Conversations with Kelley Ann

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelley Ann. 

Hi Kelley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My mom says I was singing before I could talk. And writing as soon as I could hold a pencil. My brothers can attest to the countless hours of singing they had to endure growing up, as well as the many karaoke nights, and American Idol-themed birthday parties. I kept a little notebook of what I thought were poems at the time, but now realize were my first attempts at songs. Creativity filled my younger years, as it does for many of us. Soon into elementary school, sports started to take over. Lacrosse was my identity for so long, and where I was from, sports were the cool thing to do. But music still had its hold on me. I got a guitar for Valentine’s Day from my mom in 2015, the year after my dad passed, and taught myself to play in my bedroom before heading to college. I didn’t know it then but music was slowly shifting its way into my life in a bigger way. Learning to play guitar was like therapy, and after I knew the basics, I started writing. I wrote my first full songs in my dorm room freshman year, and they helped me filter through emotions in a way only music can. One of my best friends and roommates in college sang and played guitar as well, and together we would sing, write, and process all the emotions of a 20 something-year-old girl together. I remember the day in my coach’s office senior year that I said out loud for the first time that I wanted to pursue music. Looking back on that day now I chuckle that I thought that was such a revolutionary thought when the little girl in me was screaming it all along. 

After graduating I had one show lined up to perform an original song at a charity event, then moved home to Columbus, OH where I would play my first couple gigs. As I said during the time, it was kind of like God was placing little step-stones to Nashville. Every week, almost daily, something would happen leading me and my then-boyfriend and I that direction, and we decided if we were gonna try to do this, let’s move to Nashville. And boy does God just keep lying down step-stones. By no means does that imply that anything about the past two years was easy- quite the opposite- but through the hardship, I still have this deep knowing that I am in the right place, doing the right thing. The people I have met here, and the experiences I have had, are all little step-stones keeping me on the path of pursuing this dream. 

I’ve now been in Nashville for a little over a year and a half, and continue to build my circle of talented musicians, friends, and colleagues. Last year was the year I played my first full-band gigs, started recording and wrote more than I ever have. This year, I look forward to playing more live shows, writing for myself and others, and releasing my own music for the first time. I hope to achieve all of this while becoming the best version of myself, and the best artist I can be, inspiring others along the way. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to where I am now has definitely seen many rough patches. My general upbringing and losing my dad when I was 17 to suicide, in particular, being the largest of those. That experience catapulted me into, what I didn’t know then, was a deep depression. Having to pull myself out of that (with a lot of help from a lot of amazing individuals), really shaped who I am, and gave me the opportunity to make my life into what I want it to be. I had to start from square one and redefine who I was to myself, and I still face many hardships from that time in my life. In a lot of ways, I am the person I am because of the road I have been on and the ups and downs have allowed me to develop into the person and artist I am meant to be. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a singer-songwriter. I am still finding my preforming style, but I would say the most important piece of performing to me is sharing my heart with others. I love performing my original music and feel extremely fulfilled doing so. Especially when it resonates with someone in the audience. 

On the songwriting side of things, I specialize in writing lyrics and melodies. I oftentimes wake up in the middle of the night with a chorus to record or have to pull out my phone in the middle of a meal to get down a new verse. I feel surrounded by music while inspiration and pieces of songs come to me throughout the day. I love sitting down and piecing those together to create a song that captures an emotion in only the way I can articulate it. I think that is something so beautiful about music. You can have similar ideas and melodies, but the way a song comes to a person and the way they decide to write it is so beautifully unique to the songwriter(s). 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I am very into anything about self-help/self-care! I am reading a couple of spiritual health, and self-help books as well as listening to similar podcasts. One of my current reads is “Cosmic Health: Unlock your Healing Magic with Astrology, Positive Psychology, and Interactive Wellness”, by Jennifer Racioppi (loving it). And I have been into the “Spiritual Sh*t”, and “YNK: you know what I mean?” in the world of podcasts. I also have some go-to Instagram accounts that I love like Morgan Harper Nichols and My Self-Love Supply. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellannmusic/