Episode Details

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with South Carolina country artist Kile Antone for a conversation about music, songwriting, faith, identity, and finding your way back to something you thought you had left behind.

Kile’s path to country music has been anything but conventional. He began playing guitar as a teenager, but life eventually took him into law enforcement, ministry, and work as a paramedic. For nearly 30 years, he rarely performed country music in public. Then, a few years ago, he walked into an open mic with his guitar, so nervous he was physically shaking, and sang a few songs. That night started a new chapter.

We spend a lot of time talking about how those years away from the stage now inform Kile’s songwriting. His song “Drink Some More” grew from a late-night message from someone going through a difficult moment and Kile’s own memories of growing up in a home affected by alcoholism and violence. We talk about protecting the people behind a song while still preserving its emotional truth, why a song doesn’t have to follow a prescribed structure, and how country music can say an enormous amount with very little.

The conversation also moves into more personal territory as Kile talks about separating who he is from the roles he has occupied throughout his life. He shares a powerful story about being asked by a counselor, “Who is Kile Antone?” and realizing that pastor, police officer, and paramedic were answers to what he did—not who he was. That leads us into a discussion about music as a place where he can simply be himself, and about how age and perspective can change the reasons we make music in the first place.

We also talk about performing solo versus playing with a band, learning to read a room, his Open Range Band and Stormfront Band, and the new opportunities that have emerged through his friendship and work with country artist Leon Everett. Kile also shares what’s ahead, including his first album, original songs, a duet with Leon Everett, and his recording of George Strait’s “Christmas Cookies.”

Key Takeaways

• Kile returned to performing country music after nearly 30 years away from the public stage, beginning with three songs at a local open mic.

• His experiences in law enforcement, ministry, and emergency medicine have given him a deep reservoir of real-life stories and emotions to draw from as a songwriter.

• “Drink Some More” was written in roughly 30 minutes after Kile received a late-night message from someone dealing with the consequences of alcohol and conflict.

• Kile believes in protecting the identities of the people who inspire his songs while remaining faithful to the emotional truth of their stories.

• His unconventional journey back to music has become as much about rediscovering his identity as it is about building a career.

• Performing has given Kile an outlet separate from the weight and responsibility that have accompanied much of his professional life.

• His growing musical career includes solo performances, the Open Range Band, Kile Antone and the Stormfront Band, recordings with Leon Everett, and work toward his first full album.

Music from the Episode

Drink Some More - Kile Antone
 

About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast about the people who make music and the experiences that shape the way they make it. I sit down with musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and other creative people for conversations about craft, collaboration, careers, influences, and the stories behind the music.

Connect with the Show

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? 
Reach out at contact@thebandwichtapes.com.