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What Is Life? (album)

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What Is Life?
Studio album by
Brett Kissel
ReleasedApril 9, 2021
GenreCountry
Length34:45
Label
Producer
Brett Kissel chronology
Now or Never
(2020) 		What Is Life?
(2021) 		The Compass Project
(2023)
Singles from What Is Life?
  1. "Make a Life, Not a Living"
    Released: March 5, 2021
  2. "Night in the Life"
    Released: August 13, 2021

What Is Life? is the fifth major-label studio album by Canadian country music artist Brett Kissel.[1] It was released on April 9, 2021, through Warner Music Canada, and ONErpm in the United States.[2][3] It includes the #1 Canada Country hit single "Make a Life, Not a Living",[4][5] as well as "Night in the Life".[6]

Background

[edit]

Kissel believes the COVID-19 pandemic changed the music industry and that music needs to "bring people together safely, tell the story, distract from the real challenges going on in the world right now". At the onset of the pandemic, Kissel felt lacking of creative spirit and did not write songs for six months. He began writing again in late 2020 and early 2021, and says that from this album forward he will spend the next few years focusing on telling a story with his music and not focusing on profit.[7] He remarked that the song "Die to Go Home" was the "most emotional" for him as it was "super vulnerable" and a story he felt he would never share, while he called "Slidin' Your Way" an "ode" to 1990s country group Diamond Rio.[8]

Development

[edit]

Kissel says this album is "not really hit driven" rather it is "heart driven". In order to make the album more important to him, he recorded some of the songs on his farm in Alberta, and took all of the photos for the album and its liner notes on the farm he grew up at. He also invited his wife and three children to be involved with the album, with each of his three children featuring on their own interlude.[1] He described the title of the album What Is Life? as an "age-old question" that he has focused on for this phase of his career and life, saying that "each and every time, the one thought that is always front and centre for me, is doing the best we can with what we have, and making the most of our lives".[2] Kissel opted to have his touring band play the backing instruments on the album instead of Nashville session players.[9]

Critical reception

[edit]

What Is Life? received overwhelmingly positive reviews upon release, with many noting the real-world emotions and feelings in the songs. Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal gave the album an "A rating", saying "there is a lot of variety in this musical effort, and every track has its own identity".[10] Hannah Rastrick of Complete Country called the album "incredible", "genuine", and "inspiring", adding that "it came at the perfect time for a lot of people looking for direction".[11] Pip Ellwood-Hughes of Entertainment Focus referred to What is Life? as a "timely record that is sure to resonate with everyone", noting Kissel's "honest approach" and calling it his "best work to date".[12] Erica Zisman of NY Country Swag stated that the album is a "powerful project that is all love, all heart, and all honesty".[13] Kim Hughes of Parton and Pearl described the album as "beautiful, melodic, earnest, important and nearly perfect" as well as "soul-affirming".[14] Nanci Dagg of Canadian Beats Media said the songs were "well-thought-out".[15]

Track listing

[edit]
What Is Life? track listing[2]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What Is Life?" (A Perspective)
1:54
2."Make a Life, Not a Living"
2:47
3."Die to Go Home"
3:08
4."From Aria" (Interlude) (featuring Aria Kissel) 0:22
5."Down to Earth"
3:03
6."Better Bad Idea"
3:22
7."Night in the Life"
3:26
8."From Leo" (Interlude) (featuring Leo Kissel) 0:24
9."Everything in the Rearview"
  • Day
  • Olsen
  • Jordan Minton
3:06
10."Slidin' Your Way"
  • Justin Wilson
  • Michael Lotten
  • Trea Landon
  • Chapin Hartford
  • Donald Pfrimmer
  • James Foster[a]
3:16
11."Without"
  • Kissel
  • Barlowe
  • Frasure
2:50
12."From This Day Forward"
  • Austin Taylor Smith
3:33
13."From Mila" (Interlude) (featuring Mila Kissel) 0:32
14."Kindness"
  • Kissel
  • Matt Rogers
3:02
Total length:34:45

Charts

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Singles

[edit]
Chart performance for singles from What Is Life?
Year Single Peak chart
positions 		Certifications
CAN Country
[16] 		CAN
[17]
2021 "Make a Life, Not a Living" 1 49
"Night in the Life" 15 —

