Reconnecting at the 30A Songwriters Festival, host Jason English sits down with Mike Kinnebrew to discuss the release of his ambitious new album, Call It Life. Known for a soulful Southern sound that has earned him a dedicated following across the Southeast, Kinnebrew has built a reputation on high-energy performances and a "Mr. Sentimental" streak that defines his lyrical vulnerability.

The conversation centers on the intentional tensions within his new 11-song collection. Kinnebrew explains the deliberate sequencing of tracks like "Good Day" immediately followed by "Something Bad," noting, "They’re both honest. I am both of these things". This thematic honesty extends to his darker material, which he initially hesitated to release. "Some of the darker songs... people reached out and said that’s my favorite song," Kinnebrew reflects. "It just tells you there's that darkness... in all of us".

A cornerstone of Kinnebrew’s current journey is his "Sobriety Is" project. What began as a personal note-taking exercise three years ago has evolved into an annual social media tradition during "Dry January". He describes sobriety not through rigid lectures, but through presence, such as having the energy to throw a football with his son rather than watching from the sidelines. On Call It Life, the song "King Lear" serves as a "confessional" regarding the "drugstore of distractions" people use to avoid feeling.

When asked about his artistic future, Kinnebrew remains rooted in the process rather than the metrics of fame. He expresses a desire to play for anyone who truly wants to listen, moving away from the "soul-crushing" pressure of filling rooms with friends and family. His guiding philosophy remains a simple, open-hearted curiosity: "I am curious as to what the next day looks like... if I just stay open-hearted to this world that still will crush you".