Today marks the release of “Same Street (Different Towns),” the latest single from Kentucky, the musical project of Canadian singer-songwriter Jordan Holman. This track continues to pave the way for Holman’s highly anticipated debut album Second Chance Music. With its vibrant instrumentation and poignant lyrics, the song delves into the emotional tug-of-war of being physically close to someone while emotionally miles apart. The chorus, soaring and powerful, provides a striking contrast to the melancholy of its subject, as Holman explores the delicate balance between fractured connections and the enduring thread of love.
At its core, “Same Street (Different Towns)” is an exploration of the complexities of family and the often unsung emotional terrain of separation. Holman draws from his own experience, reflecting on the challenges of co-parenting and the quiet, unspoken ties that linger even after lives diverge. Through evocative lyrics and a melody that stays with you long after the song ends, Holman paints a vivid picture of lives split by circumstance yet forever connected by shared memories.
Musically, the track combines the warmth of indie folk and acoustic rock, with subtle nods to the timeless sounds of The Tragically Hip and Bryan Adams. The instrumentation moves with a natural ease, creating a sense of forward motion, while Holman’s steady, emotive tenor brings an authenticity to the narrative. The result is a song that feels as deeply personal as it is relatable, resonating with anyone who has experienced the shifting tides of love and loss.
With Second Chance Music on the horizon, “Same Street (Different Towns)” showcases Kentucky’s unique ability to turn raw, introspective moments into universal connections. The song acknowledges the weight of past experiences, but ultimately refuses to be defined by them, instead choosing to celebrate the complexities and resilience of love. We caught up with Kentucky, below.
“Same Street (Different Towns)” has such a unique balance of emotional dissonance and uplifting melodies. Can you tell us about the process of blending the bittersweet lyricism with the buoyant instrumentation?
Well the chorus is truly declarative. “I love you…whether I’m wrong or right.” It’s a decision I made, a decision of the heart. We obviously know what the song is about, who is singing to whom, et cetera…for a short time, I was very confused about these feelings I was holding for this woman I’m singing to. I had to come to my decision pretty quickly, the decision that I loved her whether it was wrong or right, because it was kind of killing me to have that kind of emotional dissonance, as you put it. I think that’s a really good way of looking at it, that phrase you use. And on top of my own personal experience, I’m singing about the lives of maybe 40% of parents in North America today. That’s a lot of people. And of course, I’m singing for the kids the most. I want my son to know I love his Mom, no bullshit. That’s more important to me than the other kinds of statements I could make. I don’t want to write a song suggesting that people have sympathy for me or any other parents who divorce or separate and leave their kids wanting. I want to send a signal about getting on with it, getting back up, getting going for these kids. And as much as there is a “do it for the kids” sentiment around the subject of co-parenting, I actually think it’s total bullshit. You do things for yourself. We all do. There’s nothing unnatural about selfishness. What’s good is channeling that selfishness, or you might call it that naturalness, into something good. And what makes me feel just a tiny bit good about this song is that I go up on the hill and plant the flag saying, man, I love you. I’m sorry about all this. It’s probably not going to have a happy ending. But damn if I’m not going to do this thing right, the best I can.
The song explores the complexities of co-parenting and separation. How much of “Same Street (Different Towns)” is influenced by your personal experiences?
Well, as you now know, completely. But also, it’s the same story for my wife and for so many other people we all know. The story of my wife and my (unusual) family is for albums 2 and 3. But it’s influenced, yes, by my personal experience, and also by that of so many people I know. We needed a song, and I’ve brought what I know to the table.
You’ve mentioned the song’s theme of love and separation being universal. What kind of feedback have you received from listeners who have connected with this message?
One moment stands out for me last year while out on tour. I played a song and story session at a week-long mother-daughter summer camp, and almost all of the daughters were children of divorce and separation. I played the song as a part of it, and afterwards I was sorta focused on how the daughters might feel, and looking out for it in the group discussion. Instead, a mother grabbed me by the elbow almost as soon as I was done, with tears in her eyes, saying “That song is my life.”
