- Amit Ahuja
- Apr 7
- 19 min read
Updated: May 6
I recently had the exciting opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with singer and songwriter Kevin McClure. During our talk, we explored his musical journey, covering his early inspirations, the experiences that influenced his development as an artist, and his path as an independent musician. We also discussed some of his personal hobbies and interests, which added depth to our conversation. I'm sure you'll find this insightful discussion both informative and entertaining!
Amit Ahuja: I would like to learn more about your background and the personal journeys that have influenced you all. Please tell me where you grew up, describing your hometown and the surroundings where you were raised. I’m especially curious about how your upbringing has affected your fundamental values and viewpoints.
Kevin McClure: I’m a true Midwesterner, born and raised around Omaha, Nebraska and western Iowa. Omaha is such an interesting city to grow up in because it straddles the line between major city and small town in so many ways. There’s major tourism with college sports and the world-famous zoo, but there are also so many people who were born and raised here that just never left (or have left and come back, like me). Being raised by really young parents in this part of the country exposed me to a pretty wide gamut of ideas and perspectives.
Amit Ahuja: Moreover, I would like to hear about your cultural heritage. In what ways has it shaped your identity? What traditions or stories from your culture have significantly contributed to who you are today? Are there specific experiences or milestones—accomplishments, challenges, or turning points—that profoundly impacted your personal growth?
Kevin McClure: As a combination of several different Caucasian nationalities, and growing up in a predominantly white area, my cultural heritage hasn’t been much influential for me. However, growing up with young parents who eventually divorced caused me to find stability in my activities. Eventually that led me to music, specifically songwriting, that became a constant in my life. It was free therapy and has continued to be such as I’ve grown up. I think my first band in high school was an accomplishment for me as well, because it was something that we really worked hard at and I still feel like that was a necessary proving ground for me.
Amit Ahuja: I’m excited to delve into a musical journey. Could you share a particular moment or experience that sparked your passion for music? Perhaps it was a memorable concert you attended, a song that resonated deeply with you, or a moment of inspiration that inspired you to pick an instrument.
Kevin McClure: My first concert was when I was 14, seeing Switchfoot in Omaha, and it totally blew my mind. I was already a fan who had listened to a lot of their music, but seeing it played and seeing their stage presence and live show really gave me a reference for what playing music could be like. I still get those same goosebumps and inspiration every time I see those guys in concert. I’m a fanatic for live music. It’s an experience of absolute immersion for me whenever I go to a show, be it an arena or a dive bar. Seeing people put their heart on their sleeves (and guitars) is an addictive drug and I can’t get enough!
Amit Ahuja: Since you started your musical journey, what remarkable collaborations or unique opportunities have you experienced? Have you worked with any influential artists or participated in memorable projects?
Kevin McClure: I’ve been really lucky to get to rub shoulders with a lot of really talented (and influential) people, but I think that the most remarkable collaboration I’ve gotten to be part of is the current iteration of my backing band. The guys I play with are absolute freaks in the best way. They bring the songs to another level of musical brilliance, and they aren’t afraid to share their ideas with me to make a song objectively better. I think that’s why the music I’m currently making is the best of my career, because there are so many great voices who understand what we’re going for and want to keep enhancing it. Nobody is after their own vision or name, they just want to see the song be the best it can be.
Amit Ahuja: As an independent artist, what are your insights on the distinctive benefits and obstacles you encounter while forging your path in the music industry? In particular, how do you navigate the freedom to express your creativity while managing the challenges of promotion, distribution, and financial sustainability?
Kevin McClure: Like every artist I know, social media has become a necessary evil, but I’ve actually come to (somewhat) enjoy the business side of having a music career. I think I’m a pretty firm right-brained creative, so for me I’ve had to reorient my perspective on these business elements as just another creative goal. Creating promotional content sucks, but creating artistic or unique videos that convey a message is fun. Putting together spreadsheets is a nightmare, but financially planning and envisioning the future is empowering. Doing the things I don’t want to do but know will help me build this thing is much easier when I give it a more creative veneer.
