Meet Ken Xox | Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ken Xox and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi ken xox, how do you think about risk?
I love this question! Being an independent artist and starting from the bottom, learning how to build yourself up with little to no idea what you’re doing, is truly the hardest and loneliest thing I have ever had to do. Being an independent artist is not a risk-free life at all. I get asked if I have a backup plan if music doesn’t work out quite frequently and to that I say, burn the boats. I believe if you are truly passionate about something, having a backup plan is only selling yourself short. I live to take risks because if I never did, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up loving music, always pretending to be in music videos and pretending to sing on stages, you know the drill. I started writing here and posting on social media in high school but it was always personal to me. I went to college and right before I graduated I accidentally had a song I wrote do super well on TikTok and from that moment on I have been laser focused on creating.
I had no idea what I was doing but I somehow always figured it out. It isn’t easy being an independent artist but at the same time, I love the work and I love creating so it doesn’t feel as hard as it is sometimes. I love writing and sharing my personal experiences because I have always used music as a form of connection and understanding, and if I only ever reach one person that truly is enough for me. It still gives me chills to see how many people of so many different backgrounds and stories feel seen and understood by the songs I write. I will never get over it and I pray I get to do this forever.
Also, the music I am creating now feels the most me it has ever felt. I’ve started taking the pressure off of going viral or numbers, and that has just let me show up as the most honest version of myself I can be. It’s nerve-racking to put your entire story and heart on the line, but I know it will reach the right people and that’s all I could ask for.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Obviously we are going to Surefire in Germantown for the blueberry donut latte first. Then, we’re going to Leipers Fork and going horseback riding and bopping around to all the little shops. My recent favorite spot is bartaco, it’s such a cute place to get a spicy marg and some tacos and chit chat. I’ve been in Nashville a year now so I am close to being retired from Broadway, but one night on Broadway won’t kill me and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I still had some fun at the bars. My fatal flaw is not being much of a planner when I have friends in town but I will always make time for a cute little walk in one of the many parks in Nashville, it might truly be one of my top 3 favorite things to do.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh my goodness I could talk about my family and their endless support all day if someone gave me the chance to. I cherish support so much because being an artist can be super isolating at times. There is so much mental, emotional, and physical work that goes into being a small artist and it’s easy to feel discouraged – but my family believes in me in the times that I don’t and I will forever be so thankful. Also the support from those who listen to my music is enough to make me cry if I think about it long enough. They don’t need to do that, to them I am a stranger on the internet and they have no loyalty to me, but they give it so freely and it keeps me excited about making music.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenxoxmusic/

Twitter: https://x.com/kenxoxmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYhgVus5WfrYjFS8UWC_dbQ

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kenxoxmusic

https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ken-xox/1610058119

Image Credits
McKenna Cheatham (me)
Tori Leavitt
Bella Sgarlata