You can say it’s his talent, you can say it’s his skill, but after you listen to Kyle McKearney’s music, you know it’s nothing but pure artistry—in addition to talent and skill. When the alt-country artist released his sophomore album, A Traveler’s Lament, in 2023, the world took note. The project earned the CCMA for Alternative Country Album of the Year, received 25 other award nominations, and became shortlisted for a 2024 GRAMMY Award. It also opened up Kyle to stages around the world, where he gained international praise and cultivated a global fanbase. He now has over 10B global streams. His 2025 album, To The River, cemented Kyle’s place as one of the most compelling voices in Canada’s modern country and Americana space, as its expansive sound and extraordinary ability to connect with audiences made an impact in the scene. It gave fans hits like “Broken Hearts Hide,” “Wedding Day,” and “Tomorrow,” defining this chapter of Kyle’s career. This year, he will embark on a new chapter, as he gears up to release his upcoming album, Wildflower—Kyle’s first project that was entirely recorded in his home-built studio.
The lead single from Wildflower, “Rearview” catches someone who can’t escape their past. Among the lively country sound set forth by the music, Kyle makes some very solid analogies between cars and relationships. With heartfelt vocals, he sings, “You’re been taking up space in my rearview / And I can’t move on while your memory’s riding shotgun.” He also admits, “I’m miles away from letting go of you,” implying that the journey is not always better than the destination.
Telling us more about how “Rearview” came together, Kyle shares,
“I had this lyric idea, ‘you’ve been taking up space in my rearview,’ for about a year before I got around to writing the song. I’m sure glad I finally did. ‘Rearview’ is a ‘can’t get over you’ track. A heated breakup leads us down a road of memories and nostalgia. Sometimes our feelings for someone are much stronger than our need to get over them.”
You can listen to “Rearview” on platforms like Apple Music, SoundCloud, and Spotify.
Keep up with Kyle McKearney: Facebook // X // Instagram // YouTube // Website