Amit Ahuja: What strategies have you found effective for building a dedicated fan base and standing out in a competitive landscape?
Kevin McClure: I’ve put myself in an odd predicament as an artist, because I don’t fit cleanly into a genre or music category. When you listen to Kevin McClure you’ll find alt rock, folk, pop, atmospheric, soul, indie, electronica, and math rock elements. If “eclectic pop” was a category I think I could be in that subgenre. But I also think that that’s what makes my music stand out, especially in a live show setting. People show up to a festival or a show I’m opening and find themselves really entranced by the sudden hard lefts and the game of figuring out what category I fit in. That’s not to say that I think I’m the most unique artist of all time or anything. I’m still easily identified as a “pop artist” I think. But it’s such a broad category that I think my songs have to be more specifically categorized instead of my overall catalogue. The people who like that (or just have ADD) really seem to enjoy the music and have earned me a truly unique fanbase.
Amit Ahuja: What initially sparked your passion for songwriting? Can you describe the journey and the reality of being a songwriter? How do you tap into that elusive spark of inspiration for your lyrics, and what powerful emotions flood your heart when you step onto the stage, poised to present your deeply personal creations to an eager audience? During those electrifying moments of anticipation, what sensations course through you as you prepare to forge a connection with listeners through your heartfelt music and eloquent words?
Kevin McClure: I wrote my first songs when I was 15, after learning just a little bit of guitar. The guitar has always been an instrument of writing for me even more than for playing. I’m a generally positive person outwardly, but I deal with depression and stress privately and the written word has been my go-to outlet for that since I was a kid. That written word into poetry and melody was an easy jump when I learned enough to get by, and has continued to be my primary method of dealing with challenges in my life. Playing in front of people is super exhilarating for me, both because I think I’m an entertainer inherently but because my heart longs for connection. I love singing a melody or a lyric that you can see connects with somebody deeply. There’s a kinship that is created by two strangers feeling the same thing in the same room at the same time. I’m after that feeling every time I step onto a stage.
Amit Ahuja: What game-changing technique have you stumbled upon that’s taken your songwriting to the next level? I'd love to hear how it’s transformed your creative process!
Kevin McClure: Diligence and discipline. I try to write something every day. I don’t write a whole song every day (unless that’s a specific challenge I’ve given myself for that month or something) but I try to write something. A melody, hook, lyric, chorus, a journal entry, blog post, literally any sort of substantial writing with intent and earnestness. I heard once that it takes writing 100 songs to find 1 hit. I don’t know if that’s hard math, but I figure it’s a good habit to be in and have found for me that the more consistent I am the sharper I am. My creativity is boosted because I’m constantly asking, “what’s something new I could do with this?”
Amit Ahuja: I am genuinely excited to explore the music you've released so far. Each single you've put out tells a unique story, and I'm particularly interested in understanding the motivations and experiences that inspired them. I would love for you all to share your thoughts on each track you all participated in, explaining your relationship with each song in depth. This could include the creative process behind them, the emotions they evoke, and any personal anecdotes that influenced their development.
Kevin McClure: I think this question could lead to a book full of answers! If I can answer it with a broad, over-arching answer: every song I write is a piece of me. I want to be earnest with every lyric and ambitious with every note. I attempt to strike the balance between cerebral and visceral in my music that people would read thoughtful and meaningful lyrics but also feel the emotion and heart behind it.
Amit Ahuja: Could you provide a more in-depth exploration of your latest single, "Bring Me Back?” I'm genuinely intrigued by the inspiration and narrative that shaped it. Please share your connection to this track; what emotions or life experiences influenced its creation?
