Kalie Shorr is giving fans a glimpse of her personal reflections with the release of “My Voice,” her honest and unabashed tale of her journey as a Nashville singer-songwriter. Still celebrating the success of her debut album Open Book, No. 7 on New York Times’ all-genre Best Albums of 2019 list, Shorr is turning the page to a new chapter with Open Book: Unabridged coming later this year. “My Voice” is just the first page of this new chapter, continuing her truth-filled and authentically irreverent point of view. With sonic influences from her diverse country roots and mid-2000s pop-punk, Kalie Shorr doubles down on her self-assured, rebelliously-unique sound. Listen to “My Voice” here.
Variety recently called her “the most attention-getting DIY artist in country [music],” a trait that recently landed Shorr her first recording contract with New York based major player TMWRK Records.
“I never thought I’d get to release ‘My Voice.’ I wrote it in March of 2019, the week before we started recording Open Book. I was going into the studio with this sense of confidence that I hadn’t had before, like I knew that album was going to change my life. I still had plenty of episodes of self-doubt, but writing that song was so cathartic and empowering for me. When it came time to pick songs for the extended version of the album (Open Book: Unabridged), I threw that in the Dropbox not expecting anything. The head of my new label championed it from day one. I’m so happy I get to let people hear my truly unfiltered thoughts on the music business and my career. When I wrote it, it was more of a stream of consciousness musing on the industry and now it’s turned into a personal mantra,” says Shorr.
Some of music’s most esteemed critics praised Open Book. Rolling Stone compares the record to a mix of “Shania Twain, Red-era Taylor Swift, Dashboard Confessional and Alanis Morissette,” while Taste of Country calls it “bold,” “raw,” and “real.” As for Shorr, NPR touts the singer/songwriter as “one of Nashville’s most promising” and in the U.K., The Guardian dubbed Shorr “the new queen of country”.
Last month, Shorr launched a podcast in partnership with iHeartMedia called “Too Much To Say with Kalie Shorr,” executive produced by nationally syndicated radio host Bobby Bones. “My Voice” is her first release on TMWRK Records.
PRESS RELEASE: In her own words, the past year was the toughest of Kalie Shorr’s life, with the tragic loss of a family member (sister), the forceful ending of a long term relationship and the struggle of finding her identity through it all. Channeling all of the emotions, she created a work of art that is both “deeply specific” and “universally relatable” as respected journalist Angela Stefano describes. Gaining both critical and commercial acclaim, Kalie Shorr, releases her debut full-length album, Open Book, today.
With the lead single, “Lullaby,” having received support by Bobby Bones on his Women of iHeartCountry show, its music video premiered online by Refinery29 and on television by CMT and CMT Music, as well as Saturday marking her 15th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, the Nashville establishment has embraced the artist’s forward-thinking approach to creating music. Adding to those accomplishments, Rolling Stone’s Marissa Moss calling her “one of country music’s most promising new artists” and NPR’s Ann Powers tweeting that the album is “mainstream millennial/Z country that makes me think of Avril and Phoebe Bridgers somehow meeting and forming a consciousness raising group,” proves that highly-acclaimed music critics are taking notice of her unique style.
All 13 tracks were written by Shorr and she co-produced 10 of the tracks with Skip Black. Open Book is a dynamic experience filled with complex realities matched with raw musical and lyrical perspective, revealing a deeper look into Shorr’s unfiltered mind.
“For several years running, Kalie Shorr has been one of country music’s most promising new artists — for how she melds an appreciation of the genre’s roots with an unabashed love for emo and pop, for her cutting songwriting, and for how she’s made her feminism a vital part of her musical perspective.” – Marissa Moss, Rolling Stone
“With Open Book, Kalie Shorr channels both her inner Dolly Parton and her inner Alanis Morissette. She leans in to country music’s story-song tradition – and almost no detail is too personal to share – but her deeply specific verses intertwine with universally relatable choruses. High school me would have stanned this album hard (and that’s a high compliment!).” – Angela Stefano, The Boot
“Push past all the emotions Shorr leads with to find sublime songwriting and brilliant use of literary devices. The lyrics on this album, while at times unhinged, specific and shocking, are also perfect for who she is, right now. She has rare grit and the kind of courage they don’t manufacture on Music Row.” – Billy Dukes, Taste of Country
Respected rock music critic Craig Manning tweeted, “Big release day in general, but there are two records in particular that I very highly recommend,” and after touting Sturgill Simpson’s new LP, he went on. “The other is the debut album, Open Book from Kalie Shorr which is like Red era Taylor Swift, plus A Mark, A Mission era Dashboard Confessional, plus the first two Avril Lavigne albums. ‘Lullaby’ is immediately in the pantheon of all-time great breakup songs.”
