In this episode of We Need to Talk, Nyla Symone sits down with singer-songwriter Kennedy Ryon for an emotional and empowering conversation about love, healing, and resilience. Kennedy opens up about the abusive relationship that inspired her viral records, sharing how pain became a catalyst for self-discovery and creative expression. They discuss the emotional honesty in her music, her growth as an artist, and what it means to reclaim your voice through storytelling. As an independent artist who recently sold out her first tour, Kennedy reflects on the power of authenticity, the weight of vulnerability, and the excitement of what’s ahead. This is a conversation about turning wounds into art—and doing it on your own terms. Tune in and comment in the socials below.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to We Need to Talk with production of The
Black Effect podcast Networks and you're to get damn you,
what's up to talk? Your girl went along and you
you need to talk. We need what's up? Guys And
(00:30):
welcome to another episode of We Need to Talk. I
am Nila Simone and today we're joined by very special guests.
I have Kennedy Ryan here.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
How are you. I'm a little tired, but I'm going good.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I know you've been on tour. I've been getting calls
about your tour since it started. People are like, Yo,
she's phenomenal live. I love her. You were right about her,
and I'm so happy to finally get to sit down
and interview you.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Thank you for having me, thank you for having my team,
and I thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Of course your team is dope. I love your team,
but love you and I loved your music even more
so let's get into it. I guess I want to
start with the first record that I've heard from you,
which was Ego, and I was like, damn, this is deep,
but talk to me about what EGO meant to you.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Ego for me, really was just about letting go of
being more so attracted to someone's potential versus like the
actual capacity and how they hold themselves, what they're actually
like showing me how they treat me. It also is
ego is really just I think at the root of it,
realizing our ego is what allows us to think that
(01:37):
we can change a person to like be better for us,
or like fit our specific needs. Or I'm like if
I if I cook, if I clean, if I dress
a certain way, if I fucking change my laugh the
way I talk, like the whole gambit, maybe this personal change.
And I think for me writing ego, even it's just
gonna sound like cliche, I'm going to keep saying it,
(01:59):
it really was just me, like reflecting on that seven
years of being in that abusive relationship and being like, okay,
outside of not having any self worth or confidence within
myself or belief within myself or just whatever whatever it
was at that time, realizing also the root was just ego, Well.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
That was gonna be my next question actually is like
these songs are based off real life experiences.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Fortunately and unfortunately, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
That's crazy, that's crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
I wasn't expecting you to say that, but you know what,
I can appreciate your authenticity in the songs, you can
hear the conviction. That's probably why it hit so hard.
So Baby Mama, drama, true story.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
All of it is a true story. All of it
is a true story. It's fortunately and unfortunately.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
It's super unfortunate, my girl, But look at you now.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I love it. It's fortunate. If I didn't go through that,
I wouldn't be sitting in this chair right now having
this conversation.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
So this is true. So seven years unhealthy relationship that
blossomed into this beautiful music. I'm sorry, but I'm here
for it. I'm sorry, but I'm here for it. So okay,
talk to me. I guess I'll put a pause on
the music talk and just get a little more into
your background. So were you not making music within those
(03:18):
seven years or were you always drawn to music but
just never tried it.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I wasn't making music at all. I still at that
time had a Yamaha YPG two thirty five piano and
I just it would just sit in the corner. I'd
stare at it and play it. I wasn't making like
voice memos, no music. At the time. I worked at
a hospital in like intermediate and intensive care, and I
(03:43):
would sing to my patients, and I would play my
patients music, but for the most part, like at home,
I wasn't allowed to sing like I was quite literally
told like shut the fuck up x Y. If I
can cuss, that's infanity. So I was just like, you
know what, no music. It's almost like even still I
tend to kind of forget even in that seven years,
I didn't have downloads of music like normally, I just have,
(04:05):
like you know, ideas that may pop out, like ideas
from God are like a just like a want, like
a gravitational pool to want to create. But during that time,
it was just like it was on the back burner,
like it just didn't exist.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Geesh, environment is so important. So what pulled you out
of I guess that relationship and then drew you to
the music.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Honestly, I really just I can't like say like some
big magic moment. I really just kind of like woke
up one morning in twenty twenty, I believe, like February
and twenty twenty. I just woke up and I was
just like, I don't know, I guess like mine was
connected to body, body was connected to mine. Like for
the longest time, I was just dissociated. I kind of
(04:50):
just something clicked that morning, and I was like, I
don't deserve this anymore, Like this is actually like quite exhausting,
just like randomly was like absolutely not. And it didn't
like he didn't easily leave as I thought he would
in my mind. But yeah, one morning, it just kind
of clicked and I just realized, like I ain't going
(05:11):
for the okie dope no more.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, yeah, Kennedy, I love that good alignment. It takes time.
Trust me, you're not you're not alone.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Okay, it's okay.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
But you're not alone. Oh my god. Okay, So, and
then I guess let me back up a little more.
Prior to that, you always knew you.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Could sing, though, right, I'd say, so. I don't talk
about it like a lot, but I initially fell in
love with dance before I fell in love with singing.
