The C2C Sit Down with Kenny Foster
Kenny Foster returns to Country to Country Berlin this week, bringing with him the Sad Song Society for the third time. Ewan sat down with Kenny in an attempt to cheer him up from his stressful life as a Tottenham supporter while learning more about what he plans to bring to Berlin this year
So Kenny, we are heading back to Berlin yet again! Tell me a bit about why you love it in Germany and the Sad Song Society!
The songwriter’s round, which has now made its way to Germany and the UK, is sort of a unique Nashville phenomenon, where three or our people in a circle, originally at the Bluebird. It’s such a special thing. You know you can have like Vince Gill playing his guitar and he has his glass on your table. The country music fan wants to hear the story regardless of what the performance is like and people want to go, oh I saw the writer that played that Martina McBride hit – he was THAT guy! But the Sad Song Society, there’s no pretence here. I have buddies and they have their number 1 hits they’ve written, but they aren’t allowed to play them at the Sad Song Society. You have to earn that crowd with your own credit and not your past. You don’t get to rock up with your CV – you have to win the crowd over on the day. It takes a very specific kind of writer and performer who is willing to do that, but when they do, they get to become a member of the Sad Song Society. The dudes at Semmel and the C2C folks have been so great to me, I’ve been at C2C Berlin ever since it has existed. The first time doing Sad Song Society it was me and Tyler Sjöström and Liz Longley, and that was pretty fun – this year it’s me and Tyler and this guy I met through the folk circuit Nathan Evans. There’s no lane for what he’s doing but it is the country-est shit I’ve heard in a long time. And then in between songs, we have to have the banter and pick people up – if you’re going to shove them down a hole, you have to pick people up. I have a vision that in the future everybody shows up in their PJs.
That sounds like a comfy gig!
We’re trying to remove all of the barriers that keep somebody from approaching a piece of music – make it authentic, meaningful
How do you feel like it’s grown since you first started in Berlin and were people going, what on earth is this going to be!?
The people that aren’t interested probably shouldn’t be at Sad Song Society ahaha. Am I turning of 75% of my audience, maybe, but the 25% that are there, know what they are getting. I think the cool thing about the German audience – I remember my first performance, getting up on stage, and I’m such a turn of phrase and a lyric guy, but I just white-knuckled it through my set. But then afterwards people were bringing up specific lines to talk to me about and asking questions. This German audience just got it straightaway and that was such a transcendent moment for me. It’s all workshopping, it’s all just fun and games.
What sort of things can your fans expect outside of Sad Song Society – do you just play happy songs!?
No, no, no! I’m so happy when I’m sad. But I play like more of the hits that people know me from and I want to know what people want to hear – hit me with a DM and I can build my set list around requests!
So Kenny, we are heading back to Berlin yet again! Tell me a bit about why you love it in Germany and the Sad Song Society!
The songwriter’s round, which has now made its way to Germany and the UK, is sort of a unique Nashville phenomenon, where three or our people in a circle, originally at the Bluebird. It’s such a special thing. You know you can have like Vince Gill playing his guitar and he has his glass on your table. The country music fan wants to hear the story regardless of what the performance is like and people want to go, oh I saw the writer that played that Martina McBride hit – he was THAT guy! But the Sad Song Society, there’s no pretence here. I have buddies and they have their number 1 hits they’ve written, but they aren’t allowed to play them at the Sad Song Society. You have to earn that crowd with your own credit and not your past. You don’t get to rock up with your CV – you have to win the crowd over on the day. It takes a very specific kind of writer and performer who is willing to do that, but when they do, they get to become a member of the Sad Song Society. The dudes at Semmel and the C2C folks have been so great to me, I’ve been at C2C Berlin ever since it has existed. The first time doing Sad Song Society it was me and Tyler Sjöström and Liz Longley, and that was pretty fun – this year it’s me and Tyler and this guy I met through the folk circuit Nathan Evans. There’s no lane for what he’s doing but it is the country-est shit I’ve heard in a long time. And then in between songs, we have to have the banter and pick people up – if you’re going to shove them down a hole, you have to pick people up. I have a vision that in the future everybody shows up in their PJs.
That sounds like a comfy gig!
We’re trying to remove all of the barriers that keep somebody from approaching a piece of music – make it authentic, meaningful
How do you feel like it’s grown since you first started in Berlin and were people going, what on earth is this going to be!?
