We were lucky to catch up with Mckenzie Knapps recently and have shared our conversation below.
McKenzie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on is actually one that I’m currently in the middle of creating. I’m officially recording my first full album. I’ve been writing songs since I was eight years old, & if I’ve learned anything, it’s this… It’s one thing to be a songwriter, and it’s another thing to be an artist. Being a songwriter, you just have to have a natural connection to people and a way with words. But to be a true artist, you have to be extraordinarily self-aware. I have to say, I’m really glad that I’m in my mid-20s currently working on my first record. The time I’ve spent living a normal life and honing in on my art has given me the liberty to figure out who I am on my own. They have a saying in the industry, “If you can’t tell them who you are, they will tell you who to be”. Success Is a blessing when it’s on God’s time, but when you receive it too early, it will wreck your life and blur your perception of self. With that said, the reason this project means so much to me is because I based all of the songs around my imperfections, yet I have had the time to learn how to still walk in confidence and self love, never questioning my worth. I can be a total mess and deeply special at the same time… And so can everyone else. I’m here to give people that validation who might not see it so clearly sometimes.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have a super weird story. I was the winner of a VH1 show when I was nine years old alongside my mother whose role in the competition was to be my manager while knowing how to prioritize being a mom first. It was called “I Know My Kid’s A Star” and it aired in 2009. After we won the show, I received several opportunities in Los Angeles, and by the time I was 12, a life-changing opportunity rolled around with Disney. Ironically, that’s when the moral of “I Know My Kid’s A Star” came in to play in my real life. I turned down the opportunity for the Disney roll in exchange for a normal childhood with my mother’s full support. I moved back home and threw myself into sports, friends, and music. It was less about being successful and more about being a creative when it came to my love for the arts at that point. I started taking trips to Nashville and discovered my love for songwriting. And I truly don’t believe I would be as good of a songwriter as I am if I never learned what it was like to live a normal life. The whole point of being a songwriter is to relate to people… That would be kind of hard to do if I was followed around by a camera my entire life… I often get asked if I regret not taking that Disney role because I could have been “successful” by now if I had done so. To that I say, hell no. I wouldn’t have my friends, I wouldn’t have the same outlook on life, and I just wouldn’t be myself. I wouldn’t be serving my purpose. I’ve always said, I’ve made it in the industry once and that was fun… But if I make it twice, I’ll know it was really meant for me.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
People. Hands-down, people! I always say, “Music is my talent, and people are my gift”… There’s nothing like connecting to people of all ages, backgrounds, perspectives, personalities, etc. Being able to get on stage and hang out with all of these people at once, is more than just rewarding. It’s an honor to be in the presence of humans. I really do think of this whole world as a giant family. I feel like you normally see ‘fans’ (I hate calling them that because they’re just friends who you haven’t met yet) go up to artist asking for a picture. Which I understand, but I don’t want a picture right now, I want a hug! We can take a picture after! Hahah
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Everybody will always try to put you in their box. Don’t let them. Sure, you have to be marketable, but don’t get shoved in their box. Build your own.
We all grow up being told we can be anything we want to be. Meanwhile, the truth is… We can be everything we want to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mckenzieknapps.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckenzieknapps/profilecard/?igsh=YmhucmcyOGk5aWFk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/L5o7QaddG9TzoYzm/?mibextid=JRoKGi
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@McKenzieKnapps/featured
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mckenzieknapps?_t=8qSoWq5EIEJ&_r=1
