The Sit Down with Kyle McKearney
Kyle McKearney’s sophomore album A Traveler’s Lament put his name on the map in 2023. The record won an amazing 11 awards, including the CCMA for Alternative Country Album if the Year. Since then, the deeply personal record “To The River” was released in 2025, cementing his place as an alt-country star in the making.
Ahead of his latest release to kick off 2026, Ewan sat down with Kyle to discuss what he has been up to, what to expect from his new album “Wildflower” and the debut single “Rearview”.
Thank you so much for taking the time to have a chat with us today! Before we get into the new music, did you have a good Christmas and New Year? I know it probably feels like a long time ago now!
It was great, it’s been super fun. Had lots of family here and put our new house through the ropes. Got to see what it’s like with a whole bunch of people in it and it was great.
Since we last spoke to you, a lot has happened including the release of your 2025 album to “To the River”. How much do you enjoy putting new music out there for your fans?
I love putting music out – I mean you can tell by the four records I put out, well three and a fourth one coming this year over the last five years. It’s one of my favourite things to do – creating it and seeing it come out and what it does. It’s just a thrill. Putting “To The River” out was awesome - I love that record. It’s a really special record for me and lots and lots of cool things happened releasing that one – it’s one of my favourites.
Ahead of his latest release to kick off 2026, Ewan sat down with Kyle to discuss what he has been up to, what to expect from his new album “Wildflower” and the debut single “Rearview”.
Thank you so much for taking the time to have a chat with us today! Before we get into the new music, did you have a good Christmas and New Year? I know it probably feels like a long time ago now!
It was great, it’s been super fun. Had lots of family here and put our new house through the ropes. Got to see what it’s like with a whole bunch of people in it and it was great.
Since we last spoke to you, a lot has happened including the release of your 2025 album to “To the River”. How much do you enjoy putting new music out there for your fans?
I love putting music out – I mean you can tell by the four records I put out, well three and a fourth one coming this year over the last five years. It’s one of my favourite things to do – creating it and seeing it come out and what it does. It’s just a thrill. Putting “To The River” out was awesome - I love that record. It’s a really special record for me and lots and lots of cool things happened releasing that one – it’s one of my favourites.
And now we’re here talking about another new record coming out and a new single! But before we dive deep into that, I feel like it’s fitting to discuss where you’re sat right now – in your self-built home studio! What was the catalyst for that decision?
I think I’ve always wanted one and I’ve always had some form of studio in our other houses (usually just a room though). In our last house we had a good-sized room, but it was kind of upstairs and couldn’t be very isolated from the rest of the house. So when we built this house, I intentionally got high ceilings in the basement for the intention of building a studio. I had a studio growing up – my dad had one and it was so great for me. It gave me the opportunity to hone my skills and have private time where I could be terribleand no one would hear – and so I kind of wanted that for my kids as well. I want them to have what I had.
Am I right in saying that your upcoming album is going to be completely recorded in that studio?
Yeah it will be – it’s only about half recorded so far.
And I think I saw a video of your kids on your Instagram singing your new song Rearview in your studio?
Yeah they were singing in there! It’s just neat to see them get to see what I do and how they respond to it – how it makes them feel. They love playing the drums down here and just plunking on different instruments. They’re a huge part of my music making process – it’s a lot about family and the lessons you learn as a parent.
Is there anyone your kids listen to that they love that you love to listen with them?
My eldest loves Imagine Dragons – he used to blast that out a lot and I like that stuff. My littlest is four so he likes, you know, the Paw Patrol Theme song and the Spider-Man Theme Song – I’ve heard those enough I would say. I’m influenced by so many different things now and I always watch what’s happening in Country. Like with Zach Top, Ella Langley and Riley Green. I like those commercial country artists and I love the Americana stuff like Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell and Tyler Childers.
So I think we better talk a bit about Rearview your new single! I’m just gonna say I loved it when I got sent it – it always amazes me when an artist comes up with such a clever idea that is so catchy – do you ever have to research an idea like that before it comes out to make sure no one has had it first?
Yeah I’ve had the idea for quite a while – “taking up space in my rearview.” That hook was in my voice memos for over a year and I just kept going back to it. And I was just like, it’s a really neat way to say it. And then I started working on the song and it was feeling like that song “Hey There Delilah” – it has that same kind of feeling, the longing, loneliness and missing somebody feeling and I just love that. I am really happy with how it came out and year I definitely have with other songs before, but I didn’t research this one! It’s the first single from the new album Wildflower – it’s named after the new town we moved in to!