The people that aren’t interested probably shouldn’t be at Sad Song Society ahaha. Am I turning of 75% of my audience, maybe, but the 25% that are there, know what they are getting. I think the cool thing about the German audience – I remember my first performance, getting up on stage, and I’m such a turn of phrase and a lyric guy, but I just white-knuckled it through my set. But then afterwards people were bringing up specific lines to talk to me about and asking questions. This German audience just got it straightaway and that was such a transcendent moment for me. It’s all workshopping, it’s all just fun and games.
What sort of things can your fans expect outside of Sad Song Society – do you just play happy songs!?
No, no, no! I’m so happy when I’m sad. But I play like more of the hits that people know me from and I want to know what people want to hear – hit me with a DM and I can build my set list around requests!
Is there anyone heading out with you that you really want to see?
My dear friend Mae Estes is making her debut over there – she’s really a sister from another mister and we have a duet together. So there may or may not be a situation where we find the time to do that live in Germany. Emily Ann’s killing it right now too and Nathan as well, but I get to sit next to him so don’t have to worry about seeing his set.
I know you’re inspired by people not just in the country music scene, and a mutual riend of ours, Lewis from Two Ways Home, is an artist called Prof?
Oh my god dude, yeah! Lewis has thrown me in it there! Prof is the half-white half-Latino rapper from Minneapolis who, I don’t know his full story, but grew up with a bipolar father who was both a pastor and a drug dealer. The thing I love about him is that he is so outspoken – I wish I was and I like listening to artists that convict me in that way. He’s all ego, it’s in your face and he’s probably the first person I’ve actually purchased a ticket for in ten years. Inspiration comes from everywhere, you can’t let it come from just one narrow place.
I also know you’re a big foodie so where are we heading to in Berlin straightaway?
For me, it’s Burgermeister. If anybody wants to show me any more places, take me around! I always get a Turkish as well – something about Lavash bread. But when you’re trying to slim and trim after becoming a father you know, I only vary off my typical thing for something really wild.
My dear friend Mae Estes is making her debut over there – she’s really a sister from another mister and we have a duet together. So there may or may not be a situation where we find the time to do that live in Germany. Emily Ann’s killing it right now too and Nathan as well, but I get to sit next to him so don’t have to worry about seeing his set.
I know you’re inspired by people not just in the country music scene, and a mutual riend of ours, Lewis from Two Ways Home, is an artist called Prof?
Oh my god dude, yeah! Lewis has thrown me in it there! Prof is the half-white half-Latino rapper from Minneapolis who, I don’t know his full story, but grew up with a bipolar father who was both a pastor and a drug dealer. The thing I love about him is that he is so outspoken – I wish I was and I like listening to artists that convict me in that way. He’s all ego, it’s in your face and he’s probably the first person I’ve actually purchased a ticket for in ten years. Inspiration comes from everywhere, you can’t let it come from just one narrow place.
I also know you’re a big foodie so where are we heading to in Berlin straightaway?
For me, it’s Burgermeister. If anybody wants to show me any more places, take me around! I always get a Turkish as well – something about Lavash bread. But when you’re trying to slim and trim after becoming a father you know, I only vary off my typical thing for something really wild.
And finally Kenny, before we let you go and get yourself ready for your trip over, I want to ask my customary question – what would be the song you would add to a wedding playlist?
I’ve got a song that’s been used at a couple of weddings – its called Everything. I haven’t had the chance to sing it at a wedding yet, but I’ve been sent videos and attended one where it was played for their first dance, that was really sweet.
Thanks so much Kenny and we can’t wait for you to come back over to the UK!
I kind of want a new project before I come back around. At the moment I’m working on a duo that I’m really excited about with my friend Amy Speace!
Kenny Foster will be appearing at C2C: Country to Country in Berlin over the weekend of March 6th to March 8th where you can further details on the festival WEBSITE or on INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK.
I’ve got a song that’s been used at a couple of weddings – its called Everything. I haven’t had the chance to sing it at a wedding yet, but I’ve been sent videos and attended one where it was played for their first dance, that was really sweet.
Thanks so much Kenny and we can’t wait for you to come back over to the UK!
I kind of want a new project before I come back around. At the moment I’m working on a duo that I’m really excited about with my friend Amy Speace!
Kenny Foster will be appearing at C2C: Country to Country in Berlin over the weekend of March 6th to March 8th where you can further details on the festival WEBSITE or on INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK.