So and like I can't say, like probably like kindergarten
first grade through like fifth grade really was like studying
Destiny's Child and like MTV awards like VMA's And then
(05:54):
I started dance in fifth grade and then life kind
of life. We ended up moving to like the Boonies
on like the other side of town, and I was like, Okay,
well I don't have dance, I don't have dance team,
I don't have my dance teacher. So I guess this
means I need to take music seriously. I don't think
even while I was like obsessed with dance and I
(06:14):
was like tinkering and playing with singing, I I didn't
hear my voice the same way like my family like
at that time would hear it, even though they'd be like.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Why at you sing? Good?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Do that much? But to me, singing back then was
more so just like just something like fun to do,
like a hobby, just like a da da But dancing
I was like obsessed with. But I think I discovered
my voice and that I could actually sing and like
could hold the tune probably in like sixth grade, because
that's when I started like playing piano and starting poetry,
and poetry allowed me to just be like, okay, I
(06:46):
can like go into music.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Beautiful, who taught you the piano?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Myself? Oh really I can't, Like I'm no bath of them.
I'm not like that. Okay, I can play right here,
like I can, I can hold a little, but really
just I can't even say me and myself YouTube university
too period.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yes, it's taught as all over the years. Is there
any other instruments that you could.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Play mainly piano. I'd like to say that I could
play guitar still, but I put that down like so
I kind of just lost it, but I dabble. I
can play by years, so like I can play anything
like kind of but yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
That's impressive. I love that. So did you ever like
train for your voice, like get voice coaching.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
I've never taken vocal lessons like I did theater and
like chorus throughout like middle school and high school. But
as far as like a vocal teacher, no, I really
just studied the greats like Michael Prince, Beyonce, Beyonce. Beyonce Beyonce,
(07:53):
I studied her like crazy. I studied Destiny's Child like crazy.
I really would just like watch videos on YouTube or
like I said, like watch music Awards and really just
watch how like other artists would like enunciate when they sing,
even like Whitney, just watching how they like use their diaphragm,
how they're like most people when they're doing a run.
It's like like your job, but really just listening and
(08:16):
listening and listening and practicing and practicing and practicing. Could
I still use a vocal coach? Absolutely, there's like nothing
wrong with that. But really just like visually watching other people.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I mean I only asked that question because you sound phenomenal.
So like, is this like training or is this like
natural God's gift?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
I'd say definitely, God gotta get it first. But training, yeah,
a little bit, just not like professionally Okay, I love it.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yeah. And then so you mentioned that your parents moved
out into the boonies. Where did you grow up and like,
what were you like as a child.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well, I grew up a lot of places because I
was a military brat, but I lived in Maryland the longest.
I'd say as a child, I was like I was
just chill. I like to watch the Grassy. I was
watching Danny Phantom. Yeah, fairly odd parents climbing trees. I
literally would like I remember like a distinct member. I
just like sat in the tree with friends Ada Kanna Olives.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Okay, the Olives. You just lost me. I was.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I was a chill kid. I didn't I didn't get
into trouble, none of that. I really just still just
like today, like an introvert, just really liked music and
like being outside.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Okay, I too, am a military brat, so shout out
to all the military brats. We love that. Do you
feel like being an army brat like shaped you differently
than like your parents at all?
Speaker 2 (09:43):
I wouldn't necessarily say like the army brat like aspect
of it. I think I would just say, like, uh,
life and like parenting in general, a little bit of
like the army, yeah, because that still comes with like.
But I'd say if I could say it shaped me,
it'd probably just open my eyes to a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, definitely open your eyes to a lot, lots of culture.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Lots of.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Yeah, lots of discipline, five a m pts, like that's
your job, not mind why I gotta wake up? But okay, yeah, yeah, no,
you didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Do loss, but you got up at five o'clock in
the morning. Was running into a pet.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
No, no, he would be running and do a PT
but he would just be waking me up so he
could go, do you know what love your dad?
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Yeah? No, no, no, it's no of that.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
It's none of that. Yes, But okay, So that's that's
Kennedy as a kid. Kennedy's an army rat. Then did
you go to college at all?
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I went to like community colleges. I was gonna get
my nursing degree. I think I was like five or
so classes away or something from like just really getting
into it, but nothing like serious. I don't have. I
don't even my associate's degree. I was just like I
tried it and it wasn't for me.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
I'm just a Yeah. I think a lot of us
feel like that. But so pandemic is really the year
that your life changed. Yeah, and leaving that relationship, you
had to re establish your identity who you are, what
you like, what you don't like. But then you also
decided to take artistry. Seriously, are you like separating the
(11:26):
two when you say like yourself and your art.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
I think I'm in a process of like trying to
just so I still have like me as because there's me,
there's we're both one and the same. But it still
is just like trying not to get caught up in
like Kennedy Ryan twenty for seven, because I of course
just want to like remain humble, but also just sometimes
(11:54):
like I don't know, I would say, like right now,
I'm trying to like just keep yeah, just like a
what's the fucking word? Of course, I'm drying a blank
in this moment, like a duality between both, like a
healthy distance between both. But yeah, I'm finding a balance
there is Okay.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I asked that because it's like, when you got out
of that relationship, do you think you just poured everything
into the music? Oh?
