Country artist Kayla Mahon is set to release her debut solo album, "Right On The Money," this Friday, June 21. This album, two years in the making, marks a significant milestone in Kayla's musical journey.
Kayla, who began songwriting with Ryan Sorestad in Nashville, felt an instant connection to the songs they created together. "The quality of the songs encouraged me to want to record them all on an album," she said. "I had something to say through life experience as a mum, a nurse, and grieving the loss of my music hero, my Grandad."
While this is Kayla's debut solo album, she is no stranger to the recording studio. She has previously released two albums as part of The Heartleys and an EP with Australian producer and singer-songwriter Roger Corbett. However, "Right On The Money" holds a special place in her heart. "This project is very special to me because it’s taken this long for me to dig deep and really be who I want to be as a singer-songwriter," she explained.
The album's singles showcase a range of emotions and stories from Kayla's life, offering listeners a mix of moving, amusing, and sassy tracks. "It was a deliberate move to make the singles different as I didn’t want to have a common theme," she said. "Music is all about showing emotion, making people feel happy and sad, showcasing my life with children, how much friendships mean to me, and relationships."
One of the standout tracks, "Man Who Doesn’t Like Country Music," is written about her husband. "I think there would be a lot of people who would be in the same boat as me: they love country music and their spouse doesn’t," she shared. The title track, "Right On The Money," is described as a "good old country rock song and a real feel-good song."
Kayla filmed the music video for "Right On The Money" at the river near her home in southern New Zealand, adding a personal touch to the visual representation of her music.
With a sold out hometown album launch this month she is now planning shows around New Zealand, house concerts, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser show, and festival performances. Kayla is eager to share her new music with live audiences. "I want to be able to sing my songs live - that is my biggest goal and has been from the start," she said. "My absolute goal would be a dream to travel with my music because of this album."
"Right On The Money" is more than just a collection of songs; it's a testament to believing in oneself and the power of collaboration. "I had that barrier that I wasn’t good enough to write my own songs before, but I got through that by co-writing because getting out and writing with other people builds your confidence," she reflected.
Kayla Mahon's debut solo album, "Right On The Money," will be available on all major streaming platforms starting June 21, 2024.
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