Kevin McClure: “Bring Me Back” has lived a more eventful life than most songs, that’s for sure. I wrote it with my last band, Scenic, with totally different lyrics. It was called “More Than You Ever Knew” and was an attempt to convince people that love is both an absolutely free gift, while also being extremely costly. The dichotomy leads to love being a catalyst for personal growth and change. Scenic recorded that song in a friend’s basement in the Summer of 2016, and then that project sat on a hard drive because we broke up before we could finish mixing and mastering it. When I re-entered my solo career a couple of years ago, I dug through my hard drive and found those files. The song sounded great, but the lyrics didn’t feel as powerful now. So I stripped the lyrics off and started writing new ones to the track. I never do that so it took me a second to get my bearings, but after some time I felt like the song needed to be more nostalgic. I landed on the hook “Bring me back to where I once was, bring me back to the place I was safe in your arms” and it felt like the whole song opened up. I enlisted my keyboardist Jackson Haselhorst to help cowrite the new lyrics and he helped me shape the verses and tweak up the last chorus that deviates slightly from the preceding choruses. We didn’t have a true keys player in Scenic, so I asked Jackson to track some keys on the song too and his addition really brought it to new heights. Then when the song was finished it was like I was collaborating with another version of myself on a song that had grown up, but wished it could go back in time to its younger self. Super existential, I know. (laughs)
Kevin McClure: I’m grateful to have had my brother in Scenic and I was keeping him in the loop on the song throughout this rewrite. He was super supportive and excited to hear it when it was wrapped up. His original bass recordings are on the song, as are drums from Josiah Hunter, and electric guitar from Logan Krug. My original electric guitar track is in the recording, and my acoustic guitar is a combination of both old and new. I obviously recorded vocals and brought in my friends Andre Vander Velde and Benjamin Shafer to add some gang vocals before shipping it off to Patrick Peringer at House On A Hill Studios for mixing and mastering. Patrick has mixed and mastered all of my songs since early 2023, so we’ve had a great string of songs over the last couple of years.
Kevin McClure: The album artwork is a photo I took of my wife when we went out for ice cream forever ago. When I was dreaming of artwork I knew I wanted to go the photo direction and some sort of walking away. I just happened to stumble on the picture by accident and asked her if she was ok with me using it. Obviously, she said yes. I made some tweaks to the colors, some minimal photoshop, and put the text on to match my other singles over the last year. I’m leading up to something, but I can’t tell you about that yet!
Amit Ahuja: What’s the biggest highlight of your career?
Kevin McClure: Being that my heart is to foster deeper connection through music, I think the biggest highlights have been whenever someone reaches out to me to share that a song was meaningful to them in a circumstance in their life or a challenge they were facing. I’ve had people tell me that songs like “Spring Rain” and “Before The Sun Rises” were really encouraging and helpful for them in facing depression. I’ve been told that “Cold Wind” was important to them. I’ve had people put my songs in their weddings! That’s a huge one for me. To know that a song I wrote spoke of love in such a meaningful way for someone… man, I am so humbled thinking of that.
Kevin McClure: From an achievement perspective, I think my highlights would be opening for bands that I’ve always looked up to, crossing over the 75,000 all-time streams on Spotify (on pace to break 100k this year!), getting signed to an indie label, and playing a handful of huge city events over the last few years in Omaha. Thousands of people have heard me play music. That’s truly astounding!
Amit Ahuja: How do you feel performing in front of an audience and connecting with fans through your performances?
Kevin McClure: I like to say that I’m a writer first, an artist second, and a performer third. Luckily, because of that, it takes a lot of pressure off performing to need to be this self-fulling experience for me (other than it being a show of original music). Because I can build a live show that feels like a communal experience it feels like we’re all there and in it together. I love that. I love people. I’m not always energized by being around people, but I love the thought that a room full of people’s heartbeats are all in sync with the kick drum. Music brings us together and glues us together for a moment. That’s what I love about playing live music.
Amit Ahuja: What are the three standout qualities that not only define your unique style as a vocalist but also elevate your performances to an exceptional level? Consider your vocal tone, emotional expression, technical skills, stage presence, and how each contributes to your artistry.
