← Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Takin' A Walk - Music History with Buzz Knight
Buzz Knight Talks with Charles Kelly of Lady A : A Journey Through Music, Sobriety, and New Beginnings in Nashville-Replay
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- [00:01]
Buzz Knight
Taking a Walk welcome to Taking a Walk. I'm Buzz Knight and we're continuing our Fresh Start theme week here in January, celebrating artists who have reimagined their past and discovered new creative horizons. Charles Kelly knows one thing or two about fresh starts. As one third of Lady A, he helped create some of country music's most iconic hits. But sometimes the biggest risk an artist can take is stepping out on their own. Charles did exactly that, embarking on a solo journey that allowed him to explore different sounds different, dig deeper into his songwriting, and discover parts of himself that might have stayed hidden in a group dynamic. A fresh start doesn't mean leaving the past behind. It means building on everything that you've learned and daring to see what else is possible. In this conversation, Charles opens up about that pivotal moment when he decided to take the leap, the creative freedom he found, and how stepping outside his comfort zone ultimately made him a better artist. If you're thinking about your own fresh start this new year, whether it's a career move, a creative pivot, or simply trying something that scares you a little, Charles Kelly's story will inspire you. We'll talk with Charles Kelly next on Take.
- [01:13]
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- [03:19]
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- [03:46]
Charles Kelley
You LOVE a walk.
- [03:52]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Taking a Walk Charles Kelly welcome to Taking a Walk, my friend.
- [03:55]
Charles Kelley
Hey, how are we doing?
- [03:56]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Oh, doing great. Doing great. Thank you for being here. So since we call this podcast Taking a Walk, if you could take a walk with someone living or dead, doesn't have to be musical, but it could be someone involved with music, who would you take a walk with and where would you take that saunter?
- [04:16]
Charles Kelley
Oh, gosh, Paul McCartney for sure. Well, there he is right there. There he is. Yeah, this is a kind of a wall. I've got a bunch of different influences up here and all kinds of different genres of artists, but hugely influenced by, by just everything but Beatles, I think. I think Paul McCartney and, you know, one of the best songwriters of all time, and he's just one of those guys I still haven't, you know, haven't gotten to meet. I've been lucky enough to meet Bruce Springsteen. We got to do a show, open it up for Bruce in London actually, at Hyde park. Long time ago. That was pretty cool. Funny story about that. We, we had like, you know, anytime in between songs. You know, these are die hard Bruce Springsteen fans. And you know, they're like, bruce between. I remember Hillary goes, are they booing us? He's like, no. They're saying Bruce, like, don't take it like they're die hard fans. Like they're, they're ready for us to sing. Need you now and get off the stage so Bruce can come up here.
- [05:20]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Where would you go with Paul for that walk? Do you Know.
- [05:23]
Charles Kelley
Oh, my gosh, somewhere, you know, I would love to, like, just, you know, walk through, like, I don't know, maybe. Maybe Abbey Road, the studios, you know, or something like that and just hear some of those stories, But. I don't know, anywhere, really. I mean, it just. Just to be able to just have a moment with him would be. Would be pretty amazing, you know? That was my first tattoo. Was. Was a lyric from Blackbird. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.
- [05:53]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Yeah, you were reading my questions. I was going to ask you about that. And why do those words resonate with you to this day?
- [06:02]
Charles Kelley
I basically got this. This tattoo. To me, it means it was around the time that I felt like my whole life was leading up to this band and leading up to this chase, you know, of being a musician. And, you know, I felt like all my life I was only waiting for this moment to, like, have a chance to, like, follow my dream, you know, and so that's. That was my first tattoo. Then I had another one about a year later, and then I didn't get another one for, like, five or six years. And then all of a sudden, I kind of went crazy, which is all over me now.
- [06:35]
Buzz Knight
Expression.
- [06:37]
Charles Kelley
Exactly. There you go. Artistic expression.
