Tigirlily Gold Talks Debut Album ‘Blonde’ and Embracing Unfiltered Songwriting [Exclusive]

Tigirlily Gold is making a statement with the release of their standout debut album, Blonde, out now via Monument Records. Three years in the making, this 10-song project serves as the perfect introduction to the duo, comprised of sisters Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh, and brings back the girl group energy that country music has been missing for quite some time.

Just days before the release of Blonde, we sat down with Kendra and Krista to chat about the project and learned what was going through their minds ahead of the big release day. 

“I think it’s a lot of full circle, grateful moments,” Krista explained. “We started working on this project from writing to releasing it, at the end of 2021, so it’s been about three years really developing this Blonde project. What gives me new life though is we started releasing some of these songs earlier and seeing people hear songs for the first time, that’s really cool. All the fans experience it because we heard these songs a million times already and we still love them dearly and are so excited about them, but they give songs a new meaning and a new life.” 

Kendra added, “We’re ready, but it feels like the right time as well. And even though we wrote some of these songs three years ago, every single song is still just as relevant in our lives and it’s still is fresh, and we love the music just as much today as we did when we were writing it two, three years ago. So we’re excited for everybody to hear these songs.”

With Kendra and Krista having a hand in writing eight of the album’s 10 tracks, it’s clear that Blonde encompasses everything that the duo stands for while telling personal stories of love, heartbreak, female empowerment, and so much more. 

As Kendra stated, “It really feels like just a batch of songs that really showcase who Tigirlily Gold is, what our sound is. Bringing that girl group energy to country music, hopefully empowering anyone who listens to it, gives them more confidence. Hopefully, you feel a little sassy after you listen to it. You feel heard, you feel the ability to poke fun at yourself if life isn’t going your way.” 

Listeners have already gotten a taste of a few songs on the album through early releases like the rowdy “Shoot Tequila,” the tender “End Up Us,” and the emotional “Tried A Ring On.” Each song tells part of the duo’s story in some way, but it’s the track “Hometown Song” that rings true as the most personal song on the project.    

“We grew up in a town of 2000 people, Hazen, North Dakota. And we loved growing up in a small town, and it gave us so many great memories. And we love going back. We wouldn’t change one thing about it, you experience your best memories, a lot of your first memories in your small town,” Kendra explained. “But at the same time, we experienced some bittersweet things, first heartbreaks, there were a few mean girls along the way. There was a lot of people who when we started doing music, really, really encouraged us. And those are the people I say in the song that we want to make proud. But then there were a few people who rolled their eyes and maybe scoffed and said, ‘They’ll be moving back to North Dakota after they move to Nashville. They’re never going to make it.’ Things like that. And so there is a little bit of wanting to prove people wrong, more people you want to make proud, but…it’s just that push and pull of, we always knew we wanted to move to Nashville, chase this dream, but when you’re in a big city too, there’s something you miss about your small town and home and just the way that can never truly be replaced by somewhere else.” 

Another standout of the album is “Move On,” written by Kendra and Krista with Alex Kline and Scott Stepakoff. This track showcases a different side of the duo as they seductively attempt to convince their partner to make a “move on” them after a night out. It’s sexy. It’s bold. It’s forward. And they didn’t think twice about including it on the record. 

“Kendra had the title and she had the idea of, ‘Hey, people are going to think this is a breakup thing, ‘Move On.’ But I want to write it in a way where it’s make a move on me,’ Krista recalled. “I think we owe it to ourselves as women….We don’t want to filter any of our experiences. So we believe it’s like, ‘Hey, the year is 2024, if you as a woman see someone, you shoot your shot, make the first move, it’s all good.’ Sometimes you’ve got to take matters into your own hands.”

Kendra agreed and went on to explain how some female artists who came before them inspired them to release music without a filter. 

“We’ve always loved and respected listening to female artists who take it to a level where you’re maybe not expecting them to go, and just being really honest and really vulnerable and saying some for other people, maybe uncomfortable things. But I think that’s the beauty of music and artistry is you can put those words into a song and make people feel empowered,” she said. 

Tigirlily Gold, who was recently crowned ACM New Duo of the Year, the album title is about more than just a hair color. For them, Blonde is a “state of mind.” 

“It’s being confident and owning who you are,” Krista insisted, while Kendra added, “It’s truly about owning who you are and living your life unapologetically and being okay with who you are, knowing some people are going to like it, some people aren’t.” 

With the release of Blonde, Tigirlily Gold has not only delivered an album that reflects their most authentic selves but also one that redefines girl group energy in country music. Kendra and Krista’s journey to this debut record has been one of dedication and Blonde a powerful testament to that.