PREMIERE: Bre Kennedy Shares the Beautiful Story Behind ‘Hello’
Nashville-based singer-songwriter and producer Bre Kennedy is gearing up to release her next big album, Scream Over Everything, on Nov. 10, and we think its closing track, "Hello," is the perfect tease of everything to come.
Today, we're premiering the music video for the new single, which glistens with an atmosphetic, epic sound that evokes all kinds of bright nostalgia as Bre sings about turnings goodbyes into new hellos, with a little help from fellow pop songwriter Jake Wesley Rogers. It's one of nine tracks off Bre's upcoming album, authentically digging into her own personal experiences while feeling fresh and universal, and we cannot wait to hear the whole thing come together. Check out the music video here first, and read our interview with Bre on the powerful story of "Hello" below.
The Story Behind 'Hello'
Bre Kennedy: "Hello" is a song about reframing. It was written after a conversation with my producer, Davis Naish, about how bad I am at goodbyes. I tend to dread letting go and saying goodbye, and we talked about what it would be like if, instead of running from goodbye, I said hello. I knew I wanted it to sound like a launching off into something euphoric and beautiful, like that feeling you get when you've made peace with and accepted that it's time to walk through that door.
(Photo credit: Hannah Hall)
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On Working With Jake Wesley Rogers
BK: Jake Wesley Rodgers is one of my long-time friends from Nashville. We've celebrated each others' growth as artists and humans, and Jake has become like a brother to me over the years. One of my favorite parts of Jake's artistry is his spoken word. When we finished "Hello," I knew this was going to be the final song on the album. Jake is who I go to in chapter changes in my life, and he has always been a light for me in seasons of change, so I asked him to come in, listen and bless this album with a sign-off. He wrote the last few words on this album at the end of "Hello." Every time I hear his words, I can't help but tear up and smile because Jake always reminds me to be brave and speak my truth.
What 'Hello' Means
BK: "Hello" is the sign-off on my album Scream Over Everything. After listening to this whole album, you get to "Hello," and it's a celebration of letting go and jumping into something new. It's about acceptance of where I am now and what no longer serves me. I hope anyone who listens to "Hello" feels encouraged to let go of what doesn't serve them any longer and to allow themselves to walk through to their next chapter, whatever that means for them at this point in their story.
Bre's Favorite Lyric
BK: "Instead of running from goodbye, what if I said hello?"
Also read about: Bre Kennedy Gets Real and Reveals the Meaning of Her Upcoming Debut Album, Note to Self
On the Music Video
BK: I made this video with one of my favorites, Hannah Gray Hall. I flew her out while I was finishing my album in Los Angeles. The last time I had a major chapter change in my life was when I said goodbye to Los Angeles and hello to Nashville. Making that move and allowing myself to jump into that changed my life, and I wanted a reminder of that feeling.
My favorite memory from the shoot was driving with the top of the convertible down in the middle of the night.
What's Next
BK: My new album, Scream Over Everything, comes out Nov. 10 on Nettwerk. Scream Over Everything is about letting my inner voice be louder than everything else in a world that seems impossibly loud right now, and I'm so excited to share it finally. This album grew with me over the past year of writing it through life chapter changes. I am currently on tour until Oct. 17, and then I am celebrating the album release show in Nashville on Nov. 14 and Los Angeles on Nov. 19.
For more on our new favorite music, click HERE to read our interview with Claire Rosinkranz on her debut album, Just Because.