In the Country with Dave Woods:
Kendra Gabrielle

Raised between Mississauga and Milton, Kendra’s love for music led her to classical training at the prestigious Royal Conservatory of Music, where she spent four years honing her skills in voice and guitar. She then pursued her education at Carleton University, obtaining an undergraduate degree in Classical Voice and Songwriting.

For nearly a decade, Kendra has shared her love for music as a teacher, instructing students in voice, guitar, piano, and soprano/baritone ukulele.

Kendra found her place in the indie country scene with her first country single, “Drunk on My Own.” It has received airplay on SiriusXM’s Top Of The Country radio, along with support from Amazon Music’s editorial playlists Breakthrough Country and Just North Of Nashville. “Drunk On My Own” scored Kendra a nomination at the Mississauga Music Awards for Best New Solo Artist. “He’s Not You” also garnered support from Amazon Music’s editorial playlists. The single “Red” was also added to over 30 radio stations across Canada. Her debut EP, Can’t Help Myself, was released in Fall 2023. In 2024, Kendra released her single Taking It Easy.

Welcome to the spotlight, Kendra! Before we talk about your Christmas single, tell us about some of the artists who have influenced & inspired you over the years.
Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it. Such a great question, I have been influenced and inspired by so many incredible musicians over the years, my biggest one of course is Taylor Swift (which you could’ve guessed haha), however, I have also looked up to Kelsea Ballerini, Shania Twain and Megan Moroney for their writing skills. I absolutely love Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Kelly Clarkson for their vocals. I’ve always been influenced by many different genres and decades of music to create my artistic sound.

What led you to start writing your own songs?
It was during my undergrad years, when I was studying music and spent basically all day being around musicians, either playing or creating something, that I started to hear melodies before I would fall asleep and one night I tried writing a song and found it very fun and just continued to explore that way of storytelling. I’m also very fascinated by human interactions and relationships, and exploring those feelings, which is why I love writing breakup or love songs from different perspectives. I also find it very therapeutic to figure out how I feel, since I would rather sing about an emotion than talk about it.

What do you think country music does better, or at least differently, than other genres?
Country music definitely pays a lot more attention to the lyrics and the storytelling than other genres. A big reason I have learned people love this genre is that they come to feel all their feelings. After all, it really is the three may four chords and the truth.

Congratulations on your sold-out show, Boots In The 905, at the Rec Room in Mississauga back in October! It was such a great night. How great was the night for you?
Thank you so much for coming out that night to support. The night was such a dream. Having a sold-out show as an independent artist isn’t easy, but I’m so happy that goal was crushed. I absolutely loved hosting an all-female lineup show, sharing unreleased music, and playing to an incredible audience that was so welcoming and ready for a good time.

You just released a great new humorous holiday single called Hallmark Christmas. Tell us all about it.
I’m so happy this song is out in the world, and I love that you find it funny as well, cause I was giggling while writing it with my pals Rich Cloke, Patrick James Clark and Paige Rutledge. The idea basically came from talking about my enjoyment of watching Hallmark Christmas Movies every year, so we ran with that idea, except everything goes insanely wrong. The message at the end of the day is that no matter what happens, enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones. I’m also so grateful for the love and support I’ve received from all the listeners and for the love I’ve gotten on the music video, which has received over 150,000 views in a week.

What piece of advice would you give to a brand-new artist?
My advice is going to sound very vanilla, but it takes time. Reaching all those big goals will come in due time as long as you keep showing up for your art and yourself. It’s known to be a 10-year industry for a reason, and sometimes it’s tough to be patient with the process – I would know because I’ve been very impatient, but I’ve learned that if I put my head down and work, that’s when everything seems to align, and things start happening.

What are you hoping to accomplish in your music career in 2026?
I would love to be on the road, playing 150 shows next year, playing my music for different people, continuing to build my community, and releasing some more music. That’s my main focus.