An Interview with Lori McKenna

CW: It's been almost a year since the our first feature interview with you for Women Rock. How have things changed since then in your music career?

LM: We're rolling along here. This past fall my manager, Gabriel Unger, joined with Fort Apache and has moved to their offices in Bellow Falls, VT. We're working on the UK release of "Pieces of Me".

CW: One of the things I like best about "Paper Wings & Halo" is that it is mostly acoustic. I think the listener gets more of a personal sense of your music through the studio and live segments. I understand that this was your debut CD, what was your inspiration to re-release it?

LM: It's more of a National release really. We changed the packaging and added some more live songs - but really the important thing was to get it out there nationally.

CW: What was it like working with Kris Delmhorst and Jennifer Kimball?

LM: Kris is one of the best people on the planet in my opinion. I love her. She is an amazing musician. (We have the same birthday - day not year)... So any excuse to see Kris works for me. I've been a Jennifer Kimball fan for years - since the first Story record came out. I think she has one of the best voices possible. It was an honor it hear her sing one of my songs. She's a love too.

CW: You have a new CD coming out entitled "The Kitchen Tapes". Can you tell me more about it?

LM: Well, if you like acoustic stuff - this ones for you! The kitchen tapes are a batch of songs I put down in my kitchen on a mini disc - so that I would remember them - or for my manager to hear - some are just being worked out... It's just me and my guitar in the kitchen.

CW: Are you touring the east coast this summer?

LM: We're getting out there week after week pretty much. We're planning on taking some time late spring/early summer to get in the studio. Otherwise I usually do about 6 to 8 shows a month. To tell you the truth - I'm not sure what exactly is on the agenda for the summer - I just head where they tell me to go and play!

For more information visit: www.lorimckenna.com