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Nominated Work Result Ref.
2021 Canadian Country Music Association Album of the Year What is Life? Nominated [19]
[20]
[21]
Video of the Year "Make a Life, Not a Living" Won
2022 Juno Awards Country Album of the Year What is Life? Won [22]
Single of the Year "Make a Life, Not a Living" Nominated [23]
Canadian Country Music Association Single of the Year "Make a Life, Not a Living" Nominated [24][25]

Release history

[edit]
Release formats for What is Life?
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various April 9, 2021 Digital download
[26]
Streaming
April 23, 2021 Compact disc [27]
June 4, 2021 Vinyl [28]
United States April 9, 2021 Digital download ONErpm
Streaming

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Contains a sample of "Meet in the Middle" by Diamond Rio.

References

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  1. ^ a b Meister, Lauren (March 4, 2021). "Brett Kissel says new record is heart driven not hit driven". CochraneNow.
  2. ^ a b c Hollabaugh, Lori (March 5, 2021). "Brett Kissel Contemplates Life, Love, Gratitude On New Album". MusicRow Magazine.
  3. ^ "Brett Kissel Announces New Album What's Life!". iHeart Radio Canada. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  4. ^ Murray, Joshua (March 5, 2021). "Brett Kissel Releases New Single, Announces What Is Life? Album". The Reviews Are In.
  5. ^ DeCaprio, Caleigh (March 5, 2021). "Brett Kissel New Song "Make A Life, Not A Living"". NY Country Swag.
  6. ^ "Brett Kissel - Night In The Life". New Country Songs. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  7. ^ Dukes, Billy (March 5, 2021). "Interview: Brett Kissel's New 'What Is Life?' Album to Reflect Right Here, Right Now". Taste of Country.
  8. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (April 8, 2021). "Interview: Brett Kissel Opens Up About How The Pandemic Inspired His New Album 'What Is Life?'". Entertainment Focus.
  9. ^ Kennedy, John R (March 5, 2021). "LISTEN: Brett Kissel Debuts 'Make A Life, Not A Living'". iHeartRadio.ca. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  10. ^ Papadatos, Markos (April 12, 2021). "Review: Brett Kissel releases superb reflective 'What is Life?' album". Digital Journal. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  11. ^ Rastrick, Hannah (April 14, 2021). "REVIEW: Brett Kissel's Album 'What Is Life?'". Complete Country. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  12. ^ Ellwood-Hughes, Pip (April 9, 2021). "Brett Kissel – 'What Is Life?' Review". Entertainment Focus.
  13. ^ Zisman, Erica (April 9, 2021). "Brett Kissel: 'What Is Life?' – Album Review". NY Country Swag. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  14. ^ Hughes, Kim (April 9, 2021). "Album Review: Brett Kissel, What Is Life?". Parton and Pearl. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  15. ^ Dagg, Nanci (April 9, 2021). "Brett Kissel releases new album, What Is Life?". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "Brett Kissel Chart History (Canada Country)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "Brett Kissel Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  18. ^ "Canadian singles certifications – Brett Kissel – Make a Life, Not a Living". Music Canada.
  19. ^ Kennedy, John R. (September 21, 2021). "The Reklaws Lead 2021 CCMA Awards Nominations". iHeartRadio.ca. Bell Media.
  20. ^ Samhan, Jamie (November 30, 2021). "2021 CCMA Awards winners list: Dallas Smith voted entertainer of the year". Global News.
  21. ^ "CCMA 2021 Award Nominees". Canadian Country Music Association. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  22. ^ Patel, Arti; Benchetrit, Jenna (May 14, 2022). "Juno Awards 2022: Charlotte Cardin wins big at opening night". CBC News.
  23. ^ Jackson Weaver, "Charlotte Cardin, The Weeknd, Justin Bieber lead 2022 Juno Award nominees". CBC News, March 1, 2022.
  24. ^ "2022 CCMA AWARD NOMINEES". Canadian Country Music Association. 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on September 13, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
  25. ^ "TENILLE TOWNES TAKES HOME FOUR WINS AT THE 2022 CCMA AWARDS PRESENTED BY TD". Canadian Country Music Association (Press release). Global News Wire. September 11, 2022. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022.
  26. ^ "What Is Life? - Brett Kissel". Apple Music. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  27. ^ "What Is Life? - Brett Kissel CD". Warner Music Canada. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  28. ^ "What Is Life? - Brett Kissel Vinyl". Warner Music Canada. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
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