Kevin McClure: I’m a highly expressive singer, and my voice really heavily leans into what’s called the pharyngeal voice. It’s a blend of chest and head voice that helps me out as a tenor to not only reach higher notes but also gives me a little bit of a rounder tone. I like having a bit of bite and grit in my voice too, but I try to be careful to not overdo the pseudo-scream (because I’m a terrible screamer) or growling too much. I hope that people like my voice, or at least feel like it’s uniquely identifiable. But even more I hope that people feel that I’m honest in what I’m singing.
Amit Ahuja: Can you share a moment when you felt like your music significantly impacted someone’s life?
Kevin McClure: The first time someone asked me if they could use my song in their wedding. That was really meaningful to me. I cried.
Amit Ahuja: Can you recall the details of your very first live performance? Describe the setting, the crowd’s energy, and the anticipation leading up to that moment. What were your thoughts and feelings as you stepped onto the stage, and how did it impact you both during the performance and afterward?
Kevin McClure: It depends on if you count the top of the stairs at my grandparents’ house as my first performance! In all seriousness, I think my first live performance in a real performance setting was with my high school band. We were a little more straight-ahead rock and played a dingy little all-ages venue in Omaha. I remember we sold like 150 tickets to our friends, but everyone was so supportive and engaged. I think I knew pretty shortly after it was what I wanted to build a career toward.
Amit Ahuja: Please tell me about any upcoming projects, tours, or collaborations you look forward to. I'm eager to hear what you're most excited about and any details you can share about these initiatives!
Kevin McClure: I have another single coming out towards the beginning of the Summer called “Cheating Death” that’s a reimagining of an old song of mine I released more stripped down and acoustic. It’s got this quirky dark emo vibe to it with a hint of “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Öyster Cult. This will be the first song I release with a full version and a radio edit, but the full version won’t be out right away. It will also come with an announcement of my first full-length album, but I can’t give you any more details right now. Not so much hush-hush as it is still finalizing details. But I’m really pumped about it. I’m also bringing the band out for some really great shows this Summer around Nebraska including the first ever Good Life Festival with our record label, Good Life Records, on July 18th. I’m working on something cool with Mary Mendoza from Feel Good for that show, and I think a few other things in the future with those guys. The full schedule of shows through the Fall isn’t finalized yet, but you can keep up with my show schedule, including a short tour run in the Fall, as they get finalized at KevinMcClure.org or over on my bandsintown page.
Amit Ahuja: If you were presented with the incredible opportunity to open for any band or embark on a world tour, which bands would you choose to join on this exciting journey, and what specific reasons drive your passion for touring alongside them? Consider the musical styles, the energy of their performances, and how their artistry resonates with you. What unique experiences would come from collaborating and sharing the stage with these artists?
Kevin McClure: Anybody who knows me knows that opening for Switchfoot would be a dream for me. Same goes for their lead singer, Jon Foreman, who has solo music of his own. But more artists that I would love to open for or bring along with me (and this is a list of big names and friends that you should check out) would be Bright Eyes, Mat Kearney, Judah & The Lion, Anberlin, Madison Cunningham, VEAUX, Michigander, Lawrence, Ben Rector, The Rocket Summer, Abby Holliday, Tyson Motsenbocker, Gable Price & Friends, Cursive, Gabrielle Grace, Night Moves, The Felice Brothers, Margaret Glaspy, my friends call me Mel, Hopeful., Victoria Canal, Andrew Bird, and all of the incredible bands on the Good Life Records roster.
Kevin McClure: To keep it simple, though, I think those bigger artists on that list appeal to me because everything feels so earnest and honest. There aren’t wasted words, every chord is intentional, nothing is a formula. And that’s what we would create on a show or a tour: really deep resonance in a room.
Amit Ahuja: Can you share three individuals who have significantly influenced your life, positively or negatively, and why?
Kevin McClure: I have a mentor here in Omaha, his name is Benjamin Shafer, who has been a really meaningful voice for me over the years. Sometimes it’s about music and art, sometimes business, and sometimes personal stuff like being a good husband and stuff.
