kelley cole
I’m so happy to feature kelley cole for her new musical chapter. I remember featuring her when she released her debut single “Anyone”. I was obsessed with it. Initially from the pop world, cole has released big pop records with massive melodies and productions. She’s now releasing her first rock single called “twenty five”. Co-produced with Tyler Callahan, the new single explores the feelings of being twenty five and all the frustration and confusion that can come around it.
I must say this new song is something I’m really excited for. I love the direction she decided to take. It fits her perfectly and I cannot wait to hear more !
“twenty five” is out now !
Hi kelley, how are you? What have you been up to since our last interview?
Hey, Virginie :) Thanks for asking! I am so extremely excited to be writing this and to finally put this song into the world. Since last time we spoke a lot has changed fro me. The most obvious is the fact that I’m now making more rock and songwriter influenced music. This shift started a while ago when I started working a new job as an engineer at the Bluebird cafe. It’s a mecca for songwriters and hosts songwriting shows with the best writers in the world. Watching these shows every night and hearing these writer’s stories really inspired me to dive deeper and push to create the most authentic songs possible. I also have been playing a lot more shows recently. Which has been such a dream of mine.
"twenty five" is your new single - how does it feel to release this brand new song?
I feel so ready to put this out. I have poured so much of my creativity into this song, the visuals, and the music video. I’m just ready for everyone to see what I've been working on, and see this whole new side of me. These songs feel like what I've been working towards my whole life.
When did you start working on this song? Could you describe the songwriting/production process? Who helped you create it?
I wrote this song on April 15th of last year. And it fell out of me like a huge emotional explosion. It truly kickstarted a whole new creative journey for me, and led me to write so so so many new songs I’m so excited for.
Production wise, it also pushed me into a new direction. I’m a producer and before this song, I have created and produced all my songs completely by myself. Being in the pop world, this was totally the right way to go, but “twenty five” called for something completely different. It was the first time I went into the studio and laid down a song with a live band. Placing trust on those musicians along with my co-producer and collaborator Tyler Callahan, was a huge step for me and pushed me to grow in such a beautiful way. We tracked the song at Omni Sound studios in Nashville with these incredible musicians. Tyler Callahan on Bass (and Recording Engineer), Maxx Rosetti on Guitar, Kaleb Kinyon on Drums.
What did you feel when writing this song?
I wrote this song right after I paid my taxes last year. Right after the money came out of my account, I felt so hopeless and lost. I started questioning whether I was on the right path, and where I thought I would be by this age. I sat on the floor in my room and started writing this song with colored pencils. That’s where the opening line came from.
What's your favorite lyric on "twenty five"?
My favorite lyric has to be the line at the end of the chorus.
“When will I finally feel alright?”
It just sums up the desperation, confusion and frustration of this age so perfectly. I decided to call the EP I’m currently working on “When Will I Feel Alright” because it so simply describes everything I’m feeling.
What message do you want to deliver through this song? What do you want people to feel when listening to it?
I really just want people to feel less alone. I want people to feel like they’re not the only one who feels this way. My twenties so far have been like I’m unpeeling layer after layer of harsh truths. Life is scary and hard, and things never stop changing, and if I can help one person feel a little less alone it’ll all be worth it.
What can you tell us about the music video?
I am SO excited to share the music video. It was the most fun I’ve ever had shooting anything. Me and my incredibly talented videographer, David Graham, shot this video in a trampoline park, called Urban Air in Nashville. We got to explore every corner of this magical place and had it all to ourselves for a few days.It was all my childhood dreams come true. It had jungle gyms, climbing walls, ball pits, and even a zip line (wink wink). We really wanted to capture the dichotomy of being a full grown adult and choosing not to lose the childlike wonder of a kid. I think we did just that.
What biggest lessons have you learned since the release of your debut single "Anyone"?
Just do shit. Instead of thinking about it. Just do it. I am a chronic over thinker, and it causes my procrastination to take charge. For example, I was very concerned with how I was going to make the idea for this music video a reality, and was worried no venue was going to let us shoot. All the logistics seemed too daunting. But, once I got over myself, the literal first place I called was so encouraging and was over the moon about my idea. Thanks to the staff at Urban Air NE Nashville for being the absolute best, and teaching me to stop overthinking.
What can we expect to hear/see next?
I’m currently working on an EP as I mentioned earlier. It’s called “When Will I Feel Alright”. Take the most hard hitting part of this single and multiply it by 10. That is how the EP is going to feel. It’s so vulnerable, raw, angry, frustrated, intense, all the things. This sad girl era has been fun, but get ready to get angry……
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