- [06:39]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
We're going to talk about Songs for a New Moon. Congratulations on your. Your new solo album, but I want to go back to Augusta, Georgia, as the youngest of three brothers, all musically inclined. What was it like being in the Kelly household? Was it always filled with music?
- [07:02]
Charles Kelley
It was chaos. Yeah, it was. I had. So I have two. My oldest siblings. My sister Christy and John were 10 years older than me. And then Josh and I, you know, we're 10 years younger, about the same age. And so we always had, like, so many different styles of music coming in and out. My mom loved R B. My dad loved country. And then, you know, my oldest siblings would bring home whatever was happening, you know, so it could have been Dave Matthews Band, it could have been Nirvana. It could have been just anything, you know, I mean, it was like, I got. I remember my oldest brother was obsessed with, like, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. So I, like. I had this mix of, like, you know, listening to Delilah and Richard Marks in the car with my mom, to Garth Brooks with my dad, to, you know, Ozzy Osbourne with my oldest brother. And so it was like this weird kind of, like, I just gravitated to whatever felt great, you know, and felt right. And so I do remember, though, in my room. So, like, when my older siblings moved out, know, I End up getting like, you know, we had like, the hole upstairs to ourselves. And I remember my brother and I dragging out this old record player. It was a piece of furniture, you know, that you would. That you lift up the. The top and there's the record player in there. And being. I was highly intrigued by it. And so I dug around, found all these records. I remember, lo and behold, I found the Fleetwood Mac Groomers record. And so we've got Stevie back there. But that was the first actual, like, vinyl. I think I was probably 9 or 10 years old. And I remember just sitting in my room, like, playing it over and over again. I mean, it had such an effect. Like, no one told me to play it. I just was like, out of all these records, I was like, this is the one. This is the one that's, like, blowing my mind. So, you know, there's a lot of those Fleetwood Mac influences in the band. And even on this record, there's a song called Kisses Thing Goodbye that is so reminiscent of a Fleetwood Mac, you know, kind of base of. Base of music down there. You know, a lot of those just great pulsating bass crews and stuff, you know, that they were so known for.
- [09:10]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
And I think musical diversity really is. Is an amazing part of the creative process for you. It really. It feels that way. It just feels, you know, the rich experiences really play out in your music.
- [09:24]
Charles Kelley
It always has been. I mean, I think with the band and especially, you know, as a solo artist, I mean, I think. I think you can't help but be influences influenced by everything. Especially, you know, as. As we keep moving on in music. I feel like, you know, the genre border is. Is wide open and.
- [09:41]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
And.
- [09:42]
Charles Kelley
And I think that's because, you know, it's not like we grow up with one station in our town that we listen to. You know, we kind of grew up with everything, and especially this generation now. I mean, they're. They're just putting together a little playlist. You know, they're. They're listening to Drake and then turn around listening to Morgan Wallen and turn around listening to Taylor Swift, you know, so it's everything. And I think that's what' about where we are. And I hope it pushes, you know, the sound of Music, because two. I mean, you know, there's. There's only so many chords. And so, you know, we're all trying to find something that feels fresh. And for me, you know, with this project, I wanted it to feel very throwback and nostalgic, but still have a fresh, you know, current energy to it. And so it was fun. Kind of, you know, kind of toeing that line about, about how much, you know, because I never wanted the music to feel like a character of the 80s, you know, I didn't want it to be like, okay, he's just throwing together these, you know, this wild, you know, throwback, poking fun at thing, you know, and it's, it's not. It really, truly is a celebration and a nod at all my heroes.
- [10:50]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
You know, you and your, your bros. You formed Inside Blue as teens and you caught the attention of the one and only James Brown.
