They say when people repeat themselves, they do so out of habit. For some, it could be because they are conditioned to repeat certain behaviors that they never really let go of growing up. Others may do so on purpose out of safety and comfort. For Kelsea Ballerini, recurrence is something all too familiar. Her ‘patterns’ as she calls them, have given her the inspiration to tackle both the healthy and toxic ones with humility and grace. So, it’s only fitting that she is set to share this journey with the world through her new album entitled Patterns, on October 25th.
New era, heavy baggage, and a lot to unpack. However, one thing remains the same – the lead singles continue to be hit after hit. Back in June, Ballerini released the debut single of the new Patterns era, Cowboys Cry Too, featuring Noah Kahan. The single described patterns of misconception surrounding men and their ability to show their emotions, as well as how difficult it can be to put stubbornness aside and be vulnerable. This track quickly became popular among her male audience especially, and made them feel seen in a world that will be first to tell them they can’t be.
As a longtime dedicated fan of Kelsea’s, finding parallels in her music and visuals have become a pattern of my own. While listening to Cowboys Cry Too, I couldn’t help but relate it to one of her past singles Homecoming Queen. The theme of finding strength to show emotion, struggle, and reach out for help in whatever capacity that might be is so present in both tracks. Kelsea has truly covered ground for everyone on this topic, and has never shied away from speaking up about the societal pressure to keep everything bottled up.
Something that has become more present than ever in this era has been Ballerini’s serious skill at not just dropping subtle hints, but leaving easter eggs in places only fans with the most noticeable eye can see. In August, members of Kelsea’s fan club received a text from her mailing list with a cryptic message. The message stated that she would not be restocking her old merchandise, and that it was now at a discounted price for only a short time. However, looking much deeper into the message, it revealed both unreleased lyrics and song titles. The main revelation of the text was the very first line, Sorry Legends, as it would later be revealed that the title of the next single would be Sorry Mom. In the best and most mastermindful way, Kelsea has created one huge puzzle for fans to piece together leading up to the album release.
On that note and just like clockwork, I became a detective. As the passionate fan that I am, I knew there had to be more to the story. I can proudly say that I was able to put one and one together and find various clips, articles, and photos of Kelsea dropping hints over the course of months about the title of this track. In interviews, Kelsea frequently wore a hat from a small business in Southern Illinois called Ten Four Co., which had a huge Sorry Mom patch displayed on the front. She also used the phrase multiple times in social media videos and captions, and it became obvious it had been hiding in plain sight for awhile. To make matters even better, my video investigation and compilation of every hint was liked and reposted by Kelsea on TikTok just minutes before she officially announced it as the next single. One of my proudest moments as a fan to date.
The latest single Two Things, is truly an artistic masterpiece. As one of the most raw, honest, and surprising lyrically-wise, it shows just how deep this record is going to dive into the last couple years of Kelsea’s life. Most significantly, this track reveals the mystery behind the sunflower she has been talking about for months. Sunflowers have become a common theme for Patterns already, and it is anticipated that it will without a doubt continue throughout other tracks. The message is powerful, as it heart-wrenchingly states how no matter what things appear to look on the outside, two things can always be true on the inside. Two Things stands as one of Ballerini’s most honest pieces of songwriting yet, and it’s evident that it was not an easy track to release into the world.
As if a fifth studio album release wasn’t exciting enough, Kelsea plans to put another check on her bucket list by the end of the month as well. On October 29th, she will be headlining Madison Square Garden in New York City for the first time. Ballerini is no stranger to arena shows, as she just headlined Thompson-Boling Arena in her hometown of Knoxville, TN last November. However, with the tie-in that New York City has with the story Patterns is gearing up to tell, this show will feel like being transported right into the magic of the record. It is bound to be a show like never before, and one that will end up being a check off the bucket list for everyone in attendance.
With just 10 days left before the full release of Patterns October 25th cannot come soon enough. Fifteen tracks, with eleven of them being released on the day itself, Kelsea’s most vulnerable chapter is just beginning. Although it’s not always the best idea to repeat old patterns, Kelsea’s pattern of sharing every step of her story with us, both the good and bad, is a pattern I hope repeats itself infinitely.
ROARA Magazine 