
Kissel, who will be in Regina on Sunday to perform at the Queen City Ex, has had a schedule of epic proportions of late, including opening for megastar Garth Brooks in Edmonton, headlining an 18-date tour that took him through Ontario and the Maritimes, singing the national anthem during the NHL playoff run of the Edmonton Oilers, recording a new album, and performing at the wedding of NHL player Jordan Eberle.
Did I mention that Kissel and his wife Cecilia also welcomed their second child, daughter Aria, on May 2?
Yet, with all that’s going on in his life, taking a break isn’t an option for Kissel.
“I don’t know if that’s a part of my genetic makeup, to rest in any sense. I probably should. Maybe it’s my farming background, but you’ve got to make hay while the sun is shining,” said Kissel. “The sun’s been shining for a while and I don’t think I want to stop. I’ve been pretty lucky. My biggest fear is that if I take my foot off the gas pedal, then I’ll no longer be in the race, so I’m going to keep going.”
The 27-year-old Kissel, who released his first album at age 12, has four independent albums to his credit, which led to a record deal in 2013 with Warner Music Canada. His two albums for Warner — Started With A Song, released in 2013, and Pick Me Up, released in 2015 — have taken Kissel to the upper echelons of the Canadian country music scene. He’s become a regular on country radio, with the 10 singles he’s released since 2013 being slotted into regular rotation, while reaching into the Top 10 of the charts.
The Canadian Country Music Association has also taken notice of Kissel. He won five CCMA Awards in 2016, including the Fans’ Choice award and top male artist. He has five nominations heading into the 2017 CCMA Awards in Saskatoon in September — male artist of the year, single of the year (Cool With That), video of the year (I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair), songwriter(s) of the year with Ted Hewitt and Phil O’Donnell (Cool With That) and, interactive artist of the year.
Kissel’s upcoming album, which he recorded at Bart MacKay Studios in Saskatoon, is basically finished. All the songs have been recorded, but they still have to go through the mixing process.
Kissel admits he can’t wait to release the album later this year.
“For what it’s worth, I’ve never been more excited about anything in my career than this,” said Kissel, who teased that the album’s first single could possibly debut at the CCMA Awards show.
“I feel like a record like this is going to open a lot of doors for me, because it’s so vastly different than anything that I’ve ever done, and not in a negative way . ... If I’m going to sing a love ballad, I’m going to make sure it really tears at your heartstrings. If I’m going to do a party song, I’m going make it an anthem.
“That’s been the goal, to take it to the furthest possible level that we can within our realm of possibility.”
He feels the changes between the new album and his previous works are a natural evolution. Yet Kissel felt impelled to take the changes in his music as far as they could go, and with those changes has come some nervousness for him.
“I’m worried about that to the degree that I’ve always been with every project that you put out,” said Kissel.
“There’s a risk with everything. There was a risk with our video for 3-2-1, with it being too graphic and too aggressive. Then there was a risk with releasing I Didn’t Fall In Love With Your Hair as a single. The topic is just so strong, dealing with cancer and that type of battle. What was it going to mean for my career?
“But I believe that, if you don’t take that risk, you’re always going to be in a safe spot and that’s not the type of artist or person that I am or want to be.
“So am I worried about the risks? Yes, they are there for sure, because this record is going to be very different and very extravagant. But I’m more focused on the reach and the potential reward than I am of the risk.”
Is he worried there might be some backlash from his fan base?
“I’m very concerned with the expectations of the fans,” Kissel admitted.
“I think a lot of artists would maybe answer it in the opposite way, saying they’re going to make the best music they can. For me, I think about what we did in the past and I’ve got a model with every show that we do and every project that I create: Start, Stop and Keep. What do we need to start doing to make this better? What do we have to stop doing that didn’t work in the show or on the last record? And what do we have to keep doing?
“So I always look at the past records and try to bring that into the new record or the new project or the new stage show or the new tour to make sure we’re constantly evolving and constantly improving.”
If I’m going to sing a love ballad, I’m going to make sure it really tears at your heartstrings. If I’m going to do a party song, I’m going make it an anthem.