- [11:03]
Charles Kelley
Yeah, well, at least his manager. Yeah, it was pretty cool that. I remember our parents kind of were a little hesitant of us signing any deals that early, but. But it was cool to even have that opportunity. It's funny, you did your research and I. It's so funny. That whole time went by so fast, I barely even remember it because we had a band, you know, all through like middle school and high school and, and you know, we had a little, little tiny bit of buzz going but, you know, nothing really ended up coming of it. And I put music down all through college and everything and, and my brother Josh got a record deal out of college and eventually moved to Nashville. And he's the reason I gave this a shot. I moved to Nashville, you know, with, with a ton of encouragement from him and, and you know, was lucky enough to run into Hillary and, you know, talk my buddy Dave into moving in town and we started this band. But. But yeah, those early years, it was pretty cool. I mean, we had this little five song EP and you know, it was Inside Blue because we did a little, little bit of blues. We also, you know, it was very much, you know, rock and roll stuff too. And so it was, it was just. It's funny that anybody was interested because if you go back and listen to those songs, they were, they were pretty weak. They must have seen something in us.
- [12:23]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
I guarantee they did. And look, everything starts as a, as a germ and then of an idea and then it evolves and the passion flows. So give yourself more credit back for Inside Blue for sure. Now I have a friend that does this other podcast called Celebrity Jobber and he asked the question, if you weren't going to be a musician, what would you have been? Did you have a plan B or were you a no plan B guy?
- [12:51]
Charles Kelley
No, I, I did. I mean, I went to the University of Georgia. I. To me, music was, was just going to be something in my life and maybe a party trick, you know, I always kind of assumed I would have some, you know, like, cover band on the weekends I would play with. But I studied finance at Georgia and Dave. And I did too. Dave as well. And yeah, you know, I was going to try to move to Atlanta, get a job, you know, do that whole thing. And then, you know, maybe if I went. Went to a wedding on the weekend, I'd hop up with a band and say, hey, guys, you know, a little Lana, Richie, you know, something like that. And that would be kind of my party trick. But. But so, yeah, some. Something in the business world, hopefully. But I will say, when I graduated, I worked with my oldest brother and. And we were. He was. He like, flipped houses and did some commercial real estate. So I had this degree. And I remember, like, literally a week after I graduate, I go into work and. And you know, he's like, well, one of our workers didn't come in today, so you gotta. You gotta hop into the dump truck and take this, Take this stuff to the dump. And I just remember going like, this is not what I thought it was gonna be.
- [14:01]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Somehow you knew it triggered you.
- [14:03]
Charles Kelley
Yeah, exactly. Was that.
- [14:04]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
And it was a motivating trigger.
- [14:06]
Charles Kelley
It was. It was. I mean, I. I think I could have found happiness in anything. I mean, to me, I love. I love putting in a hard day's work. I mean, that just. I really do. I mean, even to this day, there's something I just love about, you know, about working hard. I learned that from my dad and. But to be able to find something, though, that you actually, you know, wake up and just feel like, so lucky that you get to do and, you know, a lot of times, especially being, you know, on stage and writing songs, it doesn't feel like work. The work comes in when. With the travel. I feel like that's where. That's where we earn the word. You know, we work for a living. But the rest of it, that's just all. That's all fun, right?
- [14:47]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
So I do want to dig into the process for Songs for a New Moon and the work behind that process. And I guess the first thing when I think of. Of writing sessions is that the type of thing, when you're in that process, that your nervous enthusiasm, in a good way, keeps you up at night because, you know, the next morning you're waking up and you're going into a session.
