Cochrane local Kaleigh Jo Kirk is back at it again – the up-and-coming country music star has released her second full-length album.
The 18-year-old is currently taking the four-year audio engineering technology program at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., and loves being in the heart of the country music scene in the U.S.
“It’s really exciting (being here) – not only because of being an artist and being in such a musical community but also for what I want to do school-wise. Everyone who attends my school is some kind of musician or they play some kind of instrument and they’re all so supportive,” Kirk explained.
She held a CD release party for her new self-titled album at the Tin Roof in Nashville on March 11, and said the event was a blast.
“I’m very happy with the experience of making the album – from the musicians, the songs that I picked, from the people that I worked with. The CD release turned out really, really great. There was actually the Kentucky game for the Southeastern Conference going on for basketball in the place we did the release. It so happened that every time Kentucky would score a basket or something good would happen, the crowd would cheer right as I ended a song or right as I hit a high note,” Kirk said.
Totalling 11 songs, Kirk said she took a round-about way to get the album finished.
“We did it all in separate instalments – so we recorded six songs, and then we recorded another two songs, and then we last-minute decided to add three more songs. It all came together kind of in patches but it was good. They’re all songs I’ve been writing for a few years now,” Kirk said.
Kirk, who finds inspiration from everyday experiences, says she tried to make the album as relatable as possible. Although some experiences have been exaggerated to better explain a story, she says the moral still rings true.
“I kind of like to joke that it’s almost a boy-bashing album – or at least the first few songs are that we put on it,” Kirk said with a laugh. “But there is no really specific theme (for this album), there’s definitely a mix of the happy songs but there is a lot of very powerful, up-tempo songs.”
She currently doesn’t have any performances booked for her new album but plans to spend the rest of her school year promoting her work. When she returns to Alberta, Kirk has every intention of revisiting her old stomping grounds.
“I am going to be competing in the Calgary Stampede Talent Search in July. Auditions aren’t open yet but I’m definitely going to audition and hopefully make it in,” said Kirk, who placed third runner-up for the contest in 2014.
“I’m also going back to Big Valley Jamboree, after I won last year, and I’m going to be showcasing and helping advertise for the competition that goes on there since I’m too old to compete,” Kirk said with a laugh.
In 2015, she placed first in the ATB Homegrown Talent Stage competition at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose. Her “prize” was performing her song One More Day to open up for country music stars Lee Brice and Lady Antebellum.
To learn more about Kaleigh Jo Kirk or to hear her new album, visit kaleighjokirk.com
