Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Riley.
Hi Kelly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Like a lot of kids, my story starts with family road trips and singing for hours alone in the basement. But things got serious at 13 when I hijacked my brother’s guitar. The second I started playing, the songs just started pouring out of me. I eventually traded my basement stage for the classrooms of Berklee College of Music, where I studied composition and voice. Berklee was incredible, but the real education came from playing live. I spent years performing with all kinds of bands—playing rock, country, blues, jazz, pop, and folk in every venue that would have me and my bands. That grind taught me how to connect with an audience and refine my writing. Over time, that persistence led to some unforgettable moments, like opening for Willie Nelson, Steve Miller and Lyle Lovett, hearing my songs play on national television, and garnering many songwriting and performance awards. Moving to Nashville felt like the natural next chapter. Today, I’m fully immersed in the community here—writing, performing my new music, and coaching incredible students all over the world through Berklee Online, in my home-studio, and online.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The life of a musician always has its struggles. From a self-employed, business view point, there is an ongoing pursuit of generating more income, booking, promotion, scheduling, etc., etc.. From a personal point of view, there are a lot of sacrifices made in living a non-conventional lifestyle, hours of practice, travel, and balancing life and art.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Well, I wear a lot of “hats”. I’m a Nashville-based songwriter, performer, and music instructor. I specialize in teaching and creating music that connects deeply with people, whether that’s through a live performance or a song placed on a TV show like The Young and the Restless. I also play guitar, bass, and piano, and my background spans Americana, Country, Blues, Rock, Folk, and Jazz. What sets me apart is my ability to translate the key elements of songwriting, performing, and vocal and instrumental techniques into clear, actionable tools for my students at Berklee Online, in home-studio in Nashville, and online. I don’t just teach the rules; I live them every day in Nashville writing rooms and on the road. I am proud of my creative independence, work ethic, and resilience. Releasing my third solo album, Love Is Gonna Find You, while maintaining a rigorous teaching and performing schedule is a fulfilling reflection of a lifetime dedicated to this craft.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
More than anything, I want to say thank you for supporting independent artists and please, continue to do so! It’s a challenging time to make music, and I’m so excited and grateful to share my new album, Love Is Gonna Find You, with all of you. If you want to dive into the new tracks, catch a live show, or even study songwriting, voice, guitar, or performance with me, please say hello online! You can stream my music on Spotify, Apple Music, etc., or purchase my new EP at kellyriley.net . You can also find me at instagram.com/thekellyriley, youtube.com/kellyriley, and facebook.com/kelly.riley.3511
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kellyriley.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekellyriley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelly.riley.3511/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KellyRiley
