“I Won’t Stay Silent”: Kalie Shorr is Reviving Pop-Rock – Louder, More Queer, and More Defiant Than Ever - Atwood Magazine

      After being advised to modify her openly queer lyrics to adhere to radio standards, Kalie Shorr decided to bide her time. Now, she returns with ‘My Type,’ a daring new chapter that embraces her artistic freedom.

      Stream: ‘My Type’ – Kalie Shorr

      Nowadays, many artists achieve their breakout viral moments on TikTok, but Kalie Shorr’s journey to recognition was quite different. Almost ten years ago, she was spotted by Perez Hilton after sharing a cover of Rebecca Black’s “Friday,” during a time when blogs, rather than algorithms, helped create pop stars.

      My Type EP – Kalie Shorr

      Her latest EP, My Type, signifies the onset of her next chapter. It is a guitar-driven, honest pop album that evokes both nostalgia and vitality, brimming with the enthusiasm of an artist who has been diligently honing her craft until the world was ready for her. Some songs date back to 2018, while others were crafted more recently. Collectively, they narrate her experiences of heartbreak, frustration, and ultimately, artistic liberation.

      The title track has its own narrative. Shorr composed “My Type” in 2017, an unapologetically queer pop anthem that her Nashville team insisted required more traditional pronouns for its release. She stood her ground, choosing to wait, and upon the expiration of her contract, she finally released it as she had always intended.

      I like the self-absorbed girls

      Kissing on my neck, girls

      Get all in my head, girls

      Leave my life a mess, girls

      I must love it when they make me

      When they make me cry!

      And I like those rock and roll boys

      Staring into my soul, boys

      Make me lose control, boys

      Good at letting go, boys

      So if your kiss tastes just like goodbye

      Then you’re probably my type

      Kalie Shorr © Caitlin McNaney

      I really don’t care about making unpleasant people happy. I’ll never silence myself just to satisfy anyone who thinks I should, because it’s not for them.

      * * *

      Now residing in Los Angeles, Shorr’s sound pays homage to the rock girls of the 2000s—Michelle Branch, Ashlee Simpson, Hayley Williams—yet blends modern pop influences with her candid and bold lyrics.

      Atwood Magazine spoke with Kalie Shorr about reclaiming her music, the excitement of releasing these songs, and why some narratives are worth waiting years to share.

      Listen to My Type wherever you stream music and catch Shorr opening for the Nicotine Dolls on October 30 in Athens, GA, and November 1 in Charleston, SC!

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      :: stream/purchase My Type here ::

      :: connect with Kalie Shorr here ::

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      Stream: ‘My Type’ – Kalie Shorr

      Kalie Shorr ‘My Type’ EP © Grace Greenan

      A CONVERSATION WITH KALIE SHORR

      Atwood Magazine: Congratulations on the release of your EP, My Type. What was your experience recording it and how would you characterize its sound?

      Kalie Shorr: For my debut album, I put together a lot of songs I wrote mainly in a two-week period and recorded them shortly after. This time, I wanted to include songs that hadn’t yet had their moment to shine from 2018 until this year. Thus, this EP captures various emotional snapshots from that timeframe, yet everything fits together cohesively.

      It was fascinating and different to release a project that covers such a long duration. These songs have lingered with me, and I continuously revisited them, especially “My Type.” I adore that song and believe it tells a compelling story. When you truly love a song and have faith in it, getting the opportunity to release it is always worthwhile. It’s never too late.

      The EP’s sound certainly draws from some of my favorite music from my youth—the rock girls of the mid-2000s like Michelle Branch and Ashlee Simpson, essentially girls with guitars. I play guitar on all the tracks, and I feel that essence really comes through while also being enjoyable. If you appreciate that genre of music and love attending live shows, I think you’ll resonate with the EP and grasp my intent.

      Your new music approaches themes of sexuality and queerness in a fresh way—could you elaborate on how that is reflected in your music, especially in the single “My Type”?

      Kalie Shorr: “My Type” is the first original track I’ve released that is openly and unapologetically queer. When I wrote it in 2017, my previous Nashville team advised me to change all the pronouns for it to be straight if I wanted to release it. I felt that’s not what the song is about, so it was essentially shelved for a long time.

      Now, I have a new team. I moved to L.A.