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Spotlight: Kelsi Mayne
Spotlight: Kelsi Mayne is carving out her own lane with a sound that blends modern country with a grounded, honest perspective. In this conversation, we catch up with her to talk about the stories behind her music, how her sound continues to evolve, and the experiences shaping her path right now. It is a relaxed and thoughtful look at where she is creatively and where she is headed next.
You’re coming back with “Can’t Sleep,” and it feels like a noticeably more vulnerable step compared to your recent work. What shifted for you emotionally or creatively that made this the right moment to share that side?
I’ve danced around my personal life for two years now, alluding to a bit of what happened (ie, calling off my wedding, ending a 10-year relationship following my discovery of betrayal, etc.). But I haven’t really talked about the other fast and furious relationship I fell into soon after that, which completely wrecked me as well. I just felt like it was time for me to come clean and tell my
side.
With “For The Record” there was a sense of strength and closure, while this new single sits more in the uncertainty of heartbreak. How did you approach writing from that more exposed place without trying to resolve it too quickly?
Write a song on your worst day, I guess? lol. I wrote this song first and then “For The Record” after, when I had come to terms with things. But “Can’t Sleep” was the first time I felt so helpless that it was hard to get out of bed. I actually almost cancelled this write, but we already had to reschedule it a few times, so I felt bad if we had to do it again. Writing this song came from that raw place of despair, when I was in the thick of it, so nothing was resolved yet. In fact, the vocal you hear is the same take from that day.
When you’re writing something that leans into late-night honesty, like this track does, what helps you stay truthful in the moment instead of editing yourself?
I was incredibly fortunate to have such wonderful co-writers/producers, Lex Jay & Marc Koecher (Illegal Audio), who created a safe place for me to open up and be completely vulnerable. This song was more of a therapy session for me, and in that moment, I wasn’t thinking about publicly releasing it. So I think that’s also what helped to keep it so honest because it was basically my
diary.
You’ve been building momentum over the past year, especially with “For The Record.” How has your relationship with songwriting changed as more people have started connecting to your music?
Songwriting has become my drug lol. I try to challenge myself to make each song better than the last, and I love it almost as much as the stage. There’s something invigorating about the process, it’s like solving a virtual puzzle but you don’t know what the final result looks like until you finish it. It gives you that similar rush you get when you’re on stage… And then to have people SING those lyrics back to you WHILE you’re on stage, is a whole new feeling of accomplishment. I feel like I’m just hitting my stride as a songwriter. Not every song you write is going to be good, but I have to say, lately my batting average is definitely higher than 0.300 if ya know what I mean lol.
What is one thing you’ve learned about yourself during this process you didn’t expect?
I’ve never been more confident about trusting my gut than how I feel right now. For example, releasing a non-Christmas song (For The Record) in December… which is typically a big industry “no no.” But something inside me was telling me I needed to release it then, and now it’s my most successful song. As someone as indecisive as I am about regular day-to-day things, I think I underestimated my strength in being so decisive and confident on the bigger decisions both personally and professionally.
You worked with Illegal Audio on this release. What did they bring out of you in the studio that might not have been there otherwise?
I’m not a very emotional person, so they really brought that side out of me and had me lean into it instead of away from it as I would normally do. They took me right out of my comfort zone completely that day because I walked into the write proposing a fun, uptempo, light-hearted song initially to try to mask what I was feeling. But they saw right through it I think lol.
When you listen back to “Can’t Sleep” now, what part of the song still hits you the hardest?
I’ve never said any truer words than the entire second verse…
Were you lying through your teeth?
Or was it just the whiskey talking for you?
God I adored you
Said I was heaven-sent
That I was always meant to be your one and only
Damn your momma loved me
This new relationship first made me feel higher than I’ve ever felt. He convinced me we were meant to be together and once I was all-in, I discovered he had a severe alcohol addiction. So, like the supportive partner I was, I did everything I could to help that man. Even went so far as to plan an intervention behind his back with his mom and sister. They asked me not to give up on him … and I didn’t. He did get sober, but then he had a change of heart about me.
You’ve hinted at a larger body of work coming later this year. How does this single fit into the bigger emotional or sonic picture of that project?
Well, I can tell you, this is as sad as it gets lol. There’s definitely a wide range of songs on this next project, and if you’ve caught any of our live shows over the past year, you may have heard a little sneak peek of some of the other songs to come.
There’s a quiet intensity to this track that feels very intentional. How do you decide when to hold things back sonically versus when to go bigger?
It’s all about how the song is written, the feel and the lyrics you want to emphasize. There are some very intentional pauses in this song to really “twist the knife” on certain lyrics to really make a point. I can’t wait to play this one live because it’s very much based on feel rather than a rigid click track.
With the response you saw from radio and platforms like SiriusXM on your last release, has that external validation changed the way you think about your audience at all?
The external validation from media and industry support has been really heartwarming. I think my fans have known me and my music all along, but now to have the extra help to show my music to more fans globally, it’s certainly helped to widen my perspective to think beyond just Canada and the US.
As you continue to release new music, how do you balance writing for yourself versus writing with listeners in mind?
Well, my personal life has been a bit like a soap opera the last few years so I have a LOT of material to naturally draw from. So I’m just writing what I know, for myself to help to get it off my chest. Unfortunately, but also fortunately for me I guess, my listeners often relate to my experiences as well. So coincidentally, by writing for myself, I’m also writing for my audience at the same time.
How do you think your music has evolved from your earlier releases coming into this new chapter?
I call my music released before 2024 (when my world turned upside down) “bubblegum BS” lol. Not saying it’s bad, but I just had no clue what I was actually writing about because I lived in “rainbow marshmallow” land, to quote my sister lol. I thought I knew what I was talking about, but I didn’t.
In 2024, within 3 weeks of calling off my wedding and moving out, I lost both my grandmother and a close family friend, and then had to open for Russell Dickerson the next day. Then a few months later I fell in love again, and found myself in a new situation I never saw myself in — dealing with and trying to help him through his alcohol addiction. And then ultimately heartbreak yet again.
So yeah, NOW I can say I know what I’m talking about and there’s a clear shift in my music. Now I can say that I’ve LIVED life and what it has to throw at you. I was always pretty good at writing catchy melodies, but now the lyrics are deeper. There’s substance to it. They actually MEAN something.
Looking ahead, what feels most different about where you are right now compared to the last time we spoke?
It’s only been about 6 months but I feel like I’m really coming into my own. I’ve had a lot more validation for my decisions both in my personal and professional life that have solidified any wavering feelings I had. I have more confidence and trust in myself and what I’m capable of.
What do you hope fans take away from this Chapter?
I hope that if they relate to any of my songs, they recognize that they’re not alone.
and…We’re just getting started, baby!
QUICK FIRE
- Late-night writing or early morning sessions? Late night 100% (way more creative)
- A place that always helps you reset creatively? Home in Windsor, ON and Leipers Fork, TN
- Favourite comfort movie? Princess Bride
- Something small that’s been making your days better lately? Days are always better with a
Matcha Latté. - If you weren’t making music this week, what would you be doing instead? Catching up on
sleep lol
