KEZIA GILL: “IT’S A NASHVILLE RECORD WITH A BRITISH HEART”

For Kezia Gill, All On Red is more than a new album — it’s the culmination of years of graft, belief and an unwavering connection to country music. Recorded in Nashville with acclaimed producer Alyssa Bonagura and some of Music City’s finest musicians, the album sees Gill embrace the sounds of Nashville while bringing the distinctly British perspective that has shaped her journey. From building the fiercely loyal Friday Night Crew to sharing stages with Bruce Springsteen and making her mark at CMA Fest, Gill has spent years proving that British country artists can stand proudly on the same stage. Here, she talks about the whirlwind recording sessions behind All On Red, her late father’s influence, finding confidence in her own voice, and why the dream is always getting bigger.

You’ve described All On Red as “a Nashville record with a British heart.” What was it about working with Nashville musicians and producer Alyssa Bonagura that allowed you to explore a new side of your sound while still keeping that distinctly British identity at its core?

By making the record in Nashville with Nashville musicians and Alyssa Bonagura at the wheel, it was inevitably going to be a “Nashville record”. No gimmicks, no imitation: the real thing. The difference is, as a British artist, the songs are authentic to me, my experiences and my words are what gave the album its British heart. It’s the perfect blend of 2 worlds colliding.

The album came together incredibly quickly, with seven songs recorded in a single session at Sound Emporium. What do you remember most vividly about that day, and did the intensity of the process change the way you performed the songs?

The day was like something out of a dream. I felt like a rockstar. It definitely brought a new energy out in me. I had some of the best musicians in the world in one of the most iconic studios in the world: It was inevitable that I had to step up. The songs literally came to life in front of my eyes, and that excitement and passion is laced throughout the record.

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Your dad, Eddie, clearly had a huge influence on both your love of country music and your approach to being an artist. How much of him do you feel is present in All On Red, and was there a particular moment during the making of the album when you felt especially connected to him?

He’s in everything I say, do, sing, write and feel, so 100% he was right there with me on that day. It was more during the quiet moments, in between takes when I was alone with my thoughts in my quiet sound booth, sipping my hot honey and lemon. I kept thinking of how incredibly proud of his little girl he’d be, cutting a record in Nashville.

You’ve built an incredibly loyal audience through years of touring and your Friday Night Crew, while also sharing stages with artists like Bruce Springsteen and appearing at CMA Fest in Nashville. How has that journey changed your confidence in claiming your place within country music?

It’s taken many years, but I finally believe in myself. My amazing fans show up for me time after time, so it tells me that if they believe I have something to offer, then I just might! My confidence has grown tenfold, and my fans make me feel superhuman sometimes. They make me Kezia Gill.

With All On Red marking such a major new chapter — from your Nashville recording experience to joining the Snakefarm roster — what does success look like for you now? Are you still chasing the same dream you had when you first started playing country music, or has that dream changed?

The dream was always success, and that changes all the time. There was a time when selling 50 tickets was success, there was a time when getting my song on the local radio was success… the dream grows and so does the ambition. I might never sell out 3 nights at Wembley Stadium (well played Mr Combs) but my success is measured by the next big thing, and whatever that is, you can bet I’ll be chasing it.