A Conversation with UK Pop Sensation Kerry Feeney
Pop sensation, Kerry Feeney, has returned with her most accomplished single yet, “Keep You Around.” Oozing with sass and sensuality, Kerry Feeney is blessed with a velvet, soulful voice and vibrant, cheeky energy; however, in soaring Pop ballad, “Keep You Around,” Kerry takes a more heartfelt turn in her songwriting. After experimenting with genres and production techniques on her previous singles, “Baby Girl Know It,” “Dangerous,” and “Audacious,” Kerry has finally honed in on her own distinctive sound — mixing her Pop background with a love for Metal guitars and fiery, impassioned vocals.
With her single, “Keep You Around,” out now, we took some time to hear more from Kerry Feeney. Read below to learn more about Kerry Feeney, the story behind her single, and what’s to come.
Hi Kerry Feeney! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
It’s my real name. At first, I played around with having a different name for my stage alter ego, but why mess with an already cute name?
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I was born and raised in Warrington, but I base myself in Liverpool now.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I’ve always, always been a singer, but I think I started to take songwriting more seriously in my teenage years. I travelled to London a lot, between the ages of 16–18, to write for music labels there. I studied music to a degree level and started to release my own songs shortly after graduating. I taught myself to produce music, and with the help of supportive people, I had the courage to release it. Fast forward a few years later, I now work with extremely talented producers and musicians who have helped me to hone in on my sound and release stronger quality music.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
My sister and I were brought up by my mum, nanna and grandad. I was played Jazz from my grandparents, RnB from my sister and rock from my mum, and I think you can hear a lot of these elements in my music today. I played around with a few different genres when I first started to write and release music until I arrived at my Pop Rock sound today. However, what has stayed consistent in my writing is my confident and honest way of delivering how I feel through my lyrics, and that definitely comes from my upbringing in my resilient and loving family.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
I’m always going to be Pop, probably due to the way I like to structure my songs and my tone as a singer, but right now, I would describe my music as Pop Punk. I love catchy choruses and heavy guitar, so that’s what you’re getting a lot of.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
I love yoga, I’m a qualified teacher in it. I love to read, and I own a library of self-help books at home. I like to swim for peace. I’m currently learning French because I think it’s cool to speak more languages, and I love getting all dressed up cute for girl nights. Lyrics and melody lines come to me at the most random times, usually when I’m doing something non-music related, and I have to go immediately put a note or voice recording in my phone.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Always Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Avril Lavigne. Right now, I’m back on a lot of Pop Punk bands that I started to love in my teens like Blink-182, Green Day, and Bowling for Soup.
What are some of your future music career goals?
I want to carry on supporting bigger artists on their tours and then, hopefully, have my own tour one day. I want to release an album made from all of these singles that I’m releasing currently. I obviously want to attend an award ceremony one day too and mix with my peers who are at the top in the industry.
Now onto your release, “Keep You Around.” What inspired this song?
It’s supposed to be like the music playing underneath a 90’s romantic comedy where the girl finally gets the guy. It’s totally fantasy and it was so much fun to write.
What is “Keep You Around” about in your own words?
I was in deep when I wrote this. It’s basically about giving in to your feelings for someone. I was stuck in a confusing whirlwind and decided that I didn’t wanna give up on them. This song was a lot of me coming to terms with that.
What is your favorite lyric in “Keep You Around?”
“‘cause there’s nothing light in how I feel about you now.”
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from “Keep You Around?”
That it’s safe to wear your heart on your sleeve. Being honest about how you feel is liberating and it saves time too.
What’s one of your proudest moments of your music career so far?
My first headline gig was beautiful. It was a small venue and everyone made such an effort to come. I could feel the room was filled with all the people who love and support me, and have done from the start, so that was a moment I took a picture of in my mind to remember.
What would you say are the greatest lessons you’ve learned so far?
Don’t be scared to change direction, genre, or reinvent yourself over and over. I thought I had to have it right from the get go, but part of what I’m excited for in my musical journey is to witness my own evolution.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects that we should be on the lookout for?
For 2022, I have a Rock version of my popular single, “Dangerous,” that I’ll probably release first, then I have a new single called, “Your Nightmare,” that has been finished. I can’t wait to share, so I probably won’t wait long to get that one out either. I’m shooting a music video in February, so that’s super exciting and there’ll be loads more gigs coming too.
Where can we follow you on social media?
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/385poIbYm5yhkMaQdWPozR
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kerryfeeneymusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjcZ4hzgbgGQiJ01cf4OkdA
