Alongside two summers reinventing his show for The Sphere in Las Vegas and penning his memoir, Heart Life Music, Kenny Chesney worked hard for 3 years to bring his latest album, 'Silver Sands Marina,' to life.
The Country Music Hall of Fame member recently joined Katie Neal in Nashville to dive into his latest project, and talk about his upcoming tour and return to the road after two years of residencies during the 'Superstar Power Hour.'
Chesney explains that 'Silver Sands Marina' was chosen as the album's title and cornerstone track because it captured a rare, authentic human connection in an era dominated by social media. "I fell in love with it for the fact that we are all caught in this social media time of our life where there's a lot of fake intimacy,” Kenny reveals. “‘Silver Sands Marina’ is about two people that had a real human connection."
"It made me realize that... I didn't grow up in New Hampshire, but I had my own version of ‘Silver Sands Marina’ in my life. Everybody's small town, no matter where it is in the world... You had your version of where you connected with someone."
Kenny runs the gamut on 'Silver Sands Marina,' from the playful and clever “Goldfish,” to the mantra message of “Carry On.”
“I have a folder on my computer of just songs I love and that might make it into my life one day,” says Chesney. “I've had ‘Carry On’ for over 5 years in that folder that never really made it, never really fit with a record for one reason or another.”
“When I saw ‘Carry On’ in that folder, I went, ‘hmmm maybe it's time for ‘Carry On’ this time around,’ and then it fit perfect with everything else and made the record really cohesive. But as far as the song, there's a line in that song that I couldn't get past that I absolutely loved, and it's kind of a mantra in my life… I try not to preach in songs, but this line says ‘if it feels good, do it, if it doesn't, then don't.’ And you get to a place in your life where it can be really that simple.”
What feels good to Kenny these days is a return to stadium shows, playing across the country next summer after 2 years at The Sphere with the 'Original Vibe Room Tour.'
“There's a real specific energy that you feel when you go into someone's town and you feel the audience have ownership of that, we've missed that energy and it's awesome up there,” he shares. “Now we get all of our stuff back, we're back in our natural habitat, if you will.”
For much more from Kenny Chesney, check out the full 'Superstar Power Hour' interview above.