- [15:15]
Charles Kelley
Exactly. I mean, I call it a lot of, you know, I had a lot of cautious optimism. I've. I've been doing this for, you know, close. Close to two decades Now. And I know it's just, you know, you get so. You get so caught up in, okay, I want to make something special that sometimes you have to just step back and just do it. I feel like it's just literally go in, and if it's moving you, there's a good chance it can move other people. I think anytime in the past when I've tried to go in there and be like, all right, we got to write a hit like this, or whatever. And so I really tried to get out of my own way, honestly. And I think to be able to start writing music under a different bed of music brought out something different in me, and it was the most fun I've ever had. I mean, I was writing with guys like Josh Kear, who needs you now, with. I mean, he's one of the best songwriters in town, and he. You know, when you got a guy like that saying, when are we doing this again? This is so fresh. Because I think everybody needed to be pulled out of their box a little bit, you know, and this project allowed them to kind of show how versatile they all are. And for me, too, it brought out just this new sense of, like, okay, there's no rules, you know, I don't have to make a country record. I can go out here and try to do something different and fresh because, like you said, I am influenced by so many different styles, But I think the common thread needed to be. I needed to still sound authentically myself. You know, I didn't try to put on some, you know, 80s voice that didn't sound like me or, you know, whatever. Whatever that might be, you know, it still is my voice to the core. And I don't know, there was. There was just. I. I don't know, this, like, cool little hint of, like, man, I think we're onto something here, you know, and I don't know where it'll go and what it'll be. And there was a sense of wanting to make sure we stayed precious with, like, staying there. And I think that's one reason I wanted to release it myself and, like, pay for it myself, because I was like, I know exactly what's going to happen when I take this into the label. They're gonna go, okay, you've been known as a country artist. We gotta throw some mandolin on this. We gotta throw some steel guitar. And it just. It didn't feel like the music needed that. And so I really have to give a lot of praise to. To Big Machine for allowing me to just do this on my own as well, you know, I mean, I really just felt like I wanted this to be, you know, success or failure on my own terms, if that. If that makes sense, you know.
- [17:47]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
We'll be right back with more of.
- [17:49]
Charles Kelley
The Taking a Walk podcast.
- [17:53]
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- [18:23]
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- [19:23]
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- [20:26]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Welcome back to the Taking a Walk podcast. So take us through some of your favorite tracks or, or all of your favorite tracks. We got time. Charles.
- [20:36]
Charles Kelley
Oh, God. I think, I mean, the first song, Can't Lose youe, is what really kicked off the project. I mean, there's something about that song. I think it encompassed everything I wanted to say as well. I, I, you know, I'm getting close to, at the end of this month, I'll be three years sober. And so it was just a lot of growth, you know, spiritually, mentally, and, you know, with my relationship with my wife. And I wanted to put that into the music, you know, and I wanted to be a it to be a joyful record, you know, and feel really redemptive and positive. And so I feel like that song encompassed kind of everything I was going for. And then from there it was like, once we had that song, the rest just kind of really came out really easily. I mean, I think my. One of my favorites is a song called Can't Be Alone Tonight. There's just something about it that it reminds me of all those great 80s, like, ballads that just feel great there. There's also a song called Never Let yout Go. And we got the great Dan Huff, so he's also a great producer, but he used to play electric guitar on all those massive 80s and 90s hits that you've almost anything you've ever heard. I mean, he's played with Michael Jackson, Journey, I mean, all these crazy bands, you know, in the studio. And to have him. If you listen to that song, I think it's the 10th track off the record. There's just this epic electric guitar tone in solo section that he has that just, I don't know, there's something about it where I was like, that's what I was going for. It has a key change, it has the, the electric guitar sound that only Dan could do. So there's a lot of those moments throughout the record. But, but I will say it changes which my, you know, which one is my favorite.
- [22:23]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
I would expect it would. Right, because if they're a while, you're living with it for so long, and in your mind you're going through the hard work that led up to the creation. So when you're in the studio and, and working on this and then you leave for the day, do you leave with tracks that you can listen to as you're driving, driving home to kind.
- [22:46]
Charles Kelley
Of like think about it, that makes it exciting, you know, that's the great thing about, you know, this whole record. I worked with Lindsey Rhymes and another guy Named Sam Ellis and. And you know, being able to actually, you know, they program most of this stuff. So what we would do is we'd have pretty fully fleshed out, professional sounding demo. And then, you know, we would go and harvest out. We had like a drone day. We went. This guy, Aaron Sterling then laid real drums on it. Or we go, you know, lay base. If we didn't like the way that, that one of them played the base. You know, we had a saxophone player come in or something like that. But we, when we would leave each day, we would have a pretty solid foundation and feel for what we were going for.
