INTERVIEW: For Kam Franklin, Country is Where She Belongs
Kam Franklin owns her space on her recent album Land of the Neon Sun. In our interview, Franklin talks about that process...and singing with Kermit.
There's still time to hop aboard Kam Franklin's bandwagon. With the release of Land of the Neon Sun last month, Franklin has cemented her place in a generation of Americana artists who refuse to pigeonholed and who are unapologetically themselves. Bee Delores wrote "Land of the Neon Sun is not only a thrilling musical experiment but a lyrical masterclass of profound insight coming from a Black queer woman living in the United States" while editor Rachel Cholst included it in her best-of-August picks on our monthly Queer Country Forever podcast. In our interview, Franklin talks coming into her own...and singing with Kermit.
Explain the title of your album.
The Land Of The Neon Sun came from a demo by Margo Price and Jeremy Ivey originally, titled, “One Of These Nights.” I worked on the song for about a year before going into the studio to record it with them in Nashville, and when audience members commented on the song, they’d repeatedly mention loving that “Land Of The Neon Sun” song, pulled from the super-catchy chorus. After workshopping the song to different audiences, the title stuck. When it came time to name the album, I’d sang the song so many times I saw myself in it. The title seemed natural.
Does your album have an overarching theme?
The overarching theme is that you don’t have to change everything about who you are to have a successful career in music or any creative industry. You may have to work a little harder and make less money, but you’ll weigh a lot less not having to drag all that bullshit around.
What's the best way a fan can support you?
Fans can best support me by buying tickets to my shows in advance, purchasing merchandise from my website, and sharing my music with people they believe would appreciate it.
Where are some places you’ve found joy within the country/Americana world?
During the grand finale at Willie Nelson’s Annual Luck Reunion, everyone that performs that day hops on stage and sings with him on the final song of his set. The first time I joined, I could barely focus because I ended up right next to Kermit The Frog. Earlier this year, I ended up next to Booker T. I’ve yet to meet Willie, but every time I’ve had the opportunity to sing alongside him and all the other artists, the feeling has felt
How have you healed or grown your relationship to country music/Americana?
I’ve healed my relationship to country/Americana by accepting that it’s a part of who I am, and where I belong. It’s in the gospel I sang throughout my childhood, starting at age 5. It’s in the country karaoke bars I worked at in Baytown, TX. It’s in the early residency shows I did with Nick Gaitan and The Umbrella Man every Tuesday in Houston at The Continental Club and Big Top Lounge (when he wasn’t touring on bass with Billy Joe Shaver). It’s in the multiple appearances I’ve made at Newport Folk Fest, Luck Reunion, and The Houston Rodeo. It’s in the debut album I just released with Margo Price as my co-producer. It’s the years I spent traveling the country. It’s the December to December I spent going back and forth between Texas and Tennessee. It’s in my collaborators like Antone’s 50th All-Stars, Sara Van Buskirk, Kevin Morby, Jackie Venson, Sade Page, Bhi Bhiman, Jose “Chapy” Luna, Geoffrey Muller, Bayou City Comeback Chorus and more! It’s in the stories I’m able to tell about my community and the world around me in these songs. It’s in the freedom and release I feel when I perform. My relationship with country, Americana, and music as a whole is all around me. It’s a blessing, and I’m honestly just grateful for the opportunity to create music for a living.