Shorr performed Open Book songs for the first time last night with her band at a private performance for fans and industry at Club Roar in Nashville.
Track Listing for Open Book: 1. “Too Much to Say” (Kalie Shorr, Robyn Collins and Ian Christian) 2. “Escape” (Kalie Shorr and Candi Carpenter) 3. “Messy” (Kalie Shorr, Jonny Shorr and Katie Stump) 4. “The One” (Kalie Shorr, Skip Black and Savannah Keyes) 5. “F U Forever” (Kalie Shorr, Candi Carpenter and Annie Wildgen) 6. “Alice in Wonderland” (Kalie Shorr and Candi Carpenter) 7. “The World Keeps Spinning” (Kalie Shorr, Skip Black and Robyn Collins) 8. “Big Houses” (Kalie Shorr, Skip Black and Savannah Keyes) 9. “Gatsby” (Kalie Shorr, Skip Black and Candi Carpenter) 10. “Thank God You’re a Man” (Kalie Shorr, John Caldwell and Robyn Collins) 11. “Vices” (Kalie Shorr, John Caldwell and Robyn Collins) 12. “Lullaby” (Kalie Shorr, Robyn Collins and Will Stone) 13. “Angry Butterfly” (Kalie Shorr, Simon Reid and Fred Wilhelm)
Shorr has been announced as the opener for music icon LeAnn Rimes on the multi-platinum selling artist’s beloved You And Me And Christmas Tour this winter. The tour kicks off in Waterloo, N.Y. on November 30 and visits 11 cities across the East Coast. (See full list of tour dates below).
Handpicked by Rimes, Shorr has built quite the resume in the past few years, becoming what Rolling Stone recently called “one of country music’s most promising new artists.” Since her SiriusXM Highway Find “Fight Like A Girl” in 2016 she has been named a CMT Next Women of Country, toured alongside Sara Evans and RaeLynn, been featured on NPR programs, PBS NewsHour and in features in Elle Magazine, Refinery29 and many more. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2018 and has gone on to play the stage 15 times.
This is Rimes seventh annual Holiday tour, one that has become a holiday tradition for many. Attendees can get in the Christmas spirit as Rimes sings her hits along with timeless holiday classics.
Fans can still purchase a VIP experience with Rimes that includes meet & greet, prime seats and merchandise. General public tickets will be available starting July 26 (check local listings) via all of the venues websites and www.leannrimes.com.
For more information on the You And Me And Christmas Tour, visit www.leannrimes.com.
You and Me Christmas 2019 Tour Dates: Nov. 11 – Waterloo, N.Y. – The Vine at Del Lago Dec. 2 – Pittsburgh, Pa. – Rivers Casino Dec. 3 – Morristown, N.J. – Mayo Performing Arts Center Dec. 5 – Bensalem, Pa. – Xcite Center at Parx Casino Dec. 6 – Atlantic City, N.J. – Hard Rock Atlantic City Dec. 7 – Warren, Pa. – Struthers Library Theater Dec. 10 – Athens, Ga. – The Classic Center* Dec. 11 – Augusta, Ga. – Miller Theater Dec. 13 – Franklin, N.C. – Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts Dec. 14 – Coconut Creek, Fla. – The Pavilion – Seminole Coconut Creek* Dec. 15 – Jacksonville, Fla. – Florida Theater *On Sale TBD
It’s no secret that being a female in the Country Music industry is tough. There are just 4 women in the top 30 at Country Radio right now, Carrie Underwood, Lindsay Ell, Carly Pearce and Maren Morris. It’s harder to be a female and get your music heard on radio, to be booked for gigs, go on big tours… but that hasn’t stopped Kalie Shorr from being a part of the movement for females in the industry.
Shorr has been a part an all female singer/songwriters round called Song Suffragettes since it started in March 2014. They recently had their 4-year anniversary show, last month! The weekly writers round in Nashville features rotating female country artists and has led to 30 artists receiving publishing deals and 7 record deals! It has also led to great co-writes and songs like Shorr’s “Fight Like A Girl” which was written in response to a radio consultant saying that women didn’t deserve a lot of airplay on country radio, because they were the tomatoes of the country music salad. Thus started #TomatoGate and #LetTheGirlsPlay.
With no label behind her, Shorr has certainly made a name for herself, including being named on many lists about “Artists You Need To Know” and “Artists To Watch.” She also co-wrote a song called “Times Up” that was recorded by 23 female country artists and received national media coverage.
Shorr’s latest single “Candy” was inspired by a true story about “finding a boy that’s just as bad for you as sugar.” She calls it the “fluffiest” song on the album, but that every album needs a fun song to it. She sings:
I know you’re not forever, but you’re my guilty pleasure… boy you’re delicious, too bad you ain’t nutritious.
WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “CANDY”
We had the chance to catch up with Shorr while we were in Nashville and one of the things we talk about is her love of Taylor Swift and how she was actually in Swift’s “Mine” music video when she was 16. She also shares a sweet story about how after the video Swift took all of the kids to Toys ‘R Us and let them pick out whatever they wanted. She also mentioned doing a cover of her song “Look What You Made Me Do” with Kelleigh Bannen and Lindsay Ell at CMT’s Next Women Of Country Music Event. It’s one of the best videos out there and highlights so many women in the industry and ends with a message to report any signs of sexual harassment.
WATCH KALIE SHORR, KELLEIGH BANNEN and LINDSAY ELL PERFORM “LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO
Be sure to check out our interview above and keep up with Shorr on her socials!
The Radio Disney Country Stage is always bringing out fresh and exciting talent! Be sure to check out the lineup and see the artists performing inside the Music City Center during CMA Fest! The stage is free with a ticket to the Music City Center or your four day festival pass!
Back in 2016, Kalie Shorr released her debut EP that was crowdfunded last year and is looking to breakthrough in 2017. Shorr had a successful 2016 with her debut single, “Fight Like A Girl,” which received significant airplay on Sirius XM’s The Highway. Shorr was also featured as a Highway Find and earned a spot to play at the CMA Music Festival Kick Off Concert during CMA Fest in 2016. Shorr is currently playing every Monday night at Song Suffragettes along with other female songwriters in Nashville. Today, Shorr has just released her second EP titled, Slingshot, which features Shorr’s undeniable talent along with songs that listeners will be playing over and over.
Slingshot EP Review
Slingshot features two singles; “Fight Like A Girl” and “He’s Just Not That Into You,” along with three new songs. The first new song on the EP is titled, “Nothin’ New.” Shorr co-wrote the song with Emily Landis and Lacy Green in a unique way. Back in the summer of 2016, the three were randomly paired up during a Song Suffragettes event with YouTube, where they had to write a song with one another under a time crunch. What came from this was a raw and emotional song about a breakup that just always seems to linger around no matter what you try to do. The chorus echos these thoughts into song form:
Since the beginning / Since the world started spinning / It’s just a matter of fact / Girls want boys that don’t want them back / I’m just being honest, don’t matter what you call it / The sun still shines the sky’s still blue / You don’t want me and I love you / But that ain’t nothing new
Watch The “He’s Just Not That Into You” Music Video
Shorr’s strong vocals tie together the lyrics with the meaning behind the song, which will leave listeners with everlasting impression. The next song on the EP is titled, “Love Like That,” which Shorr co-wrote with Jason Afable and Eric Mallon. The song is inspired from an old relationship Shorr had back in high school where the guy was totally clueless on what it means to love someone. This leaves Shorr with the question, where did you learn to love like that?
Where you learn to break apart, somebody’s heart / Take the piece you want right off / Where you learn to make them fall and never call / Only want to get yours and get lost
The song is not one of those sad breakup songs, but one about that one (or many) relationships where the guy doesn’t seem to understand the relationship. The song itself is upbeat and is not meant to be a dreary song, but instead questions the guy’s understanding of love and who taught him how to express it. It is a song that many will be able to connect with and can share similar stories.
The final song on the EP is titled, “Odds Are.” This song is the most country-pop infused track on the EP, but it is done in a way where the lyrics and message are still authentic. The chorus explains:
The odds are that we probably will be alright / I doubt we gonna be alright / I doubt we gonna be alright tonight / The odds are that we will probably be alright / I doubt we gonna be alright / I doubt we gonna be alright for another night
“Odds Are” you will be blaring this song through the speakers every chance you get, singing along with Shorr to the best of your ability. The clever lyrics describe situations of high-odds like being struck by lightning or a meteorite and explaining that even if the situation that you are in seams grim, odds are it will be alright. The song showcases Shorr’s dynamic vocal versatility to be able to sing any type of song without sacrificing any of her talent and what is born is a pop track transformed into a country song.
Altogether, Shorr’s latest EP is one that will bring in new fans with her unforgettable sound and lyrical quality that sets her a part from other artists. Shorr’s personality shines through each and every song, which allows them to more easily connect with fans. Shorr’s vocals are also top-notch and noticeably different from anyone else, creating her own unique sound with her personal twist on each song. Shorr, for sure, will be on everyone’s playlist and music libraries and keep them wanting more and she is well on her way on making 2017 her biggest year yet. Be sure to keep up with Shorr on social media and be on the look out for when she is in an area near you.
