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John Bkila Sub-Editor jbkila@oakvillebeaver.com Rachael Kennedy helps write track off of Britney Spears' new album by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene 35 | Thursday, September 1, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Rachael Kennedy's musical career has been built on seizing every moment and opportunity that's come her way -- no matter how unconventional they are. Sharing how she came to meet one of her songwriting production partners Nathalia Marshall, the Oakville native laughed about the circumstances that led to them forming their professional relationship. "I was on a flight back from Los Angeles to Toronto sitting next to this guy who had an amazing tattoo on his hand," she recalled, noting how she turned to him to express as much. "We started talking the rest of the plane ride and it turns out he did a lot of graphic design for Young Money, Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj, but he was also Rachael Kennedy working with this artist with her branding and that ended up being Nathalia," the 24-year-old explained. "(The) next time I went to L.A., I decided to follow up because you just never know and I ended up meeting her (Marshall) and we just hit off; we had a creative flow." The pair, along with another songwriter Lance Shipp, who Kennedy also met by happenstance, ended up forming L I O N C H L D, a songwriting production team that has produced 150 songs that are ready to be pitched to artists. They've been working feverishly in studio to Los Angeles a year and a half ago. Although she misses her family terribly, she notes moving out to L.A. has really helped her grow as a person and an artist. "It's crazy how awesome L.A. is in terms of its openness," she said. "I like that people live their lives like how they want to live. It's an open environment." She added over the last few months, it has really started to feel like "home" to her. "I'm at the brink of the next chapter," Kennedy described. She predominantly writes songs right now, something she says comes first. "That's always been at my core," she said. "But I love performing and singing too, so that's definitely part of my path." Oakville native Rachel Kennedy (left), Lance Shipp and Nathalia Marshall wrote the track Coupure Électrique on singer Britney Spears' new album Glory, which was released last Friday (Aug. 26). | submitted photo over the last year to write and produce their collection. "We were in the studio six or seven days a week working on our craft and making it better," described Kennedy, an Appleby College graduate. Their hard work paid off. Coupure Électrique, written by the songwriting team, is the last track (Track 17) on singer Britney Spears' new album Glory, which was released last Friday (Aug. 26). It was pitched to the pop sensation earlier this year and Spears loved what she heard. When translated into English, the title means blackout, explained Kennedy, noting `Blackout' also happens to be the name of Spears' fifth studio album released in 2007. She describes how the song is about being so infatuated with someone you end of forgetting about the world that surrounds you whenever they are around. Kennedy, who wrote her first song when she was 14 years old, said she feels like she's exactly where she should be right now in her career. From her days performing at open-mic nights across Toronto to recording her debut CD, The In-Between, and landing a development deal with Warner Music Canada, she noted she's putting 200 per cent into doing what she loves. Kennedy added although there have been challenges, she's doing what it takes to make it -- that includes landing a spot in the Lester Sill Songwriting workshop for Advanced Songwriting in L.A. in 2014 where she got to work with Grammy-nominated songwriters. She was also travelling to both Nashville, Tenn., and L.A. over the last few years to take part in songwriting workshops. "It's been such a rollercoaster in the best way possible," Kennedy described about her move Literally, I'm not even joking, this is one of the only epiphany moments I've had in my whole life. I bawled my eyes out because I was like, `Oh my gosh, this is exactly what I need to do....' My life was clear to me in that moment. Rachael Kennedy Singer/songwriter Kennedy has had a passion for music her entire life, however, it wasn't until she was 14 she decided to pick up a guitar and learn how to play a Tegan and Sara song. Later that year, she attempted writing her first song and that solidified her career path. "Literally, I'm not even joking, this is one of the only epiphany moments I've had in my whole life," she described. "I balled my eyes out because I was like, `Oh my gosh, this is exactly what I need to do....' My life was clear to me in that moment." For more on Kennedy, visit rachaelkennedy. com. Big Movies, Small Prices! 171 Speers Road (at Kerr) Oakville General: $8.50 children (3-13): $6.50 Seniors (65+): $6.50 tuesdays: $5.00 905-338-6397 www.film.ca facebook.com/filmca @filmcacinemas Sully (pG) September 9 bridGet JoneS baby (14a) the maGnificent Seven (14a) September 16 September 23 StorkS (Stc) September 23 miSS pereGrine'S home ome for peculiar children (Stc) September 30