We caught up with the “Young Hearthrob” herself, Kodie Shane.
Not many artists can boast a thriving debut album followed by a successful and nearly sold out headlining tour like Kodie Shane. Since age 14, Kodie has been dedicating her life to music all leading up to the release of her debut album last year. Since our last interview with Kodie she’s come a long way, not to mention she is still the one and only female member of Lil Yachty’s sailing team.
Kodie Shane elevated after releasing a debut album at the end of last year titled Young HeartThrob with seldom features including Trippie Redd and TK Kravitz. Following a highly successful album with rave reviews from HypeBeast, Pitchfork and The Fader, Kodie embarked on her first-ever headlining tour in 2019 with European and North American tour dates.
We caught up with Kodie before her sold-out SOBs show in New York to talk tour life and new music. The lineup consisted of Lor Choc, Killuminati, and Baby Goth with headliner Kodie Shane closing the house. Check out our exclusive interview below to find our what Kodie’s been up to.
The Knockturnal: Your debut album came out at the end of last year, are you still riding that high? Does that feel recent or are you more focused on the tour / new content?
Kodie Shane: For me, my mind right now is set on the new music. That’s one thing about this industry, you gotta keep going and putting out new sh*t. I’m definitely on tour mode, I just sold out SOBs!
The Knockturnal: It’s no secret you wanted this project to highlight your talent, and have minimal features. Who are some features or collaborations we can look forward to in the near future?
Kodie Shane: I don’t want to spoil it because I have some real ones, but me and Kevin Gates just dropped a single not too long ago. I got a Kevin Gates feature so you know anything is liable to happen.
The Knockturnal: How common do you think it is nowadays for artists to put out their official debut without having a strong body of work already out like multiple mixtapes? Do you think it’s necessary to have content out before a debut/label release? Do you feel like it helps build a fanbase?
Kodie Shane: I think a lot of people drop an album without dropping a bunch of other sh*t. If you’re not building a fanbase, it doesn’t matter what you do. Your fans are the people who want to buy your shit, and stick up for you when you don’t like what’s being said on the internet. Your fans are the ones who’s gonna hold you down. You can still have the best music in the world but with no fanbase, it doesn’t mean anything, the two are hand in hand.
The Knockturnal: What has the experience been like on your first headlining tour? What are some perks that are better this time around?
Kodie Shane: It’s been really really awesome. I’ve sold out like three shows now. I’m excited as f***, London was basically sold out. I honestly feel like it hasn’t all the way hit me yet, but this sh*t is crazy. I’m about to sell out Toronto. This is my tour so I get to do what I want. We eat what I want. The show is going to run how I want. Being on a Yachty tour is different because we eat what they want, we do what they want and it’s every night and if you’re not just as big as Yachty or bigger than you’re fighting for that crowd. You gotta get out there and fight and show them why you deserve to be on stage and show them why they should love you and commend you, but if it’s your show they already know that’s why they’re here.
The Knockturnal: What have been some of your favorite cities to perform in and explore? How were London and Amsterdam? Internationally how have the crowds been? Which crowds are better at singing along American or European?
Kodie Shane: London was fire A++, Paris was awesome, I always love New York, LA this time was basically sold out and was really good for me because they were a good lively crowd. I always love performing in the East Coast -in Atlanta of course. We sold out Atlanta and it was the best show ever. London went crazy when it came to like singing the records, but Atlanta went crazy in general. DC was fire, it was sold out but they weren’t singing as much, they were singing, but London was like an hour straight where they were performing with me.
The Knockturnal: What are some things you’ve learned after going on this tour? What would you do different next time around? Do you see yourself applying what you learn the night before to the next set?
Kodie Shane: I feel like a lesson you always learn on tour is that if you want something done how you want it you gotta do it yourself, but when it comes to performing, for me we’re in the process of taking my show to the next level. Right now when it comes to my show, I have all the tools I need and have everything I need to where I can just fly with my show.
The Knockturnal: 3 big moments so far in your career or 3 big milestones?
Kodie Shane: For me announcing an award was big moment for me, I felt really cool for doing it. Cover of Teen Vogue was a huge thing for me. Personally, Made in America was big moment for me and going to London and basically selling out London was crazy.
The Knockturnal: What was the biggest different between selling out Atlanta a place you can consider a hometown and selling out London?
Kodie Shane: Atlanta’s just like, this is my family, my dad is there, my family is there and it feels like home and it feels like this is my city and I’m f***ing it up which is to London that has a different feeling when I’m f***ing it up.
The Knockturnal: Who are 3 female peers that you respect or look up to?
Kodie Shane: I look up to Lauryn Hill, she was singing, she was rapping. I love her. I really love Regina Hall.
The Knockturnal: Going off of that question, how important do you feel it is to be a good role model for the youth and aspiring artists?
Kodie Shane: I feel like most youth, look up to the artists. They look up to the big artists and artists in general so I definitely feel like it’s important to never forget that and always try to help push people forward.
The Knockturnal: I’ve seen you grow over the past three years, what’s been the biggest change you’ve seen in yourself musically and as a person?
Kodie Shane: My music is a lot more mature now and it has more substance now and me, as a person I’m just more mature, my mind and what I care about.
