For years, country artist Erin Kinsey has been showcasing her songwriting chops, working alongside everyone from Dolly Parton and Rita Wilson to Jordin Sparks and Monica, as well as releasing her own viral hits including including “Just Drive” and “I Ain’t Crazy.” With more than 130 million streams to her name, she released her debut album, Suede, last week, made up of her most unfiltered and personal work yet.
Consisting of 10 tracks, the independently released album gets its name from its title track, with “Suede” encapsulating different facets of Erin’s identity—resilient, beautiful, soft and tough all at once. The project shows Erin navigating adulthood and all of the thrilling and complicated uncertainty of her mid-20s. We had the pleasure of chatting with Erin to learn all about it. Discover what she shared with us in our Woman Crush Wednesday interview below.
(Photo credit: Stephanie Siau)
Name: Erin Michelle Kinsey
Hometown: Rockwall, Texas
Birthday: October 10
1. Last week, Erin released her hotly anticipated debut album, Suede, which gets its name from the title track.
Erin Kinsey: The title track “Suede” actually was the last song I wrote for the project! I had most of the songs decided on, and I had a branding meeting planning to shoot visuals for the project. Instead of creating a concept album, I wanted to create an identity album—one that told who I was instead of deciding who I would try to be. After hours of Pinterest boards and color pallets and a mini therapy session, we stumbled upon the texture “suede.” How it was flexible and durable, soft and tough, rustic and elegant, a whole lot of things at once—but uniquely itself. And as a girl that’s navigating her mid-20s, I could relate to that on a deep level. I ended up writing the song “Suede” the next day, and decided to make it the title track just a couple weeks later. The biggest theme I hope people hear from the album is that life is meant to be lived- not perfected. That feelings and experiences can be messy and beautiful all at the same time.
2. It means a lot to her to finally have her debut album out in the world.
Erin: I am so excited. I have released multiple EPs and many singles over the last few years of putting my music in the world—but nothing like this. The album feels so uniquely me, and like thing’s only I could say. I can’t wait for it to be out In the world.
3. Her dream vacation would include the chance to swim with sharks.
Erin: I grew up watching Shark Week with my family, and it’s always been a bucket list item for me. I’m sure it doesn’t sound very relaxing, lol, but I would do it in a heartbeat. So maybe Hawaii or South Africa?
Also read about: Here’s the Type of Shark That Best Suits Your Personality, Based on Your Zodiac Sign
4. At the moment, frozen yogurt is her favorite dessert.
Erin: I’m so on the fro-yo train. I usually just get a basic tart or vanilla base and then get all the toppings I can.
5. Her pre-show rituals are very important to her.
Erin: My band and I always have a huddle before the show where we pray over the night, our voices and hands, and then have some sort of cheer specific to the city or day. We’ve ended up breaking out on some crazy sayings, hahah.
6. She says her strangest hobby is scrolling through her camera roll.
Erin: If I ever am trying to have a social media cleanse or don’t have wifi (more likely to not have wifi, lol) I will just scroll through my entire camera roll on my phone. I love it—I get reminded of so many memories and find pictures I forgot I even took!
7. We asked her if she’s ever been inspired by a fictional character, and loved her response.
Erin: Okay, truly—I’ve never thought about this! But I loved The Hunger Games when it came out—and thought Katniss Everdeen was awesome. I loved how she stood up for her sister (I have a younger sister too), and that she stepped up to the challenge instead of running from it. She also refused to become someone she wasn’t, even if it would have made her life easier. I think that is so inspiring.
Also read about: Everything You Wanted to Know About Trilingual Singer-Songwriter GIULIA BE
8. She has a few favorite scents.
Erin: Probably Christmas trees. Or chocolate chip cookies out of the oven. Both have so many sweet memories for me growing up! But as far as a perfume goes, Tom Ford Santal Blush is my absolute fave.
9. What’s Erin’s favorite thing about herself?
Erin: This is a sweet question. I think most recently, I’ve been proud of how I’ve been trying to become a more trusting person to myself. I grew up being my quickest critic, and over the years, I’ve really tried to learn how to give grace to myself. I’m really proud of working on that.
10. She thinks she’d be terrible at any job that involves keeping lots of secrets.
Erin: The FBI? I am an open book, haha.
11. She says she’s unexpectedly really good at cooking and baking.
Erin: I’ve learned that I am actually pretty good in the kitchen! At least I like what I make, haha.
12. Above everything else, Erin says her love for the people around her is core to who she is deep down.
Erin: Whether it’s my family, my friends, my band, the incredible people that listen to my music or come to my shows—I am just so grateful for everyone who I get to be around and spend time with. I do not take for granted the people that trust me with their hearts, stories and time—and I am so thankful to be a small part of their day or lives!
You can listen to Suede in full here:
For even more on the creatives who inspire us, click HERE to discover everything we learned about content creator Alana Lintao as our Woman Crush Wednesday.
