Kat Harlton
Photos: Lindsay Kennell
Award-nominated, Montreal-based country singer-songwriter, Brittany Kennell recently released Pink Collar – Deluxe edition, an expanded edition of her sophomore album via Symphonic Distribution on all streaming platforms. This special version includes two brand-new tracks “All Hat” and “Good Man”.
Pink Collar showcases Brittany’s personal and uplifting songwriting, empowering listeners to embrace vulnerability and confidence in one’s own journey. Her compelling alt country-pop sound, infused with a vintage flair, draws inspiration from musical icons while maintaining a modern, fresh edge. This deluxe edition promises to enhance the listening experience with fresh content that fans won’t want to miss.
Produced by renowned, award-nominated guitarist and producer Ariel Posen (Rolling Stone “Modern Day Guitar Hero”, former member of The Bros. Landreth, performed with John Mayer, Joe Bonamassa) and additional tracks produced by Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) award-winning producer Danick Dupelle (Tebey, Matt Lang, Liv Charette) the album blends contemporary country pop with vintage rock influences, creating a distinct sound that is uniquely Brittany Kennell.
Brittany became the first and only Canadian to be on NBC’s The Voice when country superstar Blake Shelton was impressed by her rendition of Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough” and welcomed her to his team. Since her debut album I Ain’t Saint released in September 2021, she has graced iconic stages like the Bluebird Café and Grand Ole Opry, where she was the first and only Quebec-based artist to perform on the Opry stage. She’s shared the stage with artists including Matt Lang and Shania Twain and has played LASSO Montreal, Festival Western de St-Tite, Calgary Stampede and Cavendish Beach Music Festival.
Brittany has written and played with some of Music City’s finest; Maren Morris, Natalie Hemby, Hailey Whitters, Tenille Townes, Carly Pearce, Jillian Jacqueline, and The Reklaws. She is currently nominated for Female Artist of the Year for a second year in a row at the Quebec Country Gala. Last fall, she toured with Ariel Posen across Canada and the UK, and in summer 2024 she hit the road again with her new show, “Pink Collar.”
I had the opportunity to chat with Brittany about the release of Pink Collar (the deluxe album) her musical journey, and more.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind the new tracks “All Hat” and “Good Man” that are on the deluxe edition of your Pink Collar album?
Brittany: These two songs were on the initial track listing for Pink Collar but I went back into the studio and recorded “Grand Marquis” and “Good Find” instead. I still wanted to use these two songs in some capacity and felt a vinyl deluxe would be really special! These two songs go hand in hand when it comes to love; it’s knowing what you don’t want and knowing what you do.
Kat: Was there a particular reason why these songs were included now and not on the original version?
Brittany: I think in the time between finishing the album and releasing it I had written a few more songs that I felt really glued the album together. I didn’t necessarily want to replace them but I felt like these two songs were the cherry on top.
Kat: On November 8th you releases “Cowboy Santa”, it brings a unique twist to traditional holiday music. What inspired you to blend country themes with the holiday spirit, and how did you approach writing this song?
Brittany: I’m a big Christmas lover – my nickname around that time of year is “Holiday Britt” lol! Over the summer as I was planning out my schedule I thought how fun would it be to challenge myself to write a Christmas song. As I began the process, the easy thing for me to do was to write a slow Christmas song so I wanted to push myself to write something cheery and quirky.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Brittany: The most challenging part of the creative process is time. There are always a million hats to wear as an artist, although my favourite one is my writing cap, it’s not often I get to wear it as much as I’d like. I’m really learning to protect my writing time, turn off distractions, and stay committed to my writing schedule.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way
Brittany: One of my career highlights was being apart of the LASSO Country music festival in Montreal. It was a really special hometown show – I sacrificed 10 years of my life away from this city to pursue country music and never did I think I’d be able to have the best of both worlds. It was a full circle moment seeing my family and friends in the audience, playing country music in my favourite city.
Kat: What’s next on the horizon for you? Are there any upcoming projects or plans you’re excited about?
Brittany: My biggest upcoming project that is non-musical is my little baby due in March – I’m really excited for this new chapter to become a Mom! Musically, I’m excited to see what new perspectives this will bring me in my creative world. Up until then, I’m writing towards a new project and writing for other artists – lots of new songs coming out in the new year on different projects that I’m really excited about!
Connect With Brittany
Instagram: @brittymusic
Facebook: @brittymusic
Twitter/X: @brittymusic
TikTok: @brittanykennell
Website: https://www.brittanykennell.com