Nancy Sheppard 
Hi Ker! It’s great to finally get you on here. Before we start getting into the new music, how’s your week been going so far? What’s been keeping you busy?
A: I have been busy listening to the early demos of album #3 believe it or not. It will not be released until 2028, as my 2nd album is to be out as of January 2027.
I’ve had ‘Growing Concerns’ on repeat recently, and it really hits a specific mood. Where were you when the initial idea came to you? Were you sitting around doing everyday stuff, or did it hit you in the middle of a session?
A: The idea came to me when I was driving back from a Yes gig, and I was thinking about at what point would my wife start to worry about me if I was late.
I usually start with a good title, but then move that into what I hope to be an interesting take on it, as I do not want to write any down beat songs, any that are cliched and to draw in the listener.
The phrase ‘Growing Concerns’ feels pretty heavy right out of the gate. When you landed on that title, were you mostly reflecting on personal things happening in your own life, or was it more about watching everything going on in the world?
A: The song is actually about what I think is a highly relatable topic, that being of relationships, in terms of the maintaining and nourishing them. Things can break down quite quickly as we know, so it is a question, if that is what we want, to ‘catch a falling star’.
When you built this track, how did the foundation start? Did you find yourself playing around with the instrumentals and melody first, or were you sitting down with a notebook writing out lyrics before adding any sound?
A: I always start with drafting out a first verse. In this case I jumped straight in with the declaration of ‘concern’. I also felt that this was not a word that I felt was used a great deal in songs and is a powerful one.
Every song usually has that one line where, as soon as you write it or sing it back, you just get chills. Is there a specific lyric in ‘Growing Concerns’ that stands out to you as the most honest moment?
A: I am quite keen on ‘it haunts and it taunts’ because I feel this is evocative and highlights an aspect of ‘concern’ that is very cloying.
Some songs practically write themselves in twenty minutes, while others take weeks of wrestling. How did this one come together—was it a quick spark, or did you have to keep tweaking it over time?
A: Most songs come to me quite quickly once I have an idea and an ‘arresting’ title. My music teacher in Montana suggested that I considered the titles carefully, so I took that advice.
I feel like for a lot of musicians, knowing when a track is actually done is the hardest part. How do you know when ‘Growing Concerns’ is ready to leave the studio, versus just having to force yourself to stop messing with it?
A: Having now recorded over 30 songs, I am getting the hang of what sounds good, works and works together. I am very focussed on making sure that the verse, bridge and chorus all have melody and purpose. I am quite strict with myself and will not let anything I do not like slip through!
Having said that, I work very closely with my collaborators and producer and listen to their ideas and suggestions. It all takes time, so I avoid driving anyone mad by being too prescriptive or unduly fussy as we all seem to arrive at the same point of agreement quickly.
This single is paving the way toward your album project, Converging Paths. How does ‘Growing Concerns’ set the scene for the story and energy you’re putting together for the full record?
A: The launch sequence for this album as broadly mirrored my chronological writing, and the establishment of a writing, performing and recording style has evolved. My first few songs were very straightforward efforts spawned from my experiences and collaborations in Montana. My musical soul is rooted in the music of the late ‘60’s early ‘70’s ranging from Bob Dylan to Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Genesis and Yes.
Putting out music that comes from a deep place can feel pretty nerve-wracking. When release day hits, are you sitting there with nervous stomach butterflies, or is it pure relief once it’s out on streaming platforms?
A: For a new artist, I am quite surprised at how my reactions and feelings have changed. I now have a solid sense of confidence as I believe that the new songs are really worth listening to and that there could well be quite a niche market for them.
Now that the song has been out in the wild and people are adding it to their playlists, what’s been the coolest or most surprising thing a fan or friend has said to you about it?
A: Initially, like most nascent musicians, I sought reassurance from people I knew, having found and worked with some professional musicians, and sought approval from my friends. However, I have increasingly been encouraged by what independent 3rd parties have said and feel that I am now firmly on the right track.
If you listen back to your earlier releases and compare them to where you are right now with ‘Growing Concerns’, where do you feel like you’ve made the biggest leap forward as a creator?
A: Learning. Over the last couple of years I have been studying music theory, taking piano lessons and going to a weekly music club to improve my public playing and I have become much more confident and adept as a result.
To wrap things up, now that ‘Growing Concerns’ is officially out there, what’s on the horizon for you for the rest of the year—are we talking more singles, jumping on stage for live shows, or heading right back into the studio?
I have an EP coming out in about three weeks titled Ramblin’ Along. This title track is a freewheeling ‘one off’ song, with a catchy, pacey, verse and chorus. The other two songs are Sula – being a ‘homage’ to a local fishing village which is known for it’s longstanding wooden boat that takes sightseers out to sea to watch the seabirds diving off a 400 foot tall rock that lies off-shore. The third track is a short keyboard instrumental called North Valley Stroll – Part 1, that is a musical encapsulation of the emotional evocation of the NW Montana ‘lakescapes’.
Album #2 has 10 x tracks and I am really pleased with every track. They are all honed in my consolidating sound and style, but the tracks are quite wide ranging. All melodic, nothing ‘downbeat’, but neither are the songs ‘trite’ in any way.
I do hope that none of this sounds in any way ‘over blown’, but I have started to appreciate that unless I highlight and ‘promote’ what I am doing that none of these songs may see the light of day, and I believe that they deserve to!