- [23:31]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
And then when you walk in the next day, then you've got like the ability to know what you want to tweak, right?
- [23:39]
Charles Kelley
Yeah. So we would leave there, we would have pretty much a, you know, a full form of a song. And we were even able to, like, sometimes we come back and tweak lyrics if we got to live with it. And we're like, okay, I don't like the way this hook is turning and flipping. But, you know, that's the difference, I will say, in how a lot of, A lot of people write now than. Than we did when I first started. You know, we used to go in there with acoustic guitar. It sometimes you couldn't quite tell what it was going to be. I mean, need you now is one of those examples. I remember we had this little acoustic, really rough sounding recording off of our computer. And, you know, we almost didn't cut the song because it didn't sound as big as like the other demos we had. And so, you know, to be able to like now really get an idea of how the song is going to sound when you leave. It's a big, you know, it's just such a nice advantage to the writing process.
- [24:32]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Charles, what has recovery taught you that kind of leads into your musical process?
- [24:41]
Charles Kelley
Oh, man. I think gratitude more than anything, I think, you know, I think I was holding on to a lot of fear, you know, fear of a lot of stuff. I mean, fear of losing success, fear of like, of so many things I didn't even know that I was kind of fearful of, you know, and you kind of drink to kind of calm all that down. But I just think it brought a sense of gratitude of like, we're what I have and how much, you know, I don't, I don't want to lose this and how much I just love it. And I think it also just made me enjoy the quiet moments of life. You know, I'm. I'M into so many different things. I mean, a small thing that I just love now that I used to never do is reread. I mean, I've probably read a hundred books since I've, you know, gotten sober and like, I feel like my mind's expanding a little bit. I feel like I'm calming down and I'm just. I'm realizing that some of the best things happen too when you get out of your own way. And, you know, I feel like I really tried to do that with this record now and like, I don't know, I'm just kind of really just enjoying. Enjoying the journey of it. I mean, all the ups and downs are such a big part of. Of what makes life kind of fun, you know, and celebrating the little wins that come along and. But really I just, I think it gave me a little bit more of a purpose to life and what I was going for. I used to live and die by the music business and successes and failures, and now I just, I realize that, like, it. It's not the end all be all, you know, and it should be fun. And I feel like I'm enjoying it again in a way I. That I kind of did when I first started. Because I think when you don't know what's going to happen, you just, you do celebrate any tiny little win that you get. And once you've had success, well, then you have a bar of that what, what you think everything should reach for it to be, quote, unquote, a. You know, especially with something like need you'd now it's like, well, that's going to come along once in a lifetime, like, so if that's my bar, I'm never going to be happy, you know.
- [26:39]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Very well put. Do you get nervous before you're presenting to, I don't know, like a Scott Borchetta or something like that?
- [26:47]
Charles Kelley
Yeah, always. I mean, always you're a little nervous. I mean, I think there's nothing more heartbreaking. Sometimes for an artist when you play something for your management or label or friends even, and they're just like, yeah, that's nice, I like that. And you're like, shoot. That was not the expectation or it was not the response I wanted. But I just again, just, you know, I think for this I just knew I was digging it so much and I was enjoying it that I was like, no matter what anybody says, like, I've got to do this and I don't know, just for everybody on my team to kind of follow me down this journey, but I got a lot of encouragement. I mean, right from the get go. Like when, you know, my team heard can't lose you and another song called Run, they were like this, whatever this is, keep doing it. And so I did get a whole lot of encouragement. My wife was really big with that too. Just kept saying, like, this is. You're on to something. Just keep going down this road. Don't put a timeline on it and see where it goes, you know.
- [27:48]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
So, new album, growing family, fresh outlook. What are you most excited about as far as the next chapter?