Kevin McClure: I’d have to also say that my wife is a major source of comfort and encouragement, while also holding me accountable when I start floating too high into the clouds and forget that you have to pay your bills.
Kevin McClure: And then a negative one, I won’t share any names, I’ve had someone pretty much tell me it’s time to give it up and move on and get a “real job” because I’m not skilled enough or I’m not attractive enough or whatever reason it might be. I keep that person in mind not to be vindictive, but because I think it would be a huge feather in my cap to turn that person into a fan and true believer.
Amit Ahuja: What are your favorite movies, and why are they significant to you? Is it the story, the characters, the visuals, or something else that resonates with you?
Kevin McClure:: I love horror movies, but not just shock-jock horror. I like the ones that give you layers of story and slow-burn terror. My favorite movie of all time is Color Out of Space that’s based on the H.P. Lovecraft story of a similar name (The Colour Out of Space), followed by The Natural with Robert Redford, and if I’m trying to round it out with something not horror or drama I think I could watch The Princess Bride on repeat in the background and not get tired of it. I love vivid storytelling and well-developed characters. My wife and I love anything written and directed by Ari Aster, Midsommar and Hereditary, stuff like that. Those movies are so deeply layered. It’s incredible.
Amit Ahuja: What TV shows do you enjoy and look forward to watching? What captures your attention in these shows—perhaps the surprises, character development, or overall production quality?
Kevin McClure: In contrast to my movies, my TV shows tend to be more on the funny side. Parks & Recreation, Letterkenny, and Shoresy are on a lot. Funny enough, it’s not just the humor but the character development and development of relationships in these shows that really draw me in.
Amit Ahuja: Which books do you appreciate the most, and what makes them significant to you? Is it their writing style, the themes they address, or the feelings they inspire?
Kevin McClure:: I love C.S. Lewis, in particular his Space Trilogy. Perelandra and That Hideous Strength go back and forth for my favorite book, but it’s easier to just say the whole trilogy as one story is my favorite. The creative exploration of what it might look like if other planets in the universe were untouched by human evil and how those planets would exist. It changed my perspective on the existence of aliens and extraterrestrial life.
Kevin McClure: Like many Lewis fans who love the stories of Narnia and Aslan, I also deeply love Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings. I don’t think I need to explain that one, ha.
\Kevin McClure: A more recent read was The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, it blew my mind, and I cried and cried reading it. Similarly, I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid took me through so many emotions. I recommend both of those books to people fairly regularly.
Kevin McClure: As you can tell I love characters and character developments, grand adventures, and lofty spiritual commentary.
Amit Ahuja: Which podcasts would you passionately recommend, and what makes them stand out?
Kevin McClure: I have so many different kinds of podcasts. For music-related conversations I listen to The Working Songwriter, Worktapes, and Song Exploder. I like to find stories from Lore, Irrational Fears (RIP), and MrBallen. Interview and more on the fun side podcasts are Dadville, Switchfoot Song Stories, and Music & Meaning. And it would be a major failure if I didn’t mention that my wife and I do a podcast on cryptids, odd happenings, high strangeness, and some true crime called This One’s A Doozy that I think is really well done, if I do say so myself. I like to go to podcasts primarily for learning, though sometimes it’s purely for stories and entertainment, ha.
Amit Ahuja: Do you have hobbies or interests you're passionate about outside of music?
Kevin McClure:: I feel like such a boring person saying this, but I quite literally do music for work and for fun. I have a family and love to spend time with them, watch movies, play games, have conversation, etc. but the only activity that I actually stick with is music and writing. The closest thing I can think of is engaging in philosophical and spiritual conversations, but those almost always revolve around music and art-related environments.
Amit Ahuja: I want to know what your favorite bands or music artists all like. I’d also like to hear about each member's most memorable concert experience. Please share details about the atmosphere, the performance, the venue, and anything else that made it special for you.