How does the creation of “Same Street (Different Towns)” compare to previous songs you’ve written in terms of emotional depth and storytelling?
That’s really for my audience to consider or decide, if they even compare songs in that way. However, I will say that I’m proud of “going there” with this subject. It’s really painful, and to have found a naked pride in loving someone regardless of their feelings towards me is something that I’m very proud of.
Musically, the track carries influences of The Tragically Hip and Bryan Adams. How have these artists shaped your own sound, and are there any specific tracks that served as inspiration for this song?
Every artist is a cannibal and every poet is a thief! But we are sneaky. We don’t always let on where we copped things from. In this case, I figured out my likely influence in hindsight. I have to be honest with you – I don’t think when I write. I let it come, and I live a lifestyle conducive to being able to receive songs when they come. So, if I ever do figure out where I might have been inspired from, it’s in hindsight. After this song was done arriving slash being written, I realized where the bouncy feel came from. Tears For Fears and their song, “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”. It’s the feel of it. In terms of the two influences you’ve named – if that’s the case, then GREAT!
The imagery of the family divided is central to the song. Was there a particular moment or experience that inspired you to write about this subject?
Yeah, it was too painful to be able to reflect directly upon myself at the time when the song came to me, so I really was writing it through the comments and eyes of a few people very close to me who told me their stories of “the family divided”. That’s how the song, the lyrics, and the arrangement came through. Then, after several months on pause and then a sudden revelation that really I was (also) singing for myself, I made a couple of lyrical revisions so that I became “I” in the song, and what I had is what you hear on the recording.
Your upcoming debut album, Second Chance Music, is full of resilience and renewal. How do you see “Same Street (Different Towns)” fitting into the broader themes of the album?
This song sort of is the central theme, I guess. That’s why it’s the last song on side 1 of the vinyl, and why the album itself turns into a sort of “part 2” when this song ends. When you make a mess of all you can, you go into the spiritual wilderness to figure out what in the hell is wrong inside of yourself. You roughly figure it out, and you come back with all your answers pre-loaded and ready to fire…and you find that you’re returning to your life in the exact same state as you left it in on the day that you left. This song is what I decided to do with the mess that I left myself.
You’ve performed across many cities in Canada. How has touring influenced your approach to songwriting and your connection with audiences?
That’s a thoughtful question, and it made me stop and really think about it. Touring doesn’t influence my approach to songwriting because I live a lifestyle that allows me to be ready to receive songs when they come. Touring maybe perpetuates that, but the lifestyle of touring is simply a different version of the same lifestyle that I live when I’m not on the road. In fact, to write when I’m touring requires more discipline, which I am committed to and I do. Touring is always influencing my connection with audiences because that’s what playing a show is – communicating back and forth with an audience in order to (hopefully) both transcend and reach a higher level that is not possible alone.
Given the deeply personal nature of your music, what do you hope listeners take away from “Same Street (Different Towns)” and your future work?
I hope it has function for them! I hope the song is useful. I hope it challenges people in whatever identical or similar circumstance they find themselves in. I hope they listen to it and are motivated to act. To change. I hope it makes them feel good in a way that also benefits them and the lives of the people they care about. If it doesn’t, then never mind.
Looking ahead, how do you envision the next chapter of Kentucky evolving as you continue to release new music and connect with listeners?I envision listeners of my songs getting back in touch with what makes them care to love music and to love and to be alive in the first place. I do not want to go back to the old. To old ways of doing things, to old ideas. I want new. New everything. Renewal, rebirth. but I am aghast at the state of our culture in North America. It is flat, flattened, materialistic, desperate for attention, dependent on the approval and opinions of others, and sad and most of all scared. I envision my songs helping to bring people’s human spirits back to life.
