Born on the wrong side of the tracks in a town called Papakura – Songwriter, Producer, Musician and Self Managed Artist Kendall Elise rips her heart from her sleeve and stitches it throughout her songs.
Roaming the range from soul stirring country-gothic ballads to full blown barnstormers, her dynamic live performances have silenced audiences, brought them to tears, made them laugh and brought them to their feet. Her style harkens back to the golden decades of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s - eras that you can also hear woven through her songs.
She’s shared stages with well-known local and international acts, including Tami Neilson, Canadian country artist Lindi Ortega, American blues rockers Larkin Poe, toured as support to Kiwi born, LA based Gin Wigmore and most recently supported New Zealand’s highly awarded and internationally renowned Bic Runga. Kendall and her band, The Belgraves were also selected to play support for Scottish band Big Country.
With trademark quirky touches and flawless vocal delivery, Kendall has been turning heads since the release of the debut single and APRA Best Country Song finalist 2017 ‘Heart Full Of Dirt’, also earning a place as finalist for the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award in 2018 and signing a sponsorship with Shure in 2019.
Her first album RED EARTH debuted in 2019 at number 12 on the NZ Music Album charts, earned a nomination for the MLT Songwriting award 2019 and was a finalist for RMNZ's Best Country Artist award 2020.
After a full tour of Europe planned for mid 2020 was postponed she wrote a new album instead, and with the full support of Creative New Zealand and under the mentorship of Bic Runga, Kendall recorded and released her latest album LET THE NIGHT IN. The lead single ‘Between Hello and Goodbye’ was nominated for APRA Best Country Music Song 2021 and latest single ‘Honest Hand’ was successful for video funding from NZ On Air. It debuted at number 16 on the NZ album charts and featured in several Best of 2021 lists, notably from Elsewhere.co.nz and Audiofemme.
"Let The Night In was recorded in lieu of her COVID-cancelled 2020 Europe tour – it’s sparing, stormy, sultry and stunning across all 10 tracks."
Cat Woods
Audiofemme
"...Elise ...hits a midpoint between Grace Slick and Stevie Nicks...
She's something more than country."
Graham Reid
Elsewhere
Kendall and her band The Belgraves have been taking LET THE NIGHT IN on the road all around New Zealand – This from the Ambient Light review of her Auckland release tour show:
“Last night was magnetic, I couldn’t take my eyes off Kendall"
Charlotte Lightbody
Ambient Light
"Kendall Elise is one to watch... She’s a little bit of Grace Slick, Stevie Nicks, Lorretta Lynn and Emmy Lou Harris all mixed together."
Tim Gruar
Ambient Light
Roaming the range from soul stirring country-gothic ballads to full blown barnstormers, her dynamic live performances have silenced audiences, brought them to tears, made them laugh and brought them to their feet. Her style harkens back to the golden decades of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s - eras that you can also hear woven through her songs.
She’s shared stages with well-known local and international acts, including Tami Neilson, Canadian country artist Lindi Ortega, American blues rockers Larkin Poe, toured as support to Kiwi born, LA based Gin Wigmore and most recently supported New Zealand’s highly awarded and internationally renowned Bic Runga. Kendall and her band, The Belgraves were also selected to play support for Scottish band Big Country.
With trademark quirky touches and flawless vocal delivery, Kendall has been turning heads since the release of the debut single and APRA Best Country Song finalist 2017 ‘Heart Full Of Dirt’, also earning a place as finalist for the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award in 2018 and signing a sponsorship with Shure in 2019.
Her first album RED EARTH debuted in 2019 at number 12 on the NZ Music Album charts, earned a nomination for the MLT Songwriting award 2019 and was a finalist for RMNZ's Best Country Artist award 2020.
After a full tour of Europe planned for mid 2020 was postponed she wrote a new album instead, and with the full support of Creative New Zealand and under the mentorship of Bic Runga, Kendall recorded and released her latest album LET THE NIGHT IN. The lead single ‘Between Hello and Goodbye’ was nominated for APRA Best Country Music Song 2021 and latest single ‘Honest Hand’ was successful for video funding from NZ On Air. It debuted at number 16 on the NZ album charts and featured in several Best of 2021 lists, notably from Elsewhere.co.nz and Audiofemme.
"Let The Night In was recorded in lieu of her COVID-cancelled 2020 Europe tour – it’s sparing, stormy, sultry and stunning across all 10 tracks."
Cat Woods
Audiofemme
"...Elise ...hits a midpoint between Grace Slick and Stevie Nicks...
She's something more than country."
Graham Reid
Elsewhere
Kendall and her band The Belgraves have been taking LET THE NIGHT IN on the road all around New Zealand – This from the Ambient Light review of her Auckland release tour show:
“Last night was magnetic, I couldn’t take my eyes off Kendall"
Charlotte Lightbody
Ambient Light
"Kendall Elise is one to watch... She’s a little bit of Grace Slick, Stevie Nicks, Lorretta Lynn and Emmy Lou Harris all mixed together."
Tim Gruar
Ambient Light