Kevin McClure: I think my favorite concert I’ve ever been to was that first Switchfoot concert. That’s not to say that it was necessarily the best one. I’ve seen those guys so many times, and I couldn’t tell you for sure what their best show was. But that first experience had it all. Iconic hits, deeper cuts that I knew, deep cuts I had never heard (which made me go buy the old CD’s and really get into their catalogue), and a performance full of moments that really drew me in. I’ve seen other great shows, bigger bands, larger venues, more iconic hits, but that first show probably won’t be beat.
Amit Ahuja: What does success look like for you?
Kevin McClure: The first level of success is connection. Can I create meaningful connections with masses of people? That would be incredible. The second level would be to be able to have it provide for the needs of my family, without sacrificing them at the altar of success. It’s difficult, but to hold the two most important things in my life at a balance, my family and my art, would be success for me.
Amit Ahuja: How would you define happiness in your life?
Kevin McClure:: I think happiness can be hard to pin down, but for me I want to find contentedness and growth. It sounds like a paradox to say you want to be content yet continue growing, but somehow those two things seem to make sense for me. I want to be at peace with where I am and content with what I have while actively moving forward. Becoming something and someone better than I was before.
Amit Ahuja: Can you reflect on your personal experiences with mental health? Consider how these experiences have impacted various areas of your life, such as relationships, work, and personal growth. What specific insights have you gained through these moments?
Kevin McClure:: I actually did a whole presentation on this at Creative Mornings Omaha last year where I shared my mental health story, dealing with depression and suicidal ideations. Through my story I also shared songs that came to me throughout.
Amit Ahuja: Additionally, think about how you have managed the challenges related to your mental health. Share strategies, coping mechanisms, or support systems that have significantly impacted your journey.
Kevin McClure:: I don’t know if I would say this works for everyone, but I do think that investing time in a creative outlet allows you to work out stressful and challenging mindsets in a safe way. I shared a few ways in that same talk at Creative Mornings.
Amit Ahuja: What insights would you like to share with others around the age you are who are grappling with mental health challenges?
Kevin McClure:: You need to have someone to talk to. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a professional, but someone who will listen and not immediately try to give you “quick fixes” or tell you to just “get better”. They need to be able to tell you simple truths about your value, what you mean to them, what you mean to others, how glad they are to have you in their lives. Encouragement isn’t platitudes, it’s literally “to fill with courage” and to have someone say “I am with you, you are not alone, I’m glad you are here” is a great start to get that courage to continue the conversation with more people who love you and/or a professional who can offer you more personalized solutions.
Amit Ahuja: What message would you like to share with everyone if you had the world's attention for five minutes?
Kevin McClure:: If I could just blast out a bunch of one-off thoughts right here, and imagine that I have more time to fully explore every statement to its logical conclusion:
Kevin McClure:: Do the crazy thing that you don’t know if it will go well or work out. Pursue a dream. Wander for a while. Find a home to belong in. Let yourself fall in love with something. Let yourself fall in love with someone. Be supportive of those you love. Seek joy. Seek peace. Take a breather when you need it. Consider the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. Wonder about God. Cry when you feel like it. Read a lot. Sing a lot. Find your own song, and then change the genre every so often. Stop caring what other people think. Cheat death. Wonder about the world. Learn new skills often. Give yourself and your life to something greater than yourself. Forgive. Apologize. Ask for forgiveness. Create regularly. Let the passionate people speak into your life. Wonder about the afterlife. Remember that flourishing comes when your life has been nourished. Smell the petrichor in the Spring. Let the rain bring you memories. Don’t assume your flaws are inherently bad. Don’t assume you are perfect. Let yourself be flawlessly flawed in your own way.
Amit Ahuja: We appreciate Kevin McClure for kindly sharing him story and interests with us.
Below is the Linktree where you can access information about Kevin McClure's music and follow his updates:
*** Photo credits are attributed to the photographers whose watermarks are present on the images; videos are by Kevin McClure, unless specified otherwise.