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Absolutely. It wasn't like easy at first because I was like, okay,
am I being too vulnerable? Am I saying too much? Also,
it was just uncomfortable because you're also reliving it and
like writing it out. And there were definitely like studio
sessions where I was like crying and like couldn't get
through the songs. But I think, like that's the only
way is just to leave it on the page and
(12:46):
just fully just like like let spirit, like the energy,
the vibration, just just leave it because it's it's not
about me, honestly.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
That's real. I love that you had that perspective those
I'm not gonna ask for sessions unless you want to share. Maybe, Baby,
what sessions got you like really emotional?
Speaker 2 (13:08):
It definitely was baby Mama drama. Okay, I say all
of them, but maybe Mama drama is like the first
one that comes about because I was like, I don't
I don't. I don't think I say it enough because
most times when people hear baby Mama Drama, they think
it's like a song and I'm promoting like being a
home wreckerd and like ruining marriages or relationships, when in reality,
when you like really dig into it and you listen
(13:31):
and you listen with the lyrics, I'm really writing a
disc to myself from at that time, just not having
enough confidence, not standing up for myself and putting up
with the bare minimum. Also knowing that he at the
time was dealing with another woman and I'm just like, no,
it's it's totally fine. So it's like being emotional one
(13:52):
because I couldn't believe I accepted just that low the
bar was literally in hell, but also to just being
able to reflect on it and realize like, Okay, I
deserve a lot better than that. It's kind of like
how the fuck did I put up with that? And
one being like it's just so many different kind of
just going through like the stages of grief.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Really all in one record. Yeah, I do feel like
you can hear different perspectives every time you hear the song. Yeah,
I know you're on tour right now, we perform these records,
do you feel more empowered?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Like, yeah, I'll say, because you can also feel the
energy from the crowd. We were just saying, Like earlier
today I was like, ask like, what songs do you
like singing the most. I'd say it's probably like band
because yeah, I can't like sometimes I can't all the
time like sit and go back and listen to the
(14:45):
songs because I'm like a huge perfection, so ill like
nitpick and be like, damn, I should have did that
harmony there. I should have wrote this. I should have
did that. But like seeing it live in person and
seeing like women even men just being like just so
like like almost as if the person that like fucked
them over is in the room, just like seeing it
with their chest like really feeling it, like even for
(15:07):
the women, just like people be laughing, crying, screaming it.
I definitely, I don't know. It just reminds me again
like it's not about me. I can be in my
head as much as I want to about the music,
but it's not about me at the end of the day.
It's not what it's not like for me.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Yeah, that's that. I like that people are laughing, crying
and all that, because I feel like the song that
you would to laugh at it because it's like, ain't
no way that you lost the house because you bought
a house, Like, ain't no way.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Just why I'd be like, why why the fuck is
still stayed after that? Still stayed after that? It makes
so fucking sense. But it's like any other people be like,
day damn what it's like, it's just wild. I gotta
stop the firming and wild. It's wonderful, it's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
It's beautiful. It is. It's so beautiful. But I like
the other people who are laughing too. I feel like
that's something Kendrick is good at too. Like grape pen,
he makes you, but he also makes sure.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
You'll tell you some real shit. Yeah, think about it,
but you're gonna laugh about it and you're also gonna
cry about it. And I think that's like the beauty
of real music is just really evoking all those emotions
out of people, like it don't got to be some
RinkyDink song twenty four seven, being able to tell a story.
I think I saw something like a TLC like documentary,
and someone on their team was saying, like their ability
(16:22):
to like make a I don't want to put like
hit on it, but their ability to make like.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Oh what is it?
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Just their ability to make like timeless music. But also
the music just has like a powerful message in it
to when you're listening to it, you don't even realize
they're saying real shit because like kay, because like the
sonics of the music is what like I don't know,
I don't want to laugh on.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
That, but yeah, but no, they definitely did. I mean,
I'm pretty it's talking about fake bodies and loving yourself.
Creep is talking about cheating. But what about my friends
case of his story? His story? Yeah, I'm a big
TC fan staying it. Great point. But you you've released
(17:09):
quite a few singles. Is there a project in the work?
Are we working on a project? You know? She said,
I'm touring girl, I've got time these singles working.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
It's a it's a whole bunch of records in the tuck.
It's just really like getting down to the nitty gritty
and like fully like further laying the foundation. But it's
in the works. It's in the works. Please trust it's
in the works. It's coming, okay, and it's gonna be
worse of wait.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
So I'm not gonna these singles are holding me over.
Just fine. I have my mom plays it, my boss
played as you know, like my boss loves your music.
My mother loves your music, my friends love your music.
Like I think your undeniable talent.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
So appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Yes, and you're mad, humble, and I'm just excited you
got to, she said. I gotta remind myself.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Too, because it's you just see other people and it's
no dispect, no disrespect to other people. But I so
just I think the more we like delve deeper into it,
you see how easy it is to just get wrapped
up in that mindset as well.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yeah, I know we'll see you to sleep. Yeah, but
you got a good team. You have a great team,
so I have no doubt. But okay, so we talked
to music, we talked album. Let's get into this game.
We play a game on the show called Questions Any Answers.
