Exclusive Interview with Kelley cole
Kelley Cole, the self-produced Nashville-based artist, has released a new single titled “Twenty Something Teenager.” Connecting to child-like wonder and resurrecting that version of herself, Cole injects all of those feelings into a new rock-forward Y2K track.
INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW ☆
Lyrically, this song is perfectly catchy with a punchy chorus and honest verses. Its cinematic build and scratchy guitars are made for dancing at a live concert setting. Followed by a touch of country sound — and influenced by her current home-base in Nashville — the track leans more towards Avril Lavigne than Kacey Musgraves — two artists she often calls inspirations. A healthy mix of her favorite artists makes this song an electrifying and satisfying listen.
Originally learning to write and record beats in her mother’s basement in the Chicago suburbs, Cole focuses lyrically on her own unique experiences. Referencing her biggest inspirations and childhood memories, Cole knows how to make the nostalgia hit right where it needs to.
Making nods to the “Twilight” films in her lyrics, “I want to watch New Moon / Build a fort in your room / I want, I want, I want it back,” reports on missing that adventurous and child-like wonder she grew up having. Cole is an expert lyric-writer with the ability to build a world she can easily transport her listeners to.
“Twenty Something Teenager” hits all the right notes — literally. In addition to the storyline, Cole’s voice is fiercely feminine. Pushing her vocal strength similarly to that of Paramore’s Hayley Williams, teenage angst comes through this song in full force.
We got the chance to chat with Kelley Cole about all things new, including her upcoming album, musical inspirations and dreaming big. Here’s what she had to say:
“The main advice I would give her [my younger self] is to try to appreciate what you have and live in the present. You only get to be young once so enjoy and don’t take things so seriously.” - Kelley Cole
CRAVE: As an independent artist, what is your favorite part of the writing and recording process? How is it unique for you?
KELLEY: I think my favorite part of the process is constantly changing. Right now I'm really obsessed with purely songwriting on an acoustic instrument and letting the song breathe and morph without any thought of the recording process. I think it’s so exciting to create something out of nothing and there's such a rush from getting everything down for the first time. I’ve also been obsessed with recording with a band of session musicians here in Nashville, it's been life changing. Collaboration on this scale is new to me but super exciting
CRAVE: You are about to release your debut album, who were your biggest inspirations during the creation process?
KELLEY: Honestly, with this body of work I've been super inspired by pushing myself as a songwriter. My day job right now is running sound at the Bluebird Cafe, which is an important Nashville staple and is known for songwriter rounds with the best writers in the world. Being exposed to that level of mastery has changed the kind of music I’m writing and want to put out into the world. Sonically I’ve been referencing Fiona Apple, Arcade Fire, Orla Gartland, early Big Thief, Maggie Rogers, 90s Sheryl Crow, and 2000s pop punk.
CRAVE: “Twenty Something Teenager” connects you to your younger self, what advice would you give her with the knowledge you have now?
KELLEY: The main advice I would give her is to try to appreciate what you have and live in the present. You only get to be young once so enjoy and don’t take things so seriously.
CRAVE: You are also an audio engineer, how does producing for other artists aid your own self producing skills?
KELLEY: I think having the experience of producing for other artists has helped me gain perspective on the entire process. Being a part of the process a good number of times, you learn that a song’s life isn’t always linear, and that it's okay to experiment and make mistakes. Learning that things take time and come together in a myriad of different ways has helped me take some pressure off myself.
CRAVE: What inspired your relocation from Chicago to Nashville? How has your creative mindset shifted since then?
KELLEY: I’ve always been super inspired by the kinship and community of artists that live in nashville. The incredible talent and heart of the artists that represent the city drew me to it. Also as a suburban kid who wrote songs it seemed like a place for people like me. I came to Nashville to go to school at Belmont University and have been loving it ever since. I think the sincerity and courage people have here to write real songs has definitely affected my writing
CRAVE: What is the weirdest thing you’ve used to inspire your writing?
KELLEY: My last single, 25, that came out last year, had a really funny story behind the writing of it. I wrote it right after all the money for my taxes came out of my account last year. As a newish adult this was the first experience i've had with that and it came at a really hard time for me. That felt like the accumulation of a lot of doubts and fears i was feeling, and i broke down and wrote the song right then and there. I actually wrote out the lyrics with colored pencils and that was what inspired the first few lines.
CRAVE: Is there a dream venue you want to perform at?
KELLEY: The Ryman is such an important venue and is so heavily integrated into the history of Nashville and music. The room has such a presence and being able to play there would for sure be a dream come true .
CRAVE: Are there any songs or elements you were unsure of at first but then became one of your favorites?
KELLEY: “Twenty Something Teenager” was a part of the first few songs of mine that we tracked with a live band. I was so used to laboring over the production of my songs for months, perfecting every sample, guitar and synthesizer, that after we recorded this song I went in and added way too many synth parts in with the live band to kinda make myself feel more comfortable with the new process. After bouncing everything out and going into the mix process I realized just how overboard I went and we cut a bunch of excess parts. I was absolutely obsessed after that when it turned into a more straightforward rock arrangement.
CRAVE: What is one of your biggest goals for your career? Do you look more at numbers or at impact?
KELLEY: I’m really focused on digging in rather than the outward appraisal right now. Still in the baby stages of my career, I think it's most important to really get a grasp on what's most honest and real and full of feeling. That is what I'm chasing right now and it’s been super gratifying.
