Rising Stars: Meet Kendall Eugene of Downtown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Eugene

Hi Kendall, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been a musician pretty much all my life but just recently took the leap to make music my full time pursuit. I started playing the drums in church when I was just 7 and starting singing and writing songs in high school. When I was 17 I had a son whom I had to give up for adoption and I was dealing with a ton of emotions I didn’t know how to process until I started writing songs. As I got older I kept working on my craft while playing music in the church and pastoring most of my adult life. It wasn’t until 2023, when I got divorced and lost my job, that I started playing music outside of the church and started writing country songs. I always say that I didn’t choose country music but country music chose me! Shortly after my divorce I decided to make a musician Instagram and see if I could get any traction. Just a month later The Voice reached out to me and asked me to audition! I thought it was spam at first but I’m glad I answered because it was real! That really gave me the confidence I needed to start truly pursuing music. I spent the summer in LA recording the show and made it halfway through the season on Reba’s team. Since appearing on the voice I have had the opportunity to gig and most importantly got connected with a studio to start working on my originals. I still have so long to go before I get where I want to be but I feel like the last year has really given me the foundation I needed to keep going.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road for me, but I’m ok with that. Even being on the voice had surprises in store for me. I was the first contestant ever to have NO CHAIR TURNS and still end up on a team after Reba used her coach’s replay button! It was a whirlwind of emotion and simply matched what I feel always happens in my life. I typically take the hard road. Not always by choice. I have found though that the things worth working towards won’t be easy. After leaving the show it has not been as easy for me as I would have liked to get traction with gigs, studios, even writing sessions. Even though I have a ton of musical experience, I’m an “unknown” in the industry currently. I’m looking forward to the struggles though and finding a way through them. Success is sweeter in the struggle.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an independent country singer/songwriter originally from Texas. I do not write in a traditional country style but I use my influences from Texas Country, blues, Americana, and southern rock to craft my songs. I love to tell stories in my songs and bring people into the moment or the emotion that I’m wanting them to feel. I typically write from a pain point in my life or write about a story that I have heard. I actually did not listen to much country growing up but it is allowing me to find my own sound and have something a little different than most artists in my music. I want every song I write to have meaning behind it. I write songs that allow people to feel something that is laying under the surface of their heart.

Any big plans?
Right now I’m in the process of getting an album recorded and released. I’m planning on finally releasing a single soon and I’m excited to see how it is received. As I said before I’m basically an unknown in the industry and I’m working to have people react with, “where has this guy been, where did he come from”?! I do not want to make a name for myself simply to have a name in the industry but I want to provide for my family and show my kids that dreams are worth chasing; no matter how many set backs,, and no matter how “late” you get started.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kendalleugenemusic.com
• Instagram: kendalleugenemusic