All you have to do is fill in the blank. Okay,
(18:29):
the older I get, the less I fuck.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I feel like I'm taking like an in collection. This
is just like a trick. Question but also that no, it's not.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
It's so it's like, what like the less I sleep
because I'm busy, or the less I care because I
don't give a fuck it give me anything.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
The older I get, the less I fuck. I want
to say, I'll speak it into existence. I like the
less I care, the less I care like what other
people think, I'll put it. I'll put it at that.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yes, I love that jay z is jigger aka Jigga.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Sometimes I look back at my life.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
And I get emotional. I ain't gonna get emotional right now,
but the main thing that comes up is just surreal.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
You came a long way and even further away to go.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
It's fucking It's fucking wild. It's wonderful. But I'm like,
holy shit, it's just like living in an answered prayer.
It's kind of just like processing it, like as it
continues stabbing.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
But I just say, yeah, I love that for you.
You would never believe me if I told you, Bri.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
It's probably that I that I took up dance before
I took up singing.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
By the end of twenty twenty five, I plan to.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Uh, oh, can I say it? I wonder if I
can say it. I planned the tour out of the country.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Woo. Yes, yes, absolutely Blank is one movie I can
watch with the sound off.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Oh fuck, there's so many though.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Juice, Juice Dang with the sound off.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
I'm so serious. I've watched that so many times. I
have that shit on DVD. That's like one of my
favorite movies.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Fire. Okay. I want my legacy to be.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
The music, the music, because the music's gonna stand the
test of time longer than I will.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I can see that, man, I really, I really think
you're like Beyonce Whitney Houston level. Sorry I do though,
I'm such a fan. Like but anyway, okay, back to
the game. Why are you looking at me like?
Speaker 2 (21:06):
It's not like that's not out of like, it's not
out of disrespect.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
I'm like, should I have not said that? Is that pressure?
Is that pressure? You're already doing it? It's then the works.
If I wasn't an artist, I would be a artists
a different type of artist I have.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I have no no backup, I have no backup, no
plan B. I've tried everything. I've sold furniture on Facebook, Marketplace,
I've medical I've done everything, and it just every single time,
God is like, we're not doing that.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
So you know, when you say I sold furniture on
Facebook Marketplace, it sounds like scammer.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
I didn't do none of that. I didn't do none
of that. I didn't do none of that. I got scammed.
But did I scam Absolutely not. I would be like
I would drop my uh, but I can't do that.
But I have like five stars on Facebook Marketplace, I promise.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Okay. I was not trying to jump up for business,
by the way, I was just saying, because I've gotten
scammed on Facebook workingplace, I'm just over it. The hardest
lesson that I've learned about fame thus far is.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
I would say, not everybody is going to like value
value you for who you are, like at your root,
or value your art. Some people really just want to
be connected to you or just use like a trophy. Yeah,
so you gotta like not internalize that or personalize that.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Shout out to you for not personalizing that for real.
That takes work and strength. I'm working on it myself, Okay.
The craziest thing that has happened to me on tour
had to be the time when.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I don't think I have nothing yet I don't have
none yet. So far, so good.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
What happened?
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah are I went it.
As soon as you said crazy, I was like, it's
like something like scary happen and something like something like
wild shit. I'd say, like people chanting my name like
I've I've never I've never had that happen. Like I'm
still processing that in this moment. It's just very it's
very surreal. It's like wild to see, wild to witness
(23:22):
and like the screaming and the chanting like yeah, because
when I get on stage, I'm like, im me, like
this is this is I'm my element. But at the
same time, just that is like it's wild. It's very wild.
Not in a bad way. It's very good, but it's
like it's it's just crazy to me.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
That is fire. Crazy to me, that is fire. I'm
so proud of you. That is so ill man. What
I love this you.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
After I got my first check, I spent it on blank.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Uh. I can't say exactly what, but knowing me, it
was probably between snacks and a rug like something on
Facebook marketplace.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Oh my god. You know Facebook marketplace is to cut
you a check as an ambassador the way.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I'd be like even even like uh, I think just
I don't like saying that the more levels we climb,
the more generational wealth like we accumulate. I think I'm
still just gonna be like I'm gonna be on marketplace
just down.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
I don't know, it's just just.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
I just love it, just finding a good steal in
a deal. But snacks are probably your rug for sure?
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Are you into like antique like pieces and thrifting.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
If they're like price correctly, yeah, like little like uh
killing pillows or like uh antique rugs like dressers. I
just I just like like the modern like eclecticness of it.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Mmm. I would love to see. I can't wait for
your MTV crib. I can't wait to see what that
looks like. But okay, so what else do I want
to cover? We have any any new music coming post
tour at the Doctor Evil on the Right? We do?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
We do, we for sure, But I can't. I can't.
I can't. I can't spill the beans with the tea.
But just now it's coming coming, Okay.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Well I'm excited. I'm going to be at your tour Friday,
yes or Saturday Saturday in DC, I will be there
and you've sold out DC Atlanta. Did you sell all
of the stops pretty much?
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Not all of them yet, but I would say pretty
much yet.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Yeah. Absolutely crazy man. I love it so worthy and
I'm so excited. Seriously, I am too.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
I'm just like, what the fuck? Thank you?
