Kelsey Lamb: “With this song you can expect for me to get a little out of my comfort zone.”

Today is the day Eurovision fans, as the American Song Contest kicks off in less than 12 hours! Despite the show closing in on us we were able to grab Arkansas native Kelsey Lamb for an interview – learn more about her musical inspirations, what motivated her to participate in ASC, and more below!

Hello there Kelsey – Thank you so much for taking some time out of your American Song Contest prep to interview with us here at ESCUnited! Why don’t you give our readers a brief introduction as to who you are?

Thank you so much for having me! My name is Kelsey, I was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and have been singing since I could talk. I grew up in a large family – I’m one of six kids – and we can all sing. We grew up singing in church and harmonizing with each other, and then about six years ago, I started my transition to Nashville, where I have been writing songs, playing shows, and moving forward in my music career!

And of course, on March 3rd you were announced as the representative of your home state of Arkansas for ASC. How has life been since the cast announcement was made?

Since announcing my participation on the show – life has been really fun! I just love that I am now able to share it with my friends, family, and fans, and that I get to represent my home state of Arkansas!

For those who have never been to Arkansas, what are some of your favorite things about the state that make it unique?

Some of my favorite things about Arkansas are the food, the outdoors, and the hospitality. If you’re ever in Little Rock, you have to eat at the Flying Fish and take a walk at Two Rivers Bridge.

While I know that you are a pop country artist, I’m sure that your music goes well beyond those words. How would you describe your music to someone who wasn’t familiar with it? 

The best way I’ve found to describe my music is a Blake Shelton-inspired sound mixed with Avril Lavigne-inspired lyrics. I hope when a listener hears my music, they feel that country music storytelling – and also they feel heard and understood. I just strive to be as honest as possible.

That’s a really nice way of putting it! And speaking of other artists, are there any musicians that have or continue to inspire you as a musician? Can you share a few of them with us?

Absolutely. I am a huge fan of Alison Krauss’ voice… Her version of “When You Say Nothing At All” is what actually lit the fire inside of me to chase this crazy dream. I would list the rest of the artists that inspire me – but I’ll keep it simple and say that everyone on country radio right now is an inspiration to me as an artist and songwriter.

Now I know that you have a lot of experience performing and touring across the country, but I’m curious – if you could open on tour for or collaborate with an artist of your choosing, who would you choose and why?

Blake Shelton – hands down. He’s inspired so much of the way I want my production to sound, I admire how true he has stayed to his sound and artistry throughout the years, and I’d love to get a front row seat to how he’s built his career.

What is one thing that people might be surprised to learn about you? Like something that might not be on your social media or mentioned in interviews before?

I’m an extremely picky eater. For example – this week, I’ve eaten Caesar salad, grilled chicken, and rice. I keep it simple, and I’m basically a child when it comes to trying new foods.

On top of singing and songwriting it appears that you also have gotten into acting in the last few years. Do you feel like your experience in front of cameras might help you be more comfortable and confident on the ASC stage?

Honestly, what is helping me the most during this process is the fact that I have played a lot of shows and I do feel very confident in myself as an artist because of that. Being in a few movies definitely takes the scary factor out of all the cameras, though!

Let’s talk about the submission process for the American Song Contest, as I know the process began back in May last year. How did you first learn about the contest and what motivated you to submit a song?

Since this is a brand new show, I actually just heard about it through word of mouth. I was mostly motivated to submit a song because I loved that they were focusing on original music – it was a no brainer for me to jump on the opportunity and shoot my shot!

I know that NBC has been keeping a lot of things under wraps when it comes to  ASC but is there anything you can tell us about what to expect – both from the song and from the live performance?

With this song, you can expect for me to get a little out of my comfort zone, because I am performing a love song. I typically lean towards heartbreak, but it just felt right to continue my story as an artist with a love song since I just got married!

In your TikTok detailing your process to get on the American Song Contest you mentioned Eurovision – how much do you know about the original contest in Europe? Are you planning to watch the contest this coming May?

I was not familiar at all with Eurovision, but I am extremely familiar with it now and I am honored to be a part of the American version. Of course I am going to watch it in May! I can’t wait!

For our readers who want to connect with you ahead of or after the contest, where can they find you and your music?

I can be found on all social media platforms – Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, etc. – @kelseylamgmusic, and also at my website, www.kelseylamb.com.

Wonderful well thank you once again for taking time out of your day and rehearsals to interview with us, and we wish you all the best during the American Song Contest!

Remember #YOU can catch Kelsey Lamb on the first episode of the American Song Contest on tonight at 8 PM Eastern/7 PM Central. #YOU can also jump into the ASC discussions happening on social media @ESCUnited, on our discord, or on our forum page!