- [27:56]
Charles Kelley
Oh, gosh, I just. It just. It's fun to see people respond to something in a fresh way, you know, I think that's what makes putting this out solo kind of fun too, because I am a new artist in a way. You know, I mean, I put a solo record out, you know, about eight or nine years ago, but, you know, it's still a fresh introduction in a new sound. And so there's, there's, you know, a certain vulnerability and like, healthy kind of anxiety about what's. What it's going to do. And I think that actually makes it kind of fun. I'm allowed to fail. It's okay. It's. It's a little more scary when Lady A fails. You know, a project comes out, fails, but when I fail, it's like, okay, cool. That was something fun. Anyway, so, you know, I can always kind of play it off that, that, you know, I didn't, I didn't care if it went big. Obviously I do. I think any artist wants it to be heard. I mean, you know, I'm not looking for, for this to be some giant, you know, Sabrina Carpenter, global smash. But I tell you, if it could reach, reach a really great audience and I was able to actually go out and do some shows, you know, and have a, have a, you know, have a. Have a packed house somewhere and be able to actually perform these songs. I think that's what gets me the most excited because it's such a fun bed of music that even when I was just rehearsing with the guys, you know, we did some content of just a kind of a live show of some of these songs that we're gonna, you know, share online. I couldn't stop dancing. I was like, I've never, like, moved like this and I'm sure I look ridiculous, but I can't help myself. I was like, I can't help but move when I sing this music. So I think it would just be a very joyful show, you know, so I'M hoping that can can come about at some point.
- [29:43]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
In closing, if you could go back and give advice to your younger self, maybe that 14 year old writing songs with Dave, what would you say?
- [29:52]
Charles Kelley
Oh, gosh. Well, first off, I'd say learn how to play piano. That's one thing. If I could go to any young kid, it'd be like, learn how to play piano. I can play guitar and I grew up playing drums. That was my instrument in the band. I played drums and sang. But I wish I could have played. I wish I could play the piano. I feel like I would. I would have written a heck of a lot more songs, you know, if I was able to do that. But I think the advice would just be just enjoy the journey. I mean, I think in the beginning, you know, the first 10 years, it was so much fun. And in the middle of that career, it kind of got where I was, not enjoying it. And I think you have to love it, you have to enjoy it and you have to just, I don't know, sometimes just remind yourself that you get to do what you love to do. So I think that would be the thing I would love to have told myself early on. Well, also too just you never know where life's going to go. I mean, my 14 year old self would have never dreamed I was actually going to do this for a living.
- [30:55]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
You know, Charles, this is why I love what I do. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to talk to you. Congratulations on this chapter, Songs for a New Moon. And thanks for all the great music you continue to give us, my friend.
- [31:09]
Charles Kelley
Thank you, Buzz. Appreciate you, buddy. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Taking a Walk podcast. Share this and other episodes with your friends and follow us so you never miss an episode. Taking a Walk is available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. Janice Torres here and I'm Austin Hankwitz. We host the podcast Mind the Business.
- [31:37]
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Small Business Success Stories, produced by Ruby.
- [31:39]
Charles Kelley
Studio in partnership with Intuit QuickBooks.
- [31:42]
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We're back for season four to talk to some incredible small business owners.
- [31:45]
Charles Kelley
The big thing about working at tech is that it's ever evolving, ever changing. Everyone's a rookie. That's how fast the industry is changing. So what I'm really excited about is to be part of that change. So listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [32:01]
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Charles Kelley
Hollywood's biggest party is now bigger than ever.
- [32:38]
Podcast Host (Interviewer)
Perfect.
- [32:38]
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- [32:40]
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- [32:48]
Skyrizi and Orangetheory Advertiser
Laugh at the celebrities that can take it and completely ignore the ones who can't. I'm just kidding. They're not safe either.
- [32:54]
Charles Kelley
The Golden Globe live, CBS Sunday, 8 Eastern, 5 Pacific and streaming on Paramount.
- [33:01]
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- [33:31]
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