Kris Kelly – Runaways

By starrymag | April 29, 2020

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I think the genre I identify most with is “chamber folk” or “baroque folk.” I like to mix the singer/songwriter and folk tradition with classical arrangements and world music. I studied classical opera and music composition in school and I’ve always been excited about bridging that world with the pop/folk world. I’m really bad at describing my own music. It’s just too close to me to analyze. I do think there’s definitely a psychedelic element to it. I’m ok with the “psychedelic folk” label as well, I think. But, personally, when I listen to music I don’t ever think about genres or labels. I think music can and should tell its’ own story. There’s no need to describe it with words.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I listen to a lot of singer/songwriters from the 60’s and 70’s. I love Joni Mitchell, Tim Buckley, Townes Van Zandt and many others.

As a child I listened almost exclusively to Madonna. I was completely obsessed, but that stopped when I discovered Tori Amos whose music is one of my great loves.

I also love Ani DiFranco, Bjork, Radiohead, PJ Harvey, Joanna Newsom, Adrienne Lenker (Big Thief), Robert Wyatt, Andy Shauf, Caetano Veloso, Sufjan Stevens and the list goes on …

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “More.”

A) I wrote “More” thinking about humanity’s endless need for more and more things to distract and fill ourselves up with, in an attempt to fill that vast black hole, eternal void inside of us. We desperately jump from one thing to another looking for lasting happiness. But I think at some point, if you’re lucky, you realize there is nothing external that can fill it. It’s all about your relationship with yourself.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) You would have to ask them. “More” is very different than the rest of the album, sonically, for sure. There are no classical arrangements and it’s the only song on the album that’s very synth-heavy. It’s also more rock and alternative than the other songs. I hope people enjoy the darkness of the song, the vocal layering and the hypnotic synths.

Q) The video is directed by Kris Moyes. How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) I gave Kris Moyes free rein to translate the song over to the visual realm. I explained some of the themes from the lyrics and Kris came up with the idea of using the Christian seven deadly sins. He also sent me a lot of visual images that he thought went well with the vibe of the song. And we went from there.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

A) Yes, I definitely start with the music before I write the lyrics. I always start with the guitar. I tune my guitar to many different open tunings because I taught myself guitar and don’t use traditional chord shapes. Then, I explore and experiment until I find a guitar part that hypnotizes me. Then, I naturally start singing with it and I go into an unconscious place and the melodies somehow work themselves out without much effort on my part. The melodies begin as gibberish and end up a set gibberish if that makes sense. Almost like lyrics in a made-up language. So, there are always two sets of lyrics for every song: one which is gibberish and one which has English lyrics. A lot of times some words will come through in the gibberish that I let guide me when I’m trying to find the right lyrics. There are certain consonants and vowel sounds that I work out with the gibberish that I then try to keep with the lyrics. Hunting down the right lyrics are definitely the hardest part for me. Sometimes I will have a song for years before I put lyrics down.

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music? 

A) I’ve always produced my own music, for better or worse! I’m a bit of a control freak. I’d have to really trust someone deeply to let them produce the music, but I am open to it one day.

Q) What can fans expect from a live Kris Kelly performance?

A) They can expect me to bring the songs to life in an authentic way that might sound a bit different than the way they sound on the album. For this album I’ve collaborated with many different musicians in the live shows. I haven’t tried to recreate the album, but I’ve worked to get to know each song in new ways by letting them play “dress up” with different instruments, tempos and even alternate vocal melodies. That way they feel really alive for me and they’re exciting to play as well. I hope fans enjoy that. For the live shows for Runaways I’ve worked with an Indian trio, a kora player, a tabla player, keyboards, classical instruments like oboe, clarinet, violin and cello and others. I’m working on a live collaboration right now for “More” actually that will feature vibraphone and marimba. I have a lot more planned, but it will depend on corona!

Q) What are some themes you explore on your new album Runaways?

A) Runaways, for me, deals with different ways we all run away from things, especially in our 20’s, and becoming aware of that and learning from it. Running away from ourselves, from our home, from lovers, from our past, from our future. It’s about being lost and stuck. The middle of the album also deals with a very painful divorce. So, a lot of the album is about navigating relationships. It’s deeply personal but at the same time it’s not. The themes on each song are also archetypal and apply to us all and I really hope people can identify with them.

Q) What songs off Runaways are you looking forward to performing live?

A) I have been performing the whole album! They are all exciting in different ways to perform.

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to this album as a whole?

A) My music isn’t party music. There’s a place for that, but I think Runaways is something you can put on when you’re alone and feeling introspective. I hope people can enjoy the music and allow it to take them on a journey inward, with me at their side.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) Some of my favorite places to perform in NYC have closed, unfortunately. Rockwood Music Hall is a great venue that I’ve played at for years. Great people, great sound and still around.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) There are a few people I have in mind to collaborate with for my next album, but I don’t want to give it away just yet, in case it doesn’t work out!

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) I’ve been listening a lot to Andy Shauf’s new record. I just saw him here in Austin at Mohawk. He is really interested in a lot of the same things I’m interested in, both lyrically and musically. I love a good concept album and his sense of melody is just beautiful. His voice has a very unique quality. The band he’s playing with right now is amazing as well. It blows my mind that he played all the instruments on his albums! I love everything about him.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Of course, as an independent artist it is a very essential and powerful tool. I haven’t been too active on social media, to be honest, but hope to do more live shows and connect with fans in the future. It’s a great opportunity to do this now during the corona madness.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening and supporting me. My music definitely isn’t for everyone. It’s a niche type of thing, so when someone really connects to the music and write to me to let me know it’s very special to me. For me, discovering an artist whose music I deeply connect to is one of the greatest feelings in the world, so I hope I can offer that connection through song to more and more people. I’m very grateful for all the love!