Discover Kelsea Ballerini’s Highly Anticipated Album “Patterns”
Kelsea Ballerini is beaming. It’s not a nervous smile, though she admits to feeling scared. She’s been hard at work on her fifth full-length album, “Patterns,” and on Oct. 25, the world is finally going to hear it. A collection of songs she describes as an “accurate snapshot” of her life is soon to be shared with fans.
“I think that people probably expect this really happy-go-lucky, love, mushy, gushy record from me. That’s not the case,” she tells The Associated Press. “And I’m really proud of that. It would have been easy to just collect the really beautiful parts of my life that I’ve dusted off and found in the last couple of years. But that’s not the fullness of my experience.”
Unlike her previous release, “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat,” which was more reflective, “Patterns” is active and in the moment. “The heartbeat” of the album is about “analyzing yourself and the people that you love the most in order to grow.”
That journey shines through in the songs like “Cowboys Cry Too” and the new single “Sorry Mom.” “Sorry Mom” is an intimate song that delves into heartfelt sentiment and appreciation for her upbringing.
“Patterns” features an all-woman team, including co-producer and co-writer Alysa Vanderheym, as well as collaborators like Jessie Jo Dillon, Karen Fairchild, and Hillary Lindsey. Ballerini felt safe and supported in creating the album, allowing for experimentation and genre-bending risks.
From lighter songs to darker ones, “Patterns” showcases the diverse range of emotions and themes that Ballerini explores, including self-discovery and different geographies. New York and South Carolina play significant roles in her storytelling.
“It’s my job to make a record that has something for everyone. But that comes from making a record that’s true to me, and that’s what I did,” she concludes. “And so, I just hope people feel something while listening. Whatever it is.”
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