Kacey McClain‘s ability to merge uplifting empowerment with vulnerability to her pop sound is one of the many things that makes her music uniquely profound.
Hailing from Greenville, Texas, Kacey’s background is complex, having come from an environment of love but was raised amidst a strict religious community. Not being exposed to secular music until she was ten, McClain was inspired by voices like Avril Lavigne and Mariah Carey. Still, it wasn’t until pursuing a passion for science that her college dean influenced her to take on her musical abilities instead.
Since then, McClain has collaborated with writers like #1 Billboard songwriter Richard Harris, who’s worked for artists like Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce, and Grammy-nominated producer Lucas Sader, who’s worked with artists like Sting and Alison Wonderland.
Currently, the pop artist is still living on a high after releasing her new single “Living Life For Me,” which you can listen to on all streaming platforms.
According to the McClain, the track was inspired by a chaotic collaboration of life events, like making the big leap to Los Angeles where she would be starting a new chapter completely on her own.
“I decided that I wanted to put my journey moving to LA, being completely and totally on my own, starting a new chapter, and being told by certain people that I couldn’t make things happen on my own into a song and let everyone know that sometimes taking a risk on living your best life pays off in the end,” Kacey tells Celeb Secrets in an exclusive interview.
To learn more about “Living Life For Me” and Kacey’s musical journey, read the full Q&A below. And don’t forget to let us know if you love the track by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
You can connect with Kacey McClain by giving her a follow on Instagram at @kaceymcclainmusic.
Celeb Secrets: How do you bring your southern roots to your artistry?
Kacey McClain: “Thank you so much for having me! Due to my upbringing, I firmly believe everyone is entitled to their opinion and should be allowed to be completely and honestly their truest self! My southern roots show in my artistry and writing: a sense of independence and firm delivery of opinions, not to mention tone of voice in my lyrics.”
CS: You’ve faced ups and downs, having grown up in a religious foundation- how has that inspired your creativity?
KM: “It has made me a stronger person for sure, and I think that it inspires me in ways that are different from others with a similar upbringing. I love finding new ways to inspire my fans and giving them an outlet to feel heard and understood. I firmly believe that all voices should be heard, and that inspires me to write accordingly.”
CS: What was the experience behind the exposure to “secular music” at age 10?
KM: “My then gymnastics coach snuck a birthday gift to me one year: she gave me Mariah Carey’s Music Box Cassette. She thought I would enjoy it, and she was correct! I fell in love, especially with the song Hero! The entire album had me enthralled!”
CS: What is it about Avril Lavigne’s sound that inspires you as an artist?
KM: “I love how she has always been so brutally honest about who she is. Her melodies and lyrics are always so fresh and inspiring! Her vocals always inspire me to continue learning and honing my own craft!”
CS: Having gone to college to focus on a field opposite of music, what did it feel like to be influenced by your dean to change direction?
KM: “It was nice and a relief when I met with my dean, and she confirmed what I was feeling. At the time, it made me very happy but also frustrated: I wasn’t sure if I could get the courage to go against what my parents wanted me to do. I struggled with figuring out how to handle the situation. I knew what I wanted and what made me happy, but unfortunately, my parents didn’t see things from my perspective.”
CS: You’ve collaborated with notable producers and songwriters. Who has been your favorite to work with and why?
KM: “Well, that’s a tough question. They have all been incredible to work with in different ways. But I would say it’s Lucas Sader! When we work on production, it’s seamless. Creatively, he understands what I’m asking and wanting to hear. It’s always a fun process; we share a lot of laughs and even sometimes learn random fun things to keep us inspired, such as how to ‘Floss’ lol.”
CS: How has it been to arrive on the other side of C. Diff infection, and what has it been like to be a voice for the illness?
KM: “Anyone who has survived C Diff has a lot of trauma surrounding it. Not many of us are comfortable bringing awareness to an illness that, when I was diagnosed and tested, typically killed 80% of the people who had it. The delivery of my diagnosis was terrifying. Back then, a man in what looked like a hazmat suit walked in and said that I had C diff and that I was being moved to isolation since I was highly contagious. He then went into the statistics and told me that I should make sure that I have my affairs in order. It was like being given a death sentence; I was scared that I might not walk out of that hospital! Now since then, things have changed, and the stats are different. There’s better treatment and understanding and research regarding treatment, but it is still something that there isn’t much awareness of. So I will continue to be a voice and try to bring awareness.”
CS: What made you become a voice for holistic practices and eating disorders?
KM: “I was and am still healing and dealing with my own eating disorder: anorexia. I feel like using my platform to speak up is important. I’m doing a lot better these days, but it’s taken a lot to get to this point in my journey! I believe that it is important for fans, friends, and family to understand that it is a journey and there are so many people and resources to help you find ways to get back on a healthy path!”
CS: What message would you like listeners to take away from your platform/music?
KM: “They can do anything they set their mind to. With hard work and perseverance, and determination, you can move mountains in this life! I want them to be inspired and love who they are.”
CS: You’re an advocate for fans to overcome mental health struggles as well- when did your passion begin for mental health?
KM: “That question has so many aspects to the answer. First off, my half-brother struggled with depression and anxiety. He killed himself when he was just 13 years old. I was diagnosed with depression when I was ten years old. They immediately put me on medication and put me in this box, I felt like no one could or would hear me. I struggled for years, thinking something was wrong with me that couldn’t be fixed. It took me years to find what works best for me. So all of that said, it’s important to me to be a voice for mental health awareness!!”
CS: Talk to us about your single “Living Life For Me.” Can you tell us more about the concept/what made you want to release this song?
KM: “Well, a chaotic collaboration of life events inspired this song. Taking the risk and moving to LA, being completely and totally on my own, starting a new chapter, and being told by certain people that I couldn’t make things happen on my own, especially in California. I decided that I wanted to put that part of my journey into a song and let everyone know that sometimes taking a risk on living your best life pays off in the end. Living live for YOU is so important. If you let people convince you that you aren’t worthy or that your dream isn’t possible, you will never know what your best life could be. So sometimes you have to trust your intuition and live life for you!!”
CS: What are some of your favorite memories from making the track?
KM: “The discussions with my co-writer Alex Tyler! We both have had such similar experiences with people trying to discourage us, so writing this was very cathartic and fun.”
CS: Talk to us about the music video! What was it like getting on set and filming for the song?
KM: “I love putting the vision together for my music videos, I knew when we wrote the song that I wanted it to be a mix of whimsical fun and what my life is like in the present, and behind the scenes documenting some of the small and big milestones of this last year/two years in my music career. The filming process took a while because I wanted the behind-the-scenes clips to capture the journey. We all had a blast filming the skating scenes, and yes, I am a terrible skater, but I enjoy it lol. Even Izzabella, my sweet Terrier mix, had her moment in the video, which was important for me as she is a big part of my life.”
CS: Is “Living Life For Me” a taste of what we can expect from you in the near future?
KM: “Yes, we have some real bangers coming in the near future that I’m so stoked for everyone to hear. I feel like the next ones are even more vulnerable than ever before so stay tuned!”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, can you share a secret?
KM: “Yes! Some might consider this really dumb, but I hate feet! I don’t know why or where it comes from but they freak me out! Even my own feet!!”
