Kendra Muecke singer/songwriter, guitar, writer/poet, actress, & author
, Interview conducted on December 07,2020
By Dan Locke
Kendra Muecke is a singer/songwriter, writer, actress, and published author. She performs under the stage name “Kendra & the Bunnies”, as a psychedelic folk rock Americana and spoken word artist. Her style heavily utilizes storytelling & poetry.
What is your upbringing?
I am from Houston, TX. I am a Texas girl to the core with a California heart and a Colorado soul.
You are a singer, songwriter, author, and actress. How did you discover music?
I have been singing my whole life. I grew up performing in the theatre. In my teenage years, poetry entered my life. Soon after, I picked up the guitar. I think my first musical influences were Britney Spears and musical theatre shows.
How did you start to write music?
I started to write music from a place of seeking more ways to artistically express myself. I had been acting and singing for years, and I was actively involved in film-making, photography, painting, and writing poetry. I picked up the guitar because I needed another way to share what I was trying to say.
Describe your music
I feel like my sound and way of singing is developing each day. That being said, I would describe my sound as psychedelic folk-rock Americana with a poetic storytelling influence involved. It’s personal and I aim to be as transcendent as possible.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
My first guitar was a black Ibanez electric. My friend Ford has it now. Right around the time that Ford got the Ibanez, my good friend Missy let me borrow a Cordoba vinyl stringed acoustic guitar from her for my Guitar 101 class in college. The rest is kind of history. I still have the Cordoba. Her name is Stevie Windwood.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model? And does it have a name?
I have two go-to’s right now. My Yamaha acoustic FSX800C named “Yemaya”, meaning mother of the fish & sea. And my electric blue Gibson shaped Greg Bennett guitar named “Tela Blue”.
How did you form your band?
I actually have a rotating cast of characters, depending on where I am playing or recording. I have a team of people I work with in LA, SF, NYC, Nashville, Denver, Portland, PA, & Houston. So, when I travel to perform in those regions, I reach out to my musicians there. It all is just perfectly coming together. For my LA music team, I met my drummer (Garrett Morris) at one of his shows when he was playing with The Higgs. I was there to write a review for the online magazine “Live For Live Music”. After the article was published, we started talking online, and I was just like “Hey, I have a new album I am about to start recording, and I need a bunny to play the drums.” He is now known as the energizer bunny! I met the producer, engineer, and guitarist Matt Kilgore at a show too. We were both performing at the House of Blues Anaheim, and I walked up to introduce myself. We then shared a few line-ups together, then started hanging as friends, then he produced 3 tracks on my most recent album “of Thank You”.
How did your band get its name?
Kendra & the Bunnies is derived from a combination of sources. First would be the connection to the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. Alice’s story begins as she chases the rabbit into wonderland. She follows her sense of adventure, and I feel my music does that for people too. Also, Jefferson Airplane’s stellar hit song “White Rabbit” is very influential on me as an artist and my sound. Well, Jefferson Airplane in general… Specifically, their album “Volunteers”. On the flip side, there are the Playboy bunnies. I am a blonde after all.
What was your first performance like?
I have been performing for years. So, my first performance in the theatre was like age 5. As a singer/songwriter/guitarist/musician though, one of my first performances was at the American Legion Post 43 in Hollywood, CA. It was a concert in celebration of Memorial Day for the veterans. It was a day of music and celebration for our country. I’m from Texas, so the Southern part of me got a kick out of this. Their venue and theatre there are gorgeous as well.
What makes a good songwriter?
A good songwriter can be defined in many ways. I think dedication to the craft of writing paired with a willingness to discover more within one’s self and one’s surrounding.
Do you belong to any songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association?
Yeah! I am part of BMI and ISSA. I am also working on joining SAG-Aftra for acting too.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
My first song written was “Buffalo Walk”. It is featured on my most recent album. The first song I recorded was “Figure 8”. That is featured on my first debut album.
Tell me about NYKO, NYKO.
“NYKO, NYKO” is a super fun song. I was inspired to write it after traveling to record in NYC. My time spent in Brooklyn and the south end of Manhattan was very transformative for me. I feel like it solidified a momentum within myself, a wave of my career that I was super ready for — So, I have this lovely timing performing in the city, then I return to LA, and I see this license plate that says “NYKO”… and I think New York Knock Out. It’s such a catchy phrase, and it’s exactly how I felt… Like I knocked it out of the park. It’s also inspired by the Grateful Dead’s use of “Iko, Iko” and “Not Fade Away” as duo songs during their shows.