I think I’ve always wanted one and I’ve always had some form of studio in our other houses (usually just a room though). In our last house we had a good-sized room, but it was kind of upstairs and couldn’t be very isolated from the rest of the house. So when we built this house, I intentionally got high ceilings in the basement for the intention of building a studio. I had a studio growing up – my dad had one and it was so great for me. It gave me the opportunity to hone my skills and have private time where I could be terribleand no one would hear – and so I kind of wanted that for my kids as well. I want them to have what I had.
Am I right in saying that your upcoming album is going to be completely recorded in that studio?
Yeah it will be – it’s only about half recorded so far.
And I think I saw a video of your kids on your Instagram singing your new song Rearview in your studio?
Yeah they were singing in there! It’s just neat to see them get to see what I do and how they respond to it – how it makes them feel. They love playing the drums down here and just plunking on different instruments. They’re a huge part of my music making process – it’s a lot about family and the lessons you learn as a parent.
Is there anyone your kids listen to that they love that you love to listen with them?
My eldest loves Imagine Dragons – he used to blast that out a lot and I like that stuff. My littlest is four so he likes, you know, the Paw Patrol Theme song and the Spider-Man Theme Song – I’ve heard those enough I would say. I’m influenced by so many different things now and I always watch what’s happening in Country. Like with Zach Top, Ella Langley and Riley Green. I like those commercial country artists and I love the Americana stuff like Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell and Tyler Childers.
So I think we better talk a bit about Rearview your new single! I’m just gonna say I loved it when I got sent it – it always amazes me when an artist comes up with such a clever idea that is so catchy – do you ever have to research an idea like that before it comes out to make sure no one has had it first?
Yeah I’ve had the idea for quite a while – “taking up space in my rearview.” That hook was in my voice memos for over a year and I just kept going back to it. And I was just like, it’s a really neat way to say it. And then I started working on the song and it was feeling like that song “Hey There Delilah” – it has that same kind of feeling, the longing, loneliness and missing somebody feeling and I just love that. I am really happy with how it came out and year I definitely have with other songs before, but I didn’t research this one! It’s the first single from the new album Wildflower – it’s named after the new town we moved in to!
It’s a great name and nice that it is so personal to you - and with the new album, can UK fans hope for you to come back?
I always want to, I love it there. There’s no dates in the books as of yet but we’re always working on it and trying to find a way to come back. It’s a lot different when I’ve come there before – it’s like when someone from the UK comes over here and you’re watching a show. It’s just someone from a different land and a different culture – it’s intriguing!
Well thank you so much for your time today – I’ve got one final question for you! I’m actually getting married this year – so I wanted to ask, if any song from your catalogue could be on my wedding playlist, which would you choose?
Oh wow – definitely ok – I have a song called “Wedding Day” – don’t put that on it, it definitely wouldn’t be the right vibe. Man all my songs are depressing now that I’m thinking about it. “Love” is a cool one, it’s a little heavy though, I don’t think it’s quite right. Maybe the song “Celebrating” from my first record!
Ah brilliant, your first on the list! Thanks again for the time and hope to speak to you when the album comes out!
Rearview by Kyle McKearney comes out February 6th on all platforms – listen here.
I always want to, I love it there. There’s no dates in the books as of yet but we’re always working on it and trying to find a way to come back. It’s a lot different when I’ve come there before – it’s like when someone from the UK comes over here and you’re watching a show. It’s just someone from a different land and a different culture – it’s intriguing!
Well thank you so much for your time today – I’ve got one final question for you! I’m actually getting married this year – so I wanted to ask, if any song from your catalogue could be on my wedding playlist, which would you choose?
Oh wow – definitely ok – I have a song called “Wedding Day” – don’t put that on it, it definitely wouldn’t be the right vibe. Man all my songs are depressing now that I’m thinking about it. “Love” is a cool one, it’s a little heavy though, I don’t think it’s quite right. Maybe the song “Celebrating” from my first record!
Ah brilliant, your first on the list! Thanks again for the time and hope to speak to you when the album comes out!
Rearview by Kyle McKearney comes out February 6th on all platforms – listen here.
