LAKEVIEW: Summer might be coming to an end, but the debut single from a local musician will have you yearning for more and may have you doing a little dancing as everyone watches because of its catchy tune.
Kennedy Austin has been working hard at writing, then fine tuning, then writing again her song ‘Wishes’, which will be released on all music platforms across the world on Sept. 15. A video to go with the song which will be released at the same time.
“I never thought I would get the opportunity to release a single,” said Austin outside her family’s home on a beautiful afternoon on Sept. 9. “It feels extremely rewarding. I feel accomplished.”
The video to go with ‘Wishes’ was shot at a beach within Nova Scotia over a three-week span.
Austin, who is part Mi’kmaq and calls Lakeview home with her family, is a Grade 9 student at Lockview High. She has a zest for music, and for the past two years has performed songs she has written at the Spring Showcase that Georges P. Vanier Junior High put on.
She began writing the song when she was 12-years-old after getting a piece of paper from her then music teacher that said “If you had to make a wish that wasn’t for more wishes, what would that be?” I thought for a second and said, ‘I could write a song about this.’
So, the 14-year-old rising songstress did just that, and chose the beach for the video for one main reason.
“I’ve always been a beach person, it’s so nice and relaxing,” said Austin. “It’s one of my favourite places to go.”
Both the video and single—which is very catchy–are produced by Scott Ferguson from Dartmouth-based FMP Matrix Studios.
Music allows Austin to show her personality.
“It’s always been that thing where I can show who I am as a person,” said Austin. “Music is what I use to get my feelings out.
“To have the opportunities at the Showcase at GPV because of Mr. Crawford was so amazing as I could show off my originality especially with the two songs that I wrote myself.”
Austin is hoping the song will get a lot of play from her fellow peers at Lockview High and around the world.
“I’m really thankful to get this opportunity and hope that people will listen and enjoy the song,” she said.
Coming from a small community, she credits God for leading her down this path.
“God put me here for a reason, so I feel this was his message to me,” she said. “I hope that when I release this it will be a good experience, and I hope it rolls into more opportunities for myself down the road.”
Austin said there will be plenty of ways to find the ‘Wishes’ single and video, all through her social media channels including Instagram @kennedyaustin107; Facebook; Snap Chat; and Twitter.
“It will be all on those social media channels, as well as Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, K-AUS MUSIC which is her YouTube channel and many other music channels,” she said. “I really hope everyone enjoys the song and video.
“I’m really excited about the release of both.”
