Kip Moore is opening up about his latest album, Reason to Believe. The record, out in May, is Moore’s seventh, and also his most personal.
“I felt like I was describing more of who I am as a human. This album is my daily thoughts. In here,” Moore tells Nashville Lifestyles, touching his chest. “It’s an ‘in here’ kind of thing.”
Unlike other projects where Moore, in his own way, tried to write for his fans, Reason to Believe is 13 songs that Moore wrote for himself, including “The Darkness,” “Headlights,” “Josephine,” and more.
“When you’re honest, the song happens faster,” Moore maintains. “You’re not preaching — you’re just telling the truth.”
How the Loss of Songwriter Brett James Inspired Kip Moore’s ‘Reason to Believe’ Album
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Moore was working on Reason to Believe when songwriter Brett James was tragically killed in a plane crash last year. The two were planning on taking a trip together when tragedy struck.
“He was like my favorite person on this planet,” Moore says. “I kept thinking there would be another time.”
Moore wrote “Reason to Believe” with Dan Couch and Scott Stepakoff years ago. It was a favorite of James, which is why Moore made it the title track.
“It was the song that Brett thought should have been on Up All Night,” Moore tells Billboard, referencing his debut album. “He said, ‘That is a massive hit record. You are out of your mind not to put this on a record…The melody is so strong that even if you miss on the recording, you’re good to go.’ And I was like, ‘No, man. It’s just gotta all line up.’ I’ve played it live maybe five times. Everyone comes to shows with signs for ‘Reason to Believe.’ It’s the only old song on the record, but it just felt appropriate.
“Everything about that song, and what it meant from the get-go, was the world will beat you down,” he continues. “And you got to have a reason to believe. And once Brett died, it just felt it was time. He was the one person that believed in me more than anybody on this planet. Everything about that felt appropriate to not only finally wrangle the song in, but to title the record after it summed up what the record was for me.”
Now 46, Moore has lived enough to experience plenty of losses in his life, although none as profound as James.
“I don’t know if there’s been anyone in my adult life that made a more profound impact on me,” Moore says. “Brett and I were thick as thieves for probably the first four years that I was with [James’ publishing company] Cornman. There was a period of two years where I don’t think we went a day without hanging out, just writing songs and riding motorcycles. What I carry with me the most when I think about Brett is Brett got me to believe in myself when I didn’t.”
Photo Credit: PJ Brown