Joe Thibodeau Brings Ambient Magic to Kelsea Ballerini’s “Patterns” Tour
Multi-platinum music producer and mixer Joe Thibodeau, known for his innovative soundscapes, teamed up with country music powerhouse Kelsea Ballerini to craft atmospheric transitions for her “Patterns” tour, which will be previewed with tonight’s sold-out album debut at Madison Square Garden. Thibodeau’s work on the intro track to “How Much Do You Love Me?” delivers a hauntingly reflective ambience, setting the perfect tone for Ballerini’s poignant lyrics, “If the world was ending, where would you be?”
Reflecting on his inspiration for the track, Thibodeau shares,
“That lyric really connected with me. It raises the question of how much you love someone and who is most important in your life. I wanted to highlight that lyric and bring a dreamy, reflective atmosphere to the moment.”
Using Kelsea’s heartfelt vocal performance as a foundation, Joe crafted an introduction that enhances her unique blend of sweetness and vulnerability.
To achieve this sound, Thibodeau employed a variety of production techniques, including time-stretching vocals in Ableton Live 12 to create a spacious ambience. For the atmospheric vocal layers, he used Waves Harmony and Izotope Vocalsynth 2 to create subtle vocoded vocal chops, blending harmonies that surround Ballerini’s voice. Additionally, Cableguys Shaperbox 3 added texture to the vocal lines, resulting in a rich, layered intro that invites the audience into an introspective journey. “Kelsea’s voice has this sweet, poignant quality that I wanted to amplify through the intro piece. Her songs are full of melody and emotion, and it’s exciting to bring in new sonic layers to her live performances,” Joe explains.
This partnership marks the latest chapter in a long-standing creative journey between Thibodeau and Ballerini, whose professional relationship began in 2016 when she was on Rascal Flatts’ “Rhythm and Roots” tour. “I first began working with Kelsea back then, and even then, she was super kind and creative in her ideas for her shows. Eight years later, she’s the same, and with her songwriting even stronger and her live performance so engaging. It makes my job easy and super fun,” Thibodeau adds.
The “Patterns” tour will continue through 30 cities, including stops in Chicago, Nashville, Los Angeles, and Seattle, where audiences will experience Thibodeau’s evocative production in each venue. “It’s fun to explore ambient and pop textures with Kelsea’s music,” Thibodeau adds. “She loves incorporating lots of different vibes into her shows; which make them extremely engaging.”
Kelsea Ballerini’s “Patterns” album is available on all major streaming platforms, and her U.S. tour tickets are on sale now, with $1 from each ticket supporting her Feel Your Way Through Foundation, which promotes mental health awareness. For an evening of music that celebrates growth, connection, and soul-stirring soundscapes, fans won’t want to miss out on Kelsea’s 30-city tour. For more information and to get tickets visit https://www.kelseaballerini.com.
About Kelsea Ballerini
Four-time GRAMMY-nominated Kelsea Ballerini has logged five back-to-back Top 10 entries on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. With seven #1 singles and 31 gold and platinum RIAA certifications to date, her catalog boasts smashes such as the double-platinum “Miss Me More” and “Peter Pan.” Among dozens of accolades thus far, she has garnered four GRAMMY® Award nominations, won two ACM Awards, two CMA Awards and received multiple career nominations from the ACM Awards, American Music Awards, CMA Awards, CMT Awards, and People’s Choice Awards. Kelsea’s fourth album, SUBJECT TO CHANGE, arrived in September 2022. The gold-certified first single, “HEARTFIRST,” earned Kelsea a 2023 GRAMMY® nomination for “Best Country Solo Performance.” Kelsea surprised fans with the release of intimate six-song Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (Black River) in February 2023. The project became an instant hit with fans and debuted to universal acclaim from critics including The New York Times, Variety, Rolling Stone and more. On the heels of the Welcome Mat’s success, Kelsea made her Saturday Night Live debut on March 4, 2023. In September 2023, she graced the cover of TIME Magazine’s 2023 TIME100 Next issue, recognizing the 100 emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership. She also earned nominations for two 2023 CMA Awards: “Album of The Year” & “Female Vocalist of the Year.” To top it all off, Kelsea earned a GRAMMY® nomination for “Best Country Album” for her acclaimed Rolling Up The Welcome Mat.