Kelly
JonesCD
title: Heisenberg
Genre: R&B / SoulCountry: USA
New single available on iTunes.
iamkellyjones.com iamkellyjones@gmail.com
Songstress Kelly*Jones is
accustomed to drawing comparisons to artists like Lauryn Hill and
India.Arie. In fact, she does a cover of Arie’s "Brown Skin"
that is so stirring, it's tallied nearly 12,000 views on YouTube. But
where Arie made a name for herself with "acoustic soul,"
Jones has crafted "electric soul"—a striking mix of soul
and synth—her very own.
Hailing from Mount Vernon, NY,
Jones’ origins in music are fairly familiar: she grew up singing in
the youth choir at her father’s church, becoming a soloist early
on. Having her voice and soul nurtured by both the faith-based
community as well as by her three older and wiser sisters (two of
them also singers), writing lyrics quickly became a form of
expression for a child with much to say, but few willing to hear it.
This environment, a cacophony of set boundaries and independent
thought, along with varied influences like Stevie Wonder, The Beach
Boys, Donny Hathaway, and Sheryl Crow, became the conduit that helped
shape Jones’ mentality about the role music plays in life and in
personal growth.
As an adult, messages of
self-knowledge and empowerment are prevailing themes in Jones' songs.
She gives an offering of earnestness, both musically and personally,
on the song "Electric Soul" from her forthcoming 2013
album. When she sings: "this electricity is burning in my soul
and I gotta get it out," there is an undeniable sense that she
means more than just the music itself. Throughout her songwriting,
she allows listeners to eavesdrop on her internal dialogues, with
real-life struggles underscoring even the catchiest of melodies. On
the skillfully rendered “Alphabet Song”, Jones sings her
ABCs—literally—and shares her disappointment in the industry
machine that has yet to embrace her. The song’s opening statement,
“do you hear what they play on the radio these days? I guess
anything will pass for music,” is a bold testimony for a singer to
make, but Jones has more than enough vocal talent to justify the
sentiment.
Having shared her gifts as a solo
artist for ten years, Jones has travelled as far as Ghana and Italy
to perform and hone her self-assured stage presence. She has shared
the stage with renowned rock-jazz pianist ELEW (Eric Lewis), opened
for Grammy winner Marsha Ambrosius, “freestyled” with
comedian/singer Reggie Watts, and counts a first place win at the
famed Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night among her many
accomplishments. Also the musical director, keyboard player, and
vocalist for the group Kolition, Kelly helped lead the band to a 2013
Best Hip Hop Group victory at the Artist in Music Awards in Los
Angeles.
As her achievements and accolades
continue to grow, it is the depth of emotion in her voice that truly
sets her apart from her contemporaries. Jones’ vocals are instantly
recognizable as genuine, resulting in lyrics and melodies that are
inspired. She proudly represents the continuing resurgence of artists
who exalt passion and innovation; the ones who relish in straying
away from roads most travelled. Her identity as a songwriter is born
from a desire to change common perceptions. Jones firmly believes
that music, an ancient and sacred form of communication, possesses an
electricity that can be felt and understood by anyone, no matter
their native tongue. This electricity inhabits the body, envelops the
spirit, and ultimately makes us all feel alive.
As she prepares to set her own
voltage to its highest level, Kelly*Jones seeks to be a radiant
contrast to the commonplace and predictable trends in music.“I call
my music Electric Soul because I believe that good music should make
you unable to sit still. It should invoke you to dance, groove, bop
your head, tap your foot; it should make you feel something. And even
beyond moving you physically, good music should also stir you
spiritually. To me, electric is the best way to describe the way
music makes me feel.” - Kelly*Jones
