Kickstand Jenny – Between the Lines

By starrymag | December 28, 2023

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) The music of Kickstand Jenny is often described as punk-rock. How would you describe your sound?

A) Our sound is uniquely diverse, so it is very difficult to categorize. But it seems like the most common label we receive is “Alt-Rock.”

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Our influences are equally diverse, but the main influences for us all are: Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Journey, Bon Jovi, Poison and Aerosmith.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “One More Day.”

A) “One More Day” is a song about the loss of a loved one and wanting one more day to be with them. This is track six from our compilation album about the subject. This specific track deals with the heartache and desire to be back with the lost loved one.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think the connection that people may have to the song is that everyone has lost someone who they were close to. And many people wish they could change something in their lives to make things the way they were.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) The video not only connects to the song in a wonderful way, but it also connects to other videos that we have. If you watch the video for the track “Tonight,” it is a song (and video) about dreaming of being together and remembering the old times. You will see the same actors and story line fit together. Also, the same car was used for all the videos on purpose. The next video we are releasing is for a track called “Take Me Back To The Time,” where it is set in the future and the theme is about remembering the past as well. You will see little things in the video that match the other videos – like the candles in the video for “Take Me Back” are all burned out, and the flowers are old and dead. It all comes full circle, if you listen to the whole album and watch the videos in the same sequence.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) The songwriting techniques we use are all over the place. Typically, you have music first, and go from there. And although that is a common technique for us, this album was different. Since we were going with a concept album, with a specific theme, we used lyrics and melodies first. From there, the music was created.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) We made the job easy for our producer, as all the work was completed before we entered the studio. I (Preston) already had the demos on hand, and all the parts worked out, so we didn’t really have to do any soul searching while in the studio. I am very OCD, so all the parts were demoed and written down.

 

Q) “One More Day” is the fourth single off your album Between the Lines. What are some themes you explore on it?

A) The themes explored in One More Day are loss of love, loss of life, crossing over and the desire to be together after it is too late.

 

Q) Which song(s) on the album holds a special significance for you and what makes it such a standout to you?

9) I personally love them all, and they are all very special to me in some way. The most personal for me is “Take Me Back To The Time,” as it was inspired by my high school sweetheart. The very first lyric is: “Do you remember, when we were seventeen? When life was so much better, and so much better than it seemed.” Man, those lyrics are not only 100% true, but it grabs your attention from the start.

 

Q) Was there a track that maybe challenged you the most creatively for the album?

A) The most challenging song to write was “Solo.” I had the theme, the melody and the lyrics together, but struggled figuring out the best key for the song and how I wanted the music and guitar riffs to go. I spent many days going on long bike rides for the sole purpose of finishing that song. Then, after demoing the song, I wanted to make sure I put a killer guitar solo on it. I figured it needed an epic solo, since the name of the song is “Solo!” So, I spent a good week or two writing that. It was all worth it in the end, as I really feel it is a strong song. And it caught the ear of Mark Slaughter, so he sang the lead on that track too. So, that was an extra bonus!

 

Q) What do you hope lingers with audiences that explore Between the Lines – either as a message or an emotion?

A) I hope people can understand the emotion and time that we invested into the album. This was a three-year journey to make this album, and tons of time was invested. If you listen to the album, you will not get it all on the first listen. There are so many layers (musically and lyrically) that you will catch the more you listen to it. There are also lots of hidden meanings all along, that the savvy listener may catch. This isn’t an album that was just thrown together, and it really needs to be listened to multiple times.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) We really enjoy playing locally. Our market is amazing for musicians. From Pensacola Beach, all the way along the coast (east and west), you will never run out of some amazing venues to play.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Man, there are so many people I would love to work with. But at this stage, I am more in tune to writing and producing great songs, so I would go with someone like Desmond Child or Mutt Lange. Those guys aren’t performers, but they are responsible for some of the biggest and best songs of all time. So, working with them would be like a master class.

 

Q) What artist/musician are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) I am all over the place with the music I listen to. I always did my big influences that I listed earlier. I really have been digging Brad Paisley, NEEDTOBREATHE, Shinedown and Rival Sons. For Brad, I dig his guitar playing. For NEEDTOBREATHE and Shinedown, they both have an amazing sound. They just sound complete as bands, and the production is spot on. It’s really flawless. For Rival Sons, I dig the rawness. It’s just in your face riff rock, which is timeless and unforgiving.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I personally hate social media, but I understand the importance of using it, so I stuck with it. Ha! It is important, as it really is the best way to connect to potential and existing fans.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I just want to say thank you for allowing us to do what we love. And if you love what we are doing, strap on tight because we are going to have some fun together!!

 

 

ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY GUITARTIST PRESTON MORELOCK