How did you feel that NYKO, NYKO made it onto the charts?
A moment of such clarity that felt surreal. When big accomplishments like this happen, my first thoughts are ‘oh my goodness, it’s happening.’ I love what I do so much, and every time I accomplish something monumental, it means I get to keep doing what I love on vaster levels. It’s delightful.
You have started to rehearse for your next new release which is going to be March 21. How is the album coming along?
Really good. These songs are a super hip, 90’s influence with a good beat and lyrical backbone. I am really excited about it. Some of the songs I wrote like about 2 years ago, but most are recent.
You are recording at Dreamrock studios. Have you seen or heard any ghosts?
Welllllll, considering I see ghosts quite often, I think I will be in good company. Shucks, I am a big fan of a lot of people who have recorded in that studio too.
What is your favorite track on the album?
It’s so hard to pick a favorite! I would say my favorite on that new upcoming album when it comes to lyrics is “Wildflower”. Check out my recent performance of the song here: — My favorite when it comes to feeling & vibe is “Centered” & “Summer Mag”. The hook in the song “Centered” is “… and I have to say, we’ll be okay…”
My favorite few songs from my recent album are “NYKO, NYKO”, “Daisy”, and “Requiem for a Night Sky”. Listen to that album here: https://snd.click/myqts8u
How do you stay healthy while touring?
8 hours of sleep (or as many hours as possible) each night. WATER. WATER. WATER. Oregano oil, vitamin c with rose hips, Vocal Eze Spray with echinacea, Thayer’s Dry Mouth Spray, kombucha, listening to healing frequencies sounds like 432hz.
What are your feelings about streaming music?
I think the streaming platforms are fantastic, because it empowers indie artists to showcase & manage their own music, while also getting it out to the masses. It’s a great way to get distribution for independent & emerging artists. Some people get upset about the royalties on Spotify being $0.005 or something, but at the end of the day, money is money & Spotify provides a great way for new artists to be heard across the world.
How can people forget about the origin of the hashtag # as Sharp in a musical score?
Ha! So funny you say that. Yeah, I actually really love music theory, because it allows me to understand music, teach others, and play multiple instruments. Just a reminder, there are no sharps between B/C and E/F. It has to do with the fact that there is only one half-step between the two notes, which can be seen on the piano keyboard.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Collect vinyl. Discover music in any way possible though. Like I have been streaming a lot of the genre ‘Contemporary post-bop jazz’, which I discovered I really liked via digital.
Tell me about The Politics of Kendra Muecke?
“The Politics of” is the title of my first book. It is a 340-page book of poetry, one-act plays, and philosophical essays. That is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and my website: https://linktr.ee/kenbunny — I also recently started a podcast by the same name ‘The Politics of Kendra’. I publish episodes every two weeks. The show is essentially in an interview format, where I bring musicians or entertainment industry professionals on to talk about music, culture, and spirituality. You can listen here: https://anchor.fm/thepoliticsofkendra
Is there 2 United States?
The USA is made up of many diverse types of people, but at the end of the day, we are all one. The good for all is the good for many.
I think it’s important we keep conversations up about what each makes us unique. The individuality & beliefs of Americans is so important. It’s what makes us who we are. We are a country based on freedom of speech and belief, that freedom is meant for us all.
How can the country Healed?
The country can be healed by accepting people as they are and assessing things with a humble and compassionate heart. We should embrace the idea of being okay with all of us being different. Different views, different religions, different heritage. America is the mixing pot, let’s mix it up & add some cleansing salt. Let people be who they are and protect all our people. Be easy on each other.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
I just started re-learning the piano/playing the piano again, and the song that I am working on is “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia from 1997.
I was only 4 when it came out, but it’s a Bonafede hit, nonetheless. It’s actually my grandmother’s keyboard, that I have been chipping away on, and she passed away this year. I feel like having her piano is very special, and she is guiding me in musical ways.
You did a Halloween show at Molly Malone’s Irish Pub.
Yeah! It was such a great time. Of course, I dressed up as a psychedelic rabbit. I guess my costume (and personality) landed somewhere between Alice & the White Rabbit mixed with a Playboy bunny. That is what inspired my band name after all! Here is a video from that show:
Both Pfizer and BioNTech have concluded Phase 3 Study of the Coronavirus vaccine. With the vaccine it takes two shots. How many people do you think will take it and how many will forget to take the second shot?