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Shout out to your graham, Like, everybody know where they
can follow you if they don't already.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
So you can find me on Instagram or all socials
at Kennedy dot Ryan Kennedy spelled like the President. Ryan
is spelled r y oh.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
And until next time, guys talk. So We Need to
Talk is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows. Mixture you guys follow We Need to
Talk at WNTTLK on Instagram and TikTok
Welcome to We Need to Talk with production of The
Black Effect podcast Networks and you're to get damn you,
what's up to talk? Your girl went along and you
you need to talk. We need what's up? Guys And
(00:30):
welcome to another episode of We Need to Talk. I
am Nila Simone and today we're joined by very special guests.
I have Kennedy Ryan here.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
How are you. I'm a little tired, but I'm going good.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
I know you've been on tour. I've been getting calls
about your tour since it started. People are like, Yo,
she's phenomenal live. I love her. You were right about her,
and I'm so happy to finally get to sit down
and interview you.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Thank you for having me, thank you for having my team,
and I thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Of course your team is dope. I love your team,
but love you and I loved your music even more
so let's get into it. I guess I want to
start with the first record that I've heard from you,
which was Ego, and I was like, damn, this is deep,
but talk to me about what EGO meant to you.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Ego for me, really was just about letting go of
being more so attracted to someone's potential versus like the
actual capacity and how they hold themselves, what they're actually
like showing me how they treat me. It also is
ego is really just I think at the root of it,
realizing our ego is what allows us to think that
(01:37):
we can change a person to like be better for us,
or like fit our specific needs. Or I'm like if
I if I cook, if I clean, if I dress
a certain way, if I fucking change my laugh the
way I talk, like the whole gambit, maybe this personal change.
And I think for me writing ego, even it's just
gonna sound like cliche, I'm going to keep saying it,
(01:59):
it really was just me, like reflecting on that seven
years of being in that abusive relationship and being like, okay,
outside of not having any self worth or confidence within
myself or belief within myself or just whatever whatever it
was at that time, realizing also the root was just ego, Well.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
That was gonna be my next question actually is like
these songs are based off real life experiences.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Fortunately and unfortunately, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
That's crazy, that's crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
I wasn't expecting you to say that, but you know what,
I can appreciate your authenticity in the songs, you can
hear the conviction. That's probably why it hit so hard.
So Baby Mama, drama, true story.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
All of it is a true story. All of it
is a true story. It's fortunately and unfortunately.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
It's super unfortunate, my girl, But look at you now.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I love it. It's fortunate. If I didn't go through that,
I wouldn't be sitting in this chair right now having
this conversation.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
So this is true. So seven years unhealthy relationship that
blossomed into this beautiful music. I'm sorry, but I'm here
for it. I'm sorry, but I'm here for it. So okay,
talk to me. I guess I'll put a pause on
the music talk and just get a little more into
your background. So were you not making music within those
(03:18):
seven years or were you always drawn to music but
just never tried it.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
I wasn't making music at all. I still at that
time had a Yamaha YPG two thirty five piano and
I just it would just sit in the corner. I'd
stare at it and play it. I wasn't making like
voice memos, no music. At the time. I worked at
a hospital in like intermediate and intensive care, and I
(03:43):
would sing to my patients, and I would play my
patients music, but for the most part, like at home,
I wasn't allowed to sing like I was quite literally
told like shut the fuck up x Y. If I
can cuss, that's infanity. So I was just like, you
know what, no music. It's almost like even still I
tend to kind of forget even in that seven years,
I didn't have downloads of music like normally, I just have,
(04:05):
like you know, ideas that may pop out, like ideas
from God are like a just like a want, like
a gravitational pool to want to create. But during that time,
it was just like it was on the back burner,
like it just didn't exist.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Geesh, environment is so important. So what pulled you out
of I guess that relationship and then drew you to
the music.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Honestly, I really just I can't like say like some
big magic moment. I really just kind of like woke
up one morning in twenty twenty, I believe, like February
and twenty twenty. I just woke up and I was
just like, I don't know, I guess like mine was
connected to body, body was connected to mine. Like for
the longest time, I was just dissociated. I kind of
(04:50):
just something clicked that morning, and I was like, I
don't deserve this anymore, Like this is actually like quite exhausting,
just like randomly was like absolutely not. And it didn't
like he didn't easily leave as I thought he would
in my mind. But yeah, one morning, it just kind
of clicked and I just realized, like I ain't going
(05:11):
for the okie dope no more.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Yeah, yeah, Kennedy, I love that good alignment. It takes time.
Trust me, you're not you're not alone.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Okay, it's okay.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
But you're not alone. Oh my god. Okay, So, and
then I guess let me back up a little more.
Prior to that, you always knew you.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Could sing, though, right, I'd say, so. I don't talk
about it like a lot, but I initially fell in
love with dance before I fell in love with singing.
So and like I can't say, like probably like kindergarten
first grade through like fifth grade really was like studying
Destiny's Child and like MTV awards like VMA's And then
(05:54):
I started dance in fifth grade and then life kind
of life. We ended up moving to like the Boonies
on like the other side of town, and I was like, Okay,
well I don't have dance, I don't have dance team,
I don't have my dance teacher. So I guess this
means I need to take music seriously. I don't think
even while I was like obsessed with dance and I
(06:14):
was like tinkering and playing with singing, I I didn't
hear my voice the same way like my family like
at that time would hear it, even though they'd be like.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Why at you sing? Good?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Do that much? But to me, singing back then was
more so just like just something like fun to do,
like a hobby, just like a da da But dancing
I was like obsessed with. But I think I discovered
my voice and that I could actually sing and like
could hold the tune probably in like sixth grade, because
that's when I started like playing piano and starting poetry,
and poetry allowed me to just be like, okay, I
(06:46):
can like go into music.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Beautiful, who taught you the piano?
