'Between the lines' with Jana Kramer
Jana Kramer had a love for acting in front of the camera, but it was a love for music that drove her to singing in front of country audiences on stages around the country.
The former “One Tree Hill” actress released her debut album in 2012 and is set to release a follow-up this fall. She’ll appear July 31 at the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival Ribs Burnoff.
Kramer is excited for her fans to hear her new material, some of which she’ll perform at her Canton tour stop.
“I’ve never been more proud of the music that’s about to come out,” she said. “I had a lot more time with this album than I did on my debut, and I really wanted to make sure every song was 100 percent true to me as an artist and in my life as well.”
Kramer wrote sparingly for her debut record, but was excited to be a larger part of the writing process the second time around.
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“I had some time to get my writing chops up to date,” she said. “I wrote with a lot of people that were great to work with. I feel like everything on this record is honest and true to me.”
And that includes relationship fodder. Kramer recently split from fellow country music singer Brantley Gilbert. While she wouldn’t name-drop him via interview and also says she doesn’t on the record, she drew from that experience and other past relationships for her upcoming effort.
“Every song I write is from experience,” she said. “There’s a song about my high school sweetheart, to songs about recent relationships and future relationships. I know everyone knows about the most recent one, but I don’t come right out and say it. I think people can read between the lines, and I think that’s what’s great about music.”
Kramer said the biggest similarity to her acting past as it pertains to the country music world is simply the pressure of a high-volume, fast-paced schedule. It’s something she admits is still difficult, but that her fans make it all the worthwhile.
“It’s really busy, and there’s definitely a lot of pressure with all the things I need to do and places I need to be, but there’s no bigger thrill than hearing fans sing your song back to you,” she said. “That’s the most fulfilling thing of all.”
She also gives a positive nod to fellow touring country acts Blake Shelton and Darius Rucker for teaching her some lessons in managing her time on the road.
“Touring with them was a great time, and I learned a lot from opening for them,” she said. “I owe a lot what I know (about handling the road) to them.”
Kramer, a Michigan native, wears her heritage proudly. She said one common misconception is that country artists can’t come from states that aren’t in the southern half of the nation.
“Shania Twain is from Canada, Keith Urban is from Australia,” she said. “You don’t have to be from a certain area to sing country music. It’s what I grew up on, and it’s what a lot of people from Michigan grew up on and listen to. I draw a lot from my experiences growing up there. It definitely has shaped the direction and sound I’ve wanted, and I think you hear it even more on the upcoming record.”
Kramer said Ribs Burnoff fans are in for a good time, whether they’re big country music fans or not.
“We put on a really rocking time,” she said.
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s high energy, and I like to call people out to have a good time. Hopefully they’ll leave saying what a great show it was. We certainly are aiming for it!”
Reach B.J. at 330-580-8314 or bj.lisko@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @BLiskoREP
WHO: Jana Kramer
WHEN: July 31
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Festival Ribs Burnoff, Stark County Fairgrounds
TICKETS: $10.50 at www.profootballhof
festival.showare.com
MORE INFO: www.janakramer.com