Jean Louisa Kelly – Willing

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What was the inspiration for your EP Willing?

A) It’s sort of an outgrowth of an album that I released a few years ago called Color Of Your Heart that was a children’s album. I had never written anything before, but just having kids songs started coming to me. I started writing them down and decided to do an album. A friend of mine, Heather Reed (who is an artist, musician and producer) helped me produce this album of children’s music, which was inspired by “Free To Be You and Me” from the 70’s. It was songs that sort of gave voice to emotions, feelings and issues that kids and adults have. It was kind of like a guide book for life, in my estimate, for kids. There were some songs coming to me that didn’t really fit that so I just sort of filed them away and held off because they weren’t for kids. When I was done with that album, they just started coming to me so I begun recording another whole album of songs that I had. I had eleven songs and I recorded them all with a band. At that time, I was advised that EP’s were better because they were shorter. So, I sort of split them in half. They didn’t go together in terms of tone so they work as five songs. Then, I’m planning to releasing the others as six or five later on in the year. I’m going to keep working on those and I may release another EP within the next year or so.

Q) How was the process compared to working on a full length album?

A) I did record them all with a band, but I didn’t finish mixing them all. In the end though, I’ve kind of done the same amount of work. I did a digital release this time around instead of a physical release. For the kid’s album, it was important to have a CD. When I was a kid, I wanted to look at the jacket of the record. I also wrote down the lyrics and did all the artwork. I did all that myself, but for this I simplified it and released it digitally. It was a little bit simpler. It took a little bit more courage for me because for me singing in the voice of a child is a little bit of a mask. When I’m singing as myself as an adult, it took a little bit more courage.

Q) How did you choose what instruments you wanted with the band and how the arrangements came together?

A) That was very easy for me because I used all the same guys that I used for my other album and I was introduced to them all by my friend Heather. They are all so talented. The way that I have done it was to write the song, write the melody, write the chords and get an idea of what I want it to sound like. I worked a little bit with Peter Adams, ahead of time, who is the keyboardist and he helped me do a basic piano track with a click. We all went into the studio and I said, “This is how I want it to sound.” They just do it. They are just amazing. They are so talented!

Q) What is your vocal performance like on the album?

A) For me, I grew up doing musical theater. That was my starting point. So, I’m definitely influenced by that. Now, I take voice lessons every other week. I practice my vocal exercises every day, to the best of my ability. I sing all kinds of music. That has been something I have been working on lately because I don’t have any gigs coming up so I’ve been working on arias. They are very satisfying and really challenging. They really build my voice. I wouldn’t call myself a rock singer. Definitely musical theater is more my background, but this particular style I don’t even know what it is. I guess it would be better for someone else to classify it for me. People ask, “What kind of music is it?” Well, I don’t really know. It’s just something organic that came out of me.

Q) You are a part of social media. What kind of response have you been receiving?

A) Historically, I have not been up on my social media, but for this album I hired some help. I did not really market my other album at all. I’m not super savvy and a full time mom. I’m doing this basically when my kids are in school and I’m not working. So, I hired someone to help me and it seems to have really helped me get out the word a lot better. He’s really on top of it all. I see all the fan posts and it’s really gratifying. It’s really gratifying to get that feedback because sometimes you’ll get it from strangers and not necessarily from the people you know because everybody is busy. So, it’s really nice to have that coming in.

Q) How do you balance your time between acting, singing and family?

A) Life is so busy! What I do to stay as balanced as I possibly can is to meditate. I get up before my kids get up and meditate. I do it twice a day. I meditate, exercise and then I get them up and off to school. Then, I do whatever I need to do. It’s kind of hard, but I think it is hard for everybody to balance work and family. That seems to be a universal thing. And the more good things that come in the more challenging that it is. It’s good stuff though.

Q) Where can fans go to get the EP?

A) It’s on iTunes and that is the place to download it. It’s on SoundCloud too and I have a website, which is http://www.jeanlouisakelly.com. I have a Facebook page that is pretty up to date with posts.