By Mariah Secrest
Jon McLaughlin is not the only Indiana man to rise up recently on the music scene; Kendall Ludwig is now joining the ranks of Hoosier musicianship. Listening to the tracks of his album Where Most Dreams Die made me slightly nostalgic even though Id never heard them before.
I attribute part of this to the fact that Kendall hails from southern Indiana in a place not too far from my own hometown. The rest is due to the earthy themes of this folk/Americana singer-songwriter that speak of finding your roots in a roundabout and surprising way. His autobiographical storytelling approach to songwriting traces his personal journey for truth, love, and a sense of home in an honest and transparent fashion.
I got fired in Chicago / Working for this guy I know/ I know a girl in Kansas City / She doesnt like to be alone / I saw the light in San Diego / When I was roaming on my own / Now Ive been sitting here for hours / Looking for the long road home
Long Road Home
Subsisting on the staples of layered acoustic guitars, his songs are supplemented generously with electric guitar, piano, harmonica, and even the lap dulcimer.
Naturally, being interested in stories here at Wrecked, I asked Kendall in a phone interview about the storytelling nature of his songs.
What followed was a passionate advocacy for the power of human emotion being shared through peoples personal stories.
I love peoples stories, he said, Thats a very integral part of life. Our cultures are built around their artideologies and the way people think are built around their art and music… I want to create something thats not just about me.
Being willing to listen to the stories of others no doubt flavors his capacity for crafting songs that people can relate to universally.
From the tribute song Death of an American Hero to the surging build of Going Somewhere to the poignant Cover Me, this debut release from Kendall delivers nine tracks of narrative woven through a backdrop of instruments and voice.
These songs are stories of the struggle to push through to our true selves and our divinely inspired desires.
For Kendall, the album title, Where Most Dreams Die, is symbolic of that breaking point when you face the magnitude of your goals and decide what to do with them. Hopefully, as he has set the example of pursuing his own dreams, others will notice and be encouraged to follow suit.
To hear more of Kendall, watch the video below or go to Kendall Ludwig’s Myspace.
If you liked this article, check out these band interviews:
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- Voices in Culture: Ever Stays Red Interview
- Voices in Culture: downhere Interview
- Voices in Culture: After Edmund Interview
Mariah has currently landed herself in Tucson, Arizona, where she just finished a philosophy degree. She enjoys writing almost as much as she enjoys making music. Almost. You can visit her on Myspace at www.myspace.com/mariahsecrestmusic .