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Myself? Oh really I can't, Like I'm no bath of them.
I'm not like that. Okay, I can play right here,
like I can, I can hold a little, but really
just I can't even say me and myself YouTube university
too period.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Yes, it's taught as all over the years. Is there
any other instruments that you could.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Play mainly piano. I'd like to say that I could
play guitar still, but I put that down like so
I kind of just lost it, but I dabble. I
can play by years, so like I can play anything
like kind of but yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
That's impressive. I love that. So did you ever like
train for your voice, like get voice coaching.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
I've never taken vocal lessons like I did theater and
like chorus throughout like middle school and high school. But
as far as like a vocal teacher, no, I really
just studied the greats like Michael Prince, Beyonce, Beyonce. Beyonce Beyonce,
(07:53):
I studied her like crazy. I studied Destiny's Child like crazy.
I really would just like watch videos on YouTube or
like I said, like watch music Awards and really just
watch how like other artists would like enunciate when they sing,
even like Whitney, just watching how they like use their diaphragm,
how they're like most people when they're doing a run.
It's like like your job, but really just listening and
(08:16):
listening and listening and practicing and practicing and practicing. Could
I still use a vocal coach? Absolutely, there's like nothing
wrong with that. But really just like visually watching other people.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
I mean I only asked that question because you sound phenomenal.
So like, is this like training or is this like
natural God's gift?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
I'd say definitely, God gotta get it first. But training, yeah,
a little bit, just not like professionally Okay, I love it.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yeah. And then so you mentioned that your parents moved
out into the boonies. Where did you grow up and like,
what were you like as a child.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Well, I grew up a lot of places because I
was a military brat, but I lived in Maryland the longest.
I'd say as a child, I was like I was
just chill. I like to watch the Grassy. I was
watching Danny Phantom. Yeah, fairly odd parents climbing trees. I
literally would like I remember like a distinct member. I
just like sat in the tree with friends Ada Kanna Olives.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Okay, the Olives. You just lost me. I was.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
I was a chill kid. I didn't I didn't get
into trouble, none of that. I really just still just
like today, like an introvert, just really liked music and
like being outside.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Okay, I too, am a military brat, so shout out
to all the military brats. We love that. Do you
feel like being an army brat like shaped you differently
than like your parents at all?
Speaker 2 (09:43):
I wouldn't necessarily say like the army brat like aspect
of it. I think I would just say, like, uh,
life and like parenting in general, a little bit of
like the army, yeah, because that still comes with like.
But I'd say if I could say it shaped me,
it'd probably just open my eyes to a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:05):
Yeah, definitely open your eyes to a lot, lots of culture.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Lots of.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Yeah, lots of discipline, five a m pts, like that's
your job, not mind why I gotta wake up? But okay, yeah, yeah, no,
you didn't.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Do loss, but you got up at five o'clock in
the morning. Was running into a pet.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
No, no, he would be running and do a PT
but he would just be waking me up so he
could go, do you know what love your dad?
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Yeah? No, no, no, it's no of that.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
It's none of that. Yes, But okay, So that's that's
Kennedy as a kid. Kennedy's an army rat. Then did
you go to college at all?
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I went to like community colleges. I was gonna get
my nursing degree. I think I was like five or
so classes away or something from like just really getting
into it, but nothing like serious. I don't have. I
don't even my associate's degree. I was just like I
tried it and it wasn't for me.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
I'm just a Yeah. I think a lot of us
feel like that. But so pandemic is really the year
that your life changed. Yeah, and leaving that relationship, you
had to re establish your identity who you are, what
you like, what you don't like. But then you also
decided to take artistry. Seriously, are you like separating the
(11:26):
two when you say like yourself and your art.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
I think I'm in a process of like trying to
just so I still have like me as because there's me,
there's we're both one and the same. But it still
is just like trying not to get caught up in
like Kennedy Ryan twenty for seven, because I of course
just want to like remain humble, but also just sometimes
(11:54):
like I don't know, I would say, like right now,
I'm trying to like just keep yeah, just like a
what's the fucking word? Of course, I'm drying a blank
in this moment, like a duality between both, like a
healthy distance between both. But yeah, I'm finding a balance
there is Okay.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I asked that because it's like, when you got out
of that relationship, do you think you just poured everything
into the music? Oh?
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Absolutely. It wasn't like easy at first because I was like, okay,
am I being too vulnerable? Am I saying too much? Also,
it was just uncomfortable because you're also reliving it and
like writing it out. And there were definitely like studio
sessions where I was like crying and like couldn't get
through the songs. But I think, like that's the only
way is just to leave it on the page and
(12:46):
just fully just like like let spirit, like the energy,
the vibration, just just leave it because it's it's not
about me, honestly.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
That's real. I love that you had that perspective those
I'm not gonna ask for sessions unless you want to share. Maybe, Baby,
what sessions got you like really emotional?
