K: We did a big photo shoot for the cover for my song ‘Famous’ and it was one of my first shoots. I was nervous. The night before the shoot, photographer Carlos Ruiz, rented a Mini-Cooper. He tossed me the keys and told me to drive. He filmed me from the passenger seat, so I could get used to being in front of the camera with him. There I was driving through Times Square, with this incredible photographer shooting my every move. The whole time I was terrified that I was going to get in an accident. We actually used one of those shots from that night as the cover for my single “Smoke When I Drink.”
M: What would you recommend we do if we have a chance to visit Nashville?
K: Eat, drink, and listen. Nashville’s food scene is very creative and there’s great attention to detail. Eat and drink your way through town. Obviously do some of the traditional music experiences too. Do the honky tonks, do the Opry, but also take a trip to downtown Franklin, a town just a few miles down the road where a ton of country stars live. It’s famous for being the location of one of the major battles of the Civil War.
M: Jumping right into getting this out of the way – we have a confession.
When we were first introduced to you, your talent and beauty immediately mesmerized us. Did you always have this vibe going on or did you grow into it? Some of us were nerds in high school and we don’t judge!
K: That is so kind! I think of myself as such a late-bloomer. Have you ever seen that quote on insta…”If you weren’t ugly in middle school, you can’t be trusted.” I stand by that (laughs).
M: Did you always know you would be a singer?
K: I knew I loved singing, but growing up in Nashville you see how hard it is to “make it.” You see a lot of people come and go. So, it took me a long time to fess up to wanting to be singer…I stayed away as long as I could.
M: Do you remember that first moment when you sang? Did someone say, “Hey, you should be a singer?”
K: Not in this town. It’s probably like being an actor in LA. Everyone is doing it and the bar is so high. However, there is this story my mom tells about me singing in church on Christmas Eve. I was 5 years old or so, just standing with my family and singing the carols at the top of my lungs, and this little old lady behind my mom tapped her on the shoulder and said to my mom, “Get that young lady in the choir.” (flashes a smile) I still really love Christmas carols.
M: What was one of your favorite brands you saw at our MAN’edged Event?