A Dirty Dozen with KENDALL TUCKER – August 2023

According to a recent press release: “Country/Rap Artist Kendall Tucker will be releasing his new single “Dragging Me Down” featuring Jelly Roll and State Of Mine on August 25th. The new single follows the success of his previous single “Stickup” featuring MYXED and Three Six Mafia co-founder Project Pat which has seen a positive response from fans as they get ready for Tucker’s forthcoming project set for release later this year. The new single “Dragging Me Down” is a motivational track that’s perfect for anyone battling their own struggles in life. For this new single Kendall has connected with the hottest Country/Rap artists today Jelly Roll alongside Billboard Chart topping rockers State of Mine.” We get Kendall to discuss new music, influences, and more.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

My new release “Dragging Me Down” featuring Jelly Roll & State of Mine is set to release August 25th. I think the song is a big collaboration which most likely will be what draws people to the song at first, but I think by the second or third time they listen to it they’ll start to understand the importance of the song. We live in a world today where everyone shows off their good side on social media, The highlights I guess you could say, but people tend to forget that we are all humans and everyone has something they struggle with or fight constantly. This song shows those people that they’re not alone. There are people out there feeling the same way, feeling like they’re constantly being Dragged Down.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I’ve always had a passion for music. My father was a singer, in middle school I was in several musical plays and in Highschool I was in theatre and played a lead role that pushed me to be able to sing and work a stage at the same time. But I’d say it wasn’t until my father passed away in late 2018 that I really pursued music and went all in I guess you could say.

3.Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

I grew up listening to all genres. One second you might hear me jamming Alan Jackson then next I’m rapping to an Eminem song. That’s why the music I put out now is so different. I never really know how to explain my music genre to people cause it’s a mix of Country, Rap, and Rock. So, I wouldn’t say there was a specific artist or album that guided my musical taste. I was influenced by several artist and genres.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I get this question a lot and it’s hard to answer. I think mainly because of how many different genres and artists I loved growing up. I think it would have been cool to work with some of the greats like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. Those guys’ names will live on forever.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

I’m a family man, I’ve got an amazing wife and two beautiful kids at home. One thing you can’t buy or get back is time, so I try to make as many memories and do as much as I can with what time I have with them.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

As I mentioned before it’s hard to describe since it is several genres in one. The one artist that I can sort of relate too when it comes to the kind of music I record would probably be Kid Rock. We’re not the same but similar. The only thing that I can think of that I disagree with when I hear it is when someone might say “He’s not Country.” I might rap on a song, but I grew up in a small town where the only two things you could do for entertainment was float down the river or start a bonfire with your friends out back. I spent my weekends mudding, shooting guns, floating the river, fishing, etc. I may not be a farmer or a redneck, but I am country.

7. When your band is hanging out together, who cooks, who gets the drinks in, and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

When we’re all together hanging out most of the time it’s when we’re on the road touring. So none of us do any cooking really. We’re eating on the road or whatever the venue brings in for dinner that night. When it comes to the drink’s id have to say Richie, My Bassist, is the first to find a nearby store for drinks and my guitarist Matt would be the one to pull the guitar out anywhere and play something.

8. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

Hmm, I don’t get star struck very often anymore. Last weekend my buddy Uncle Kracker invited me out to hang with him on tour and he’s currently on tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top, that was a cool experience to hang backstage and meet some of those guys.

9. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

The best part is meeting people all over the country that I never would have met if it wasn’t for me doing music. I also love seeing people have a good time and enjoying themselves at the shows. Outside of being a touring musician I’m also an entrepreneur that owns my own Security Guard firm, Family run business. So I’d probably start another company or focus all my attention into that business if I was to take my focus off music.

10. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

Honestly, not sure if there’s a question I’ve been wanting to be asked. I love getting new questions like you have given me today. I’ll never get tired of someone wanting to learn more about me or my past even if I must answer the same question a million times. I appreciate people like y’all who help fans get to know us better.

11. Looking back over your career so far, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason but I’d be lying if I didn’t wish I would have pursued/pushed music the way I am now when my dad was alive. In his younger days it was his dream to be a recording artist and tour the world. When he passed away that was one of the things that made me pursue music even harder. He never got the chance to see me rock a sold-out show in front of 6,000 + audience or record a song with people I look up to in the music industry. I know he’d be proud!

12. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Man, y’all got some tough questions! I’d have to say my dad’s record he recorded “Can’t Say Goodbye” by Ken Tucker written by Doug Gehner. It’s not a record that broke charts or was globally recognized but to be able to sit in the studio and be part of something my dad was proud of and help with the creative side of things for that song would have been an awesome experience.

KENDALL TUCKER LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

Category: Interviews