Speaker 2 (13:08):
It definitely was baby Mama drama. Okay, I say all
of them, but maybe Mama drama is like the first
one that comes about because I was like, I don't
I don't. I don't think I say it enough because
most times when people hear baby Mama Drama, they think
it's like a song and I'm promoting like being a
home wreckerd and like ruining marriages or relationships, when in reality,
when you like really dig into it and you listen
(13:31):
and you listen with the lyrics, I'm really writing a
disc to myself from at that time, just not having
enough confidence, not standing up for myself and putting up
with the bare minimum. Also knowing that he at the
time was dealing with another woman and I'm just like, no,
it's it's totally fine. So it's like being emotional one
(13:52):
because I couldn't believe I accepted just that low the
bar was literally in hell, but also to just being
able to reflect on it and realize like, Okay, I
deserve a lot better than that. It's kind of like
how the fuck did I put up with that? And
one being like it's just so many different kind of
just going through like the stages of grief.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Really all in one record. Yeah, I do feel like
you can hear different perspectives every time you hear the song. Yeah,
I know you're on tour right now, we perform these records,
do you feel more empowered?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Like, yeah, I'll say, because you can also feel the
energy from the crowd. We were just saying, Like earlier
today I was like, ask like, what songs do you
like singing the most. I'd say it's probably like band
because yeah, I can't like sometimes I can't all the
time like sit and go back and listen to the
(14:45):
songs because I'm like a huge perfection, so ill like
nitpick and be like, damn, I should have did that
harmony there. I should have wrote this. I should have
did that. But like seeing it live in person and
seeing like women even men just being like just so
like like almost as if the person that like fucked
them over is in the room, just like seeing it
with their chest like really feeling it, like even for
(15:07):
the women, just like people be laughing, crying, screaming it.
I definitely, I don't know. It just reminds me again
like it's not about me. I can be in my
head as much as I want to about the music,
but it's not about me at the end of the day.
It's not what it's not like for me.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
Yeah, that's that. I like that people are laughing, crying
and all that, because I feel like the song that
you would to laugh at it because it's like, ain't
no way that you lost the house because you bought
a house, Like, ain't no way.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Just why I'd be like, why why the fuck is
still stayed after that? Still stayed after that? It makes
so fucking sense. But it's like any other people be like,
day damn what it's like, it's just wild. I gotta
stop the firming and wild. It's wonderful, it's beautiful.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
It's beautiful. It is. It's so beautiful. But I like
the other people who are laughing too. I feel like
that's something Kendrick is good at too. Like grape pen,
he makes you, but he also makes sure.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
You'll tell you some real shit. Yeah, think about it,
but you're gonna laugh about it and you're also gonna
cry about it. And I think that's like the beauty
of real music is just really evoking all those emotions
out of people, like it don't got to be some
RinkyDink song twenty four seven, being able to tell a story.
I think I saw something like a TLC like documentary,
and someone on their team was saying, like their ability
(16:22):
to like make a I don't want to put like
hit on it, but their ability to make like.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Oh what is it?
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Just their ability to make like timeless music. But also
the music just has like a powerful message in it
to when you're listening to it, you don't even realize
they're saying real shit because like kay, because like the
sonics of the music is what like I don't know,
I don't want to laugh on.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
That, but yeah, but no, they definitely did. I mean,
I'm pretty it's talking about fake bodies and loving yourself.
Creep is talking about cheating. But what about my friends
case of his story? His story? Yeah, I'm a big
TC fan staying it. Great point. But you you've released
(17:09):
quite a few singles. Is there a project in the work?
Are we working on a project? You know? She said,
I'm touring girl, I've got time these singles working.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
It's a it's a whole bunch of records in the tuck.
It's just really like getting down to the nitty gritty
and like fully like further laying the foundation. But it's
in the works. It's in the works. Please trust it's
in the works. It's coming, okay, and it's gonna be
worse of wait.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
So I'm not gonna these singles are holding me over.
Just fine. I have my mom plays it, my boss
played as you know, like my boss loves your music.
My mother loves your music, my friends love your music.
Like I think your undeniable talent.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
So appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Yes, and you're mad, humble, and I'm just excited you
got to, she said. I gotta remind myself.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Too, because it's you just see other people and it's
no dispect, no disrespect to other people. But I so
just I think the more we like delve deeper into it,
you see how easy it is to just get wrapped
up in that mindset as well.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Yeah, I know we'll see you to sleep. Yeah, but
you got a good team. You have a great team,
so I have no doubt. But okay, so we talked
to music, we talked album. Let's get into this game.
We play a game on the show called Questions Any Answers.
All you have to do is fill in the blank. Okay,
(18:29):
the older I get, the less I fuck.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
I feel like I'm taking like an in collection. This
is just like a trick. Question but also that no, it's not.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
It's so it's like, what like the less I sleep
because I'm busy, or the less I care because I
don't give a fuck it give me anything.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
The older I get, the less I fuck. I want
to say, I'll speak it into existence. I like the
less I care, the less I care like what other
people think, I'll put it. I'll put it at that.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
Yes, I love that jay z is jigger aka Jigga.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
Sometimes I look back at my life.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
And I get emotional. I ain't gonna get emotional right now,
but the main thing that comes up is just surreal.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
You came a long way and even further away to go.
