Kenzie Ziegler, also known as kenzie, is a 20-year-old artist advocating for music as her personal form of therapy. Biting My Tongue, released on July 26, 2024, is a vulnerable ode to her childhood, as she navigates the challenges of growing up. She joined Mark Ambor on his international Rockwood tour in October, making stops in the US and Europe. UCLA Radio’s Isabella Appell sat down with kenzie to discuss channeling emotions through music, managing tour anxiety, and coping with homesickness.
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This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity purposes.
Isabella Appell: Vulnerability is clearly a big part of your songwriting. Does it come naturally to you or do you find it’s something you’ve had to work at and push yourself toward?
kenzie: Being on social media my whole life, I have been quite an over-sharer. I started Instagram when I was seven so it really does come naturally to me. I love that people can get to know me on a deeper level.
IA: You’ve spoken about how therapy has influenced your creative process. What are some tools you’ve gained from those sessions and why do you think therapy can be beneficial not just for artists but for anyone?
kenzie: I’m a person who hates to talk about my feelings with other people so it is kind of nice to be in a session with someone who can give you their honest opinion. What I’ve learned in my sessions is to always put myself first because I am a people pleaser to the max. You really just have to put into perspective that no matter what you’re always going to have yourself.
IA: Writing about these deeply personal experiences can be both cathartic and difficult. How do you decide what parts of your story to share in your music and what to keep private?
kenzie: There’s a lot of things best kept private and best kept public. Obviously with ex boyfriends, I’m very open with that. With the things that are super relatable like growing up and being a teenager I think those are also really important topics to talk about. Just showing people that I’m a normal girl like everyone else and I go through dumb boy struggles and friend struggles is so important to me.
IA: Touring brings a fast-paced and often overwhelming environment. As someone who’s been open about mental health, how do you prepare yourself emotionally and mentally for that kind of lifestyle?
kenzie: I’m really lucky enough to have a band, an awesome tour manager, and the people that surround me. They’re all really great people and having those comfort people with you is super important. This is my first tour I’ve gone on as an adult and without my mom so I was super nervous about it. My anxiety has definitely come out a bit but I’ve been writing a lot in my journal. It’s really awesome that I get to go to all of these places and see how beautiful life is and my fans. I think that’s the main purpose of this.
IA: When you’re on tour or just performing in general, what do you do to find moments of peace or maintain a sense of home when traveling?
kenzie: I try to talk to my friends as much as possible but also just be alone. It’s something I love and on tour, you don’t get much of that so hen I do get alone time, in my hotel room and in the green room, it’s amazing. I definitely prioritize those moments.
IA: As someone who’s currently in college, I’m curious to know if you’ve ever felt like you had to grow up too fast and if yes, do you ever feel the pressure to act more mature because of the professional environment you’re in?
kenzie: Being on a reality show so young, I was surrounded by adults. A lot of my friends growing up were always older than me- I just bond with those types of people. I’ve definitely felt a strong feeling to grow up super fast because of the environment I’m in. I don’t think any normal 20 year old is doing what I do which can get hard sometimes. I might crave that college experience but yet again, I’m so lucky and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I definitely believe that what I’m doing is what I was meant to do.
IA: Our readers are primarily college students. Do you have any advice or messages you’d like to share with them?
kenzie: This is so cliche but when you have big dreams, the best thing to do is know you really can do anything you put your mind to. Finding the fun things in life and in your work is so important.
