Keslea Ballerini Patterns

Kelsea Ballerini's fifth studio album, PATTERNS, released on October 25th and it’s got all the trademark elements you’d expect from Ballerini; polished country-pop melodies that have been layered with arguably her most reflective lyrics to date. She’s long been known to be a talented songwriter, but it feels as though she’s turned a corner and really hit her stride with PATTERNS. The theme of love is very present throughout this record, but it’s more diverse here than on her previous records; platonic love, love between a mother and daughter, and yes, romantic love too, but the biggest form running through this record is self-love and that notion of knowing who you are and where you want to go next.

​Where Kelsea’s 2023 EP Rolling Up the Welcome Mat dealt with going through a very public divorce and feeling all of the feels that came with that, PATTERNS shines a light on the ups and downs of self-reflection, acceptance, growth, and ultimately, joy. This is an incredibly joyous and feel-good record. 

PATTERNS kicks off with a vibe that’s both introspective and surprisingly upbeat, like Ballerini’s inviting you into this new chapter of her life, one where she hasn’t just recovered from heartbreak but learned from it too. The theme of recognizing one’s own patterns—good, bad, and everything in between—is the most consistent throughline throughout the record. Ballerini is clearly using music as her journal, and she’s letting the listener learn her most intimate thoughts on everything from family to therapy to romantic baggage. The result is a record that feels like a conversation with a friend who’s learned a few things and isn’t afraid to share.
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One standout track is "Sorry Mom," where Ballerini pens an open-hearted ‘apology’ to her mum: “Sorry, Mom, you know that I had sex, 'fore I bought the white dress. I know you're not impressed, with my lack of sticking to the Bible. Yeah, I got regrets, but you did your best.” It’s less about saying sorry for her choices and more about saying, “Look, I’m doing things differently, but I get it now and “I turned out alright.” The song is ultimately really sweet, honest, and reflective; acknowledging that her life as a touring country superstar is worlds away from her mom’s life, yet they’ve come to a place of mutual respect. It’s the kind of song that mothers and daughters will undoubtedly find extra special to hear live on her upcoming arena tour.

Then there’s "Baggage," a song that could’ve easily gone the typical route of moody contemplation. Instead, Ballerini flips the script, turning baggage into a badge of honour. She’s owning her past, embracing it, and carrying it forward with pride. “The word baggage has a negative connotation,” she says, “and I loved the idea of flipping that on its head and being like, ‘yeah—this is exactly who I am.’” Everything that's heavy, I check it at the door. Kind of feel like I don't need it anymore. I got some bones of old skeletons, from the old house at the dead end. I got baggage, but I'm movin' in. It’s refreshing to hear someone just unapologetically claim all of their experiences as part of who they are. Ballerini makes it sound empowering to walk into a new chapter with everything—good, bad, and messy—in tow. It’s not about reinventing herself; it’s about celebrating the journey that’s brought her to where she is now – which isn’t a bad place to be considering she just played a sold out show in Madison Square Garden for the first time in her career.
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"Two Things" is shortened from 'two things can be true,' which Ballerini states is "something my therapist told me years ago, that sometimes - actually oftentimes - there is space for more than one thing to have value, and it's helped me a lot." She goes on to say that the song itself is about "that intense crossroads moment" in a relationship where you're in it and your old patterns are coming up and showing up and you have to make that decision to learn to go from fighting with to fighting for, or not. It’s about recognising that sometimes, love isn’t all roses and champagne; it’s complicated: “Two things can be true, I'll love and hate you. I'll be your best and your worst day, I'll be your blessin' and curse, babe, yeah.”

“Beg For Your Love,” a track that Ballerini describes as "the most vulnerable and raw song on the album." It stands out not only for its vulnerability but for its raw, unpolished sound. Ballerini recorded this song in one take during a songwriting retreat, keeping the demo version for the album with only the addition of a couple of harmony tracks, allowing listeners to hear her exactly as she was when she recorded it. She says, ‘I was just so in that feeling when I wrote it, and you hear that – it’s a very raw song and I’m proud of it because it’s a really important song post Welcome Mat.’
Notably for this record, Ballerini teamed up exclusively with four of the genre’s heaviest hitters, who also happen to be some of her closest friends: Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, Hillary Lindsey, Jessie Jo Dillon and Ballerini’s frequent collaborator Alysa Vanderheym.

With PATTERNS, Ballerini has crafted an album that balances light and dark, introspection and fun. The whole album feels like a pep talk, but from someone who’s lived through the mess and found her peace in it. Ballerini’s growth is on full display, not just as a singer / songwriter but as a human too. In the end, PATTERNS isn’t just an album; it’s a celebration of self-acceptance. Ballerini reminds us that life is about embracing all the parts of yourself, baggage and all, and finding joy in the journey. And isn’t that a pattern worth repeating?

PATTERNS is out everywhere now via Black River Entertainment.