Speaker 2 (19:30):
It's fucking It's fucking wild. It's wonderful. But I'm like,
holy shit, it's just like living in an answered prayer.
It's kind of just like processing it, like as it
continues stabbing.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
But I just say, yeah, I love that for you.
You would never believe me if I told you, Bri.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
It's probably that I that I took up dance before
I took up singing.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
By the end of twenty twenty five, I plan to.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
Uh, oh, can I say it? I wonder if I
can say it. I planned the tour out of the country.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Woo. Yes, yes, absolutely Blank is one movie I can
watch with the sound off.
Speaker 2 (20:19):
Oh fuck, there's so many though.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Juice, Juice Dang with the sound off.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
I'm so serious. I've watched that so many times. I
have that shit on DVD. That's like one of my
favorite movies.
Speaker 1 (20:30):
Fire. Okay. I want my legacy to be.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
The music, the music, because the music's gonna stand the
test of time longer than I will.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I can see that, man, I really, I really think
you're like Beyonce Whitney Houston level. Sorry I do though,
I'm such a fan. Like but anyway, okay, back to
the game. Why are you looking at me like?
Speaker 2 (21:06):
It's not like that's not out of like, it's not
out of disrespect.
Speaker 1 (21:10):
I'm like, should I have not said that? Is that pressure?
Is that pressure? You're already doing it? It's then the works.
If I wasn't an artist, I would be a artists
a different type of artist I have.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I have no no backup, I have no backup, no
plan B. I've tried everything. I've sold furniture on Facebook, Marketplace,
I've medical I've done everything, and it just every single time,
God is like, we're not doing that.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
So you know, when you say I sold furniture on
Facebook Marketplace, it sounds like scammer.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
I didn't do none of that. I didn't do none
of that. I didn't do none of that. I got scammed.
But did I scam Absolutely not. I would be like
I would drop my uh, but I can't do that.
But I have like five stars on Facebook Marketplace, I promise.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Okay. I was not trying to jump up for business,
by the way, I was just saying, because I've gotten
scammed on Facebook workingplace, I'm just over it. The hardest
lesson that I've learned about fame thus far is.
Speaker 2 (22:14):
I would say, not everybody is going to like value
value you for who you are, like at your root,
or value your art. Some people really just want to
be connected to you or just use like a trophy. Yeah,
so you gotta like not internalize that or personalize that.
Speaker 1 (22:32):
Shout out to you for not personalizing that for real.
That takes work and strength. I'm working on it myself, Okay.
The craziest thing that has happened to me on tour
had to be the time when.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
I don't think I have nothing yet I don't have
none yet. So far, so good.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
What happened?
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah are I went it.
As soon as you said crazy, I was like, it's
like something like scary happen and something like something like
wild shit. I'd say, like people chanting my name like
I've I've never I've never had that happen. Like I'm
still processing that in this moment. It's just very it's
very surreal. It's like wild to see, wild to witness
(23:22):
and like the screaming and the chanting like yeah, because
when I get on stage, I'm like, im me, like
this is this is I'm my element. But at the
same time, just that is like it's wild. It's very wild.
Not in a bad way. It's very good, but it's
like it's it's just crazy to me.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
That is fire. Crazy to me, that is fire. I'm
so proud of you. That is so ill man. What
I love this you.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
After I got my first check, I spent it on blank.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Uh. I can't say exactly what, but knowing me, it
was probably between snacks and a rug like something on
Facebook marketplace.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Oh my god. You know Facebook marketplace is to cut
you a check as an ambassador the way.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
I'd be like even even like uh, I think just
I don't like saying that the more levels we climb,
the more generational wealth like we accumulate. I think I'm
still just gonna be like I'm gonna be on marketplace
just down.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
I don't know, it's just just.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
I just love it, just finding a good steal in
a deal. But snacks are probably your rug for sure?
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Are you into like antique like pieces and thrifting.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
If they're like price correctly, yeah, like little like uh
killing pillows or like uh antique rugs like dressers. I
just I just like like the modern like eclecticness of it.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Mmm. I would love to see. I can't wait for
your MTV crib. I can't wait to see what that
looks like. But okay, so what else do I want
to cover? We have any any new music coming post
tour at the Doctor Evil on the Right? We do?
Speaker 2 (25:10):
We do, we for sure, But I can't. I can't.
I can't. I can't spill the beans with the tea.
But just now it's coming coming, Okay.
Speaker 1 (25:20):
Well I'm excited. I'm going to be at your tour Friday,
yes or Saturday Saturday in DC, I will be there
and you've sold out DC Atlanta. Did you sell all
of the stops pretty much?
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Not all of them yet, but I would say pretty
much yet.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Yeah. Absolutely crazy man. I love it so worthy and
I'm so excited. Seriously, I am too.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
I'm just like, what the fuck? Thank you?
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Shout out to your graham, Like, everybody know where they
can follow you if they don't already.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
So you can find me on Instagram or all socials
at Kennedy dot Ryan Kennedy spelled like the President. Ryan
is spelled r y oh.
Speaker 1 (25:59):
And until next time, guys talk. So We Need to
Talk is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network.
For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network, visit
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows. Mixture you guys follow We Need to
Talk at WNTTLK on Instagram and TikTok
Host
Nyla Symone
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