Heartfirst

Album: Subject to Change (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, an instant connection with a guy at a party leads to Kelsea Ballerini diving heart first into a romance. She wrote the feel-good pop-country tune with her friends, songwriter Alysa Vanderheym (Kygo & OneRepublic's "Lose Somebody," Eric Nam's "Wonder") and Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild. "We were all just talking about music that we're inspired by right now," said Ballerini, "and wanting to write something upbeat, warm and free-feeling, and just being people who follow our gut and lead with our heart, and this is what we came up with."
  • Kelsea Ballerini released "Heartfirst" on April 8, 2022 as the follow-up to her reflective single "Half Of My Hometown."

    "I hope this song is just a feel good for people," she told Audacy. "With my last single, 'Half Of My Hometown,' I wanted to really tell a story. I got to dive into the songwriter in me."

    Ballerini also said she likes to zig-zag with her singles, and with "Heartfelt" she wanted "a new, clean-slate-feeling song. It's a bop, put the windows down."
  • When they wrote the song, Ballerini wanted it to be something fun and lighthearted for her touring set. "I hope it's the one where everyone kind of starts dancing," the country star said.
  • One Direction songwriter Julian Bunetta and Nashville mainstay Shane McAnally produced the shimmering track. McAnally's other collaborations with Ballerini include "In Between," "I Hate Love Songs," "The Other Girl" and "Half of My Hometown."
  • Kelsea Ballerini had planned on debuting the song live at the 2022 CMT Music Awards on April 11, 2022. A positive COVID-19 test kept her from the ceremony, but she still got to perform the song by video link from her backyard.
  • When Ballerini spent time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic she listened to the music she grew up on, including The Corrs. The Irish sibling band's "Breathless" inspired this song.
  • The video, conceptualized by Ballerini and directed by Patrick Tracy, mirrors the song's storyline of an instant romance, but instead of meeting her potential love of her life at a bar as the song suggests, Ballerini bumps into him on the street after buying groceries.

    Graphic designer and photographer Patrick Tracy is Dan + Shay's go-to visual collaborator, having grown up with Dan Symers in Pennsylvania.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.