So glad we are soon going to be able to gather again! I think people will remember to take their second doses, especially, because it has been such a long year. People are ready to return to normal life. I am actually SUPER scared of needles and get super lightheaded just even thinking about it. I have been praying about it a lot lately… for the courage.
Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Yeah. It’s been a really unique year for the industry, but I think we have adapted well. We began live-streams, we started more intimate artists talks, and lots of musicians got involved in things they are passionate about this year. We all were brought together in many ways. I think live-streaming will stick around, curated concerts with reservations will be the new thing for a while, and then we will be back at it! Sharing drinks in the mosh-pit and dancing together. I have been thinking about the wave of love that began in the 1960s amidst socio-political turmoil, and how that is returning again. We are making history! We are the ones writing the stories.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
Writing lots of music, meditating a lot, and reflecting on the nature of reality. There is so much beyond the veil of our fourth walls. Ironically, I have made a lot of lasting connections this year … virtually, with people all over the country & world. Lots of collaborations.
Tell me about the song “A Tall Order”, which you wrote during isolation?
I wrote “A Tall Order” in March 2019. The hook of the song was originally going to be “If only I could drink again, find some way to re-route the pain.” However, I re-wrote it to “If only I could sleep again, my only way to re-route the pain.” I did this to reach the hearts of more listeners, not everyone ‘can’t drink’ like me, but everyone can relate to having trouble falling asleep as their mind is racing… Yes, I am allergic to alcohol… What happens when I drink, you ask? When I start, I don’t much care to stop. So “A Tall Order” is also about wanting to drink again, because I knew the upcoming isolation would be tough for us all.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Yes! I have re-discovered painting, film-making, piano, jazz music, getting in the car & driving, walking the local neighborhood, listening to commentators on YouTube. Baking, cooking. Been working on my acting more & more (I have been acting since age 4).
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
I actually love watching creators on YouTube and IGTV. It’s awesome to see so many successful influencers, comedians, and musicians getting their amazing content seen! I also just rematched all of “Sex and the City” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” on HBOMax’s streaming platform.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
Right, I am pretty sure this has to do with just playing straight-up songs. Playing the song with instruments is different, especially, if it is the artist’s original music. I would recommend that artists reach out to their distributors to get their Facebook artist page “white-listed” for copyrights on their own songs. This lets Facebook know that I own my music.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only.
That’s one of those rules that is meant to be broken. “Learn the rules like a pro, break them like an artist”.
How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Not necessarily, I think the real discussion is what is Facebook doing to allow and protect individual free-speech on their platform.
How is Facebook creating a safe-space for creators, users, artists, and their staff? How are we all working together?
I know Facebook started copyrighting songs to protect the artists, I think that was their original intention. So, artists received credit for their songs being used.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?
Social media! YouTube! Personal connections with fans. Engaging content. You should be posting at least once a day, or every other day!
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like playlist on the internet?
It’s kind of still a thing, but more for newcomers. I think some of the rookies don’t know that pay to play is not normal.
Normal for newcomers is more like a door-deal at a show. Paying to play can have its benefits though, if there is a certain venue or lineup an artist wants to get on, then it’s an opportunity to grow. As far as pay-to-play for playlists, those are a big no, because we want our music to be heard but true listeners, so we can convert them into a dedicated fanbase.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
HA! I got to see Tupac at Coachella in 2012. It was SURREAL. It was like he was right there, but super shiny & glowing.
I think holographic concerts are such a cool idea, but the real thing is even better. Live music in person is electricK and magicKal.
Since you are a journalist, how do you see the future of live music?
Live-streaming will maintain its relevance. In-person shows will begin with reservations for seats and more elaborate rules for ticket sales & attendance. Live music will grow back into something that is all about the experience. Shows will be more personal and intimate, as we are all going to be seeking compassion and empathy throughout the next decade. Things will return even more wonderful than before. Music will reach new heights.
If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
Oooooh, music is my life. Sound is my life. I can’t imagine a world without it. The beat and lyrics are what drives me.
The rhythm and the history of song is part of my DNA. In addition to music, I also am a published author, writer, actress, creative director for a marketing firm, film-maker, poet, traveler, and volunteer.
Anything you would like to say in closing.
“The excitement of our journey is the path being revealed to us as we walk it.” — an original quote from my next book. My first two books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, just search ‘Kendra Muecke’. All of my music is available on streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, BandCamp, just search ‘Kendra & the Bunnies’.
