Artist Spotlight is a segment that we started to introduce our listeners to some deserving up and coming artists/bands. They have made an impact on us for all of the right reasons. We think they kick ass and we hope you do too! Today we’d like to shine the spotlight on award-winning singer/songwriter/ladybeast from Long Island Rorie Kelly.
Rorie Kelly is an award-winning singer/songwriter/ladybeast from Long Island. Her mission in life is to spread healing through art, and to remind you to love yourself with the fierceness of a kitten that doesn’t know it is tiny. Her music has been featured in film and TV shows, received radio airplay around the world, and led her to perform at the Obama White House in 2016.
Her most recent album Shadow Work is about shining a light in the darkness and healing wounds. The production is big and dark, and performed largely by just two people – Rorie herself, and her father/production partner, Kevin Kelly. “It was exciting to us to see just how much power we could pack into these songs as two humans in a studio with a vision,” says Rorie. The songwriting looks deeply into topics like self worth, growth and letting go, and how our culture treats people who don’t fit the mainstream “default.” The opening song, “Full Moon Charm Bracelet,” was featured in the 2021 film Hearts and Vines, which won a Telly Award for Use of Music.
A powerhouse performer, Rorie gigs frequently, lighting up stages with her fiery vocals and her sense of humor. Expect live looping, audience involvement and improvised songwriting on the spot. The mood will veer from silly and joyful to heartfelt and meaningful, taking you on a journey of healing honesty. A master of dynamics, Rorie will go from an earnest one-guitar-one-voice arrangement to a lush soundscape with layers of vocals, guitar, beatboxing and keyboard samples — often in the space of one song.
We sat down with Rorie Kelly for a short, but fun and interesting Q&A!
Tell us the origin of how you got into music?
When I was a pre-teen I thought I wanted to be a writer, and wrote both fiction and poetry pretty prolifically. Then one day the summer I turned 13 (I wasn’t 13 yet, but it was close) a song came on and affected how I was feeling so dramatically that it felt like a form of magic. I wanted in on that magic. I decided to spend the rest of the summer teaching myself how to play guitar and write songs, and I never looked back.
What are you currently working on?
I‘m working on recording a new album and releasing a few singles along the way – I just released Make It Count, which is about treating yourself like a unicorn instead of a workhorse. You can find it on any streaming platform by searching “Rorie Kelly – Make It Count”. The album is untitled so far, but the themes of the songwriting are about mystery, honoring the natural world, and self-worth.
Are you a good cook? What’s your best dish to prepare?
I am a good cook and I love to cook. I grew up learning to cook from my mother’s – italian – side of the family so I am one of those people who believes there is no such thing as “too much garlic.” My favorite go to is pasta with the simple marinara sauce I grew up watching my mom – and my grandmother – and my great grandmother make. Pre-made sauce from a jar would be considered a sacrilegious thing to eat in my family. A little bit of garlic and olive oil, a fresh basil leaf, pureed tomatoes, and a hit of red wine or cayenne pepper if you’re feeling sassy. (I am usually feeling sassy.) Finish the pasta in the sauce, and add in some diced mozzarella or grated locatelli cheese and you’re good to go.
What are your 5 favorite albums?
I appreciate this question because asking a musician to name just one favorite is cruel and unusual. In no special order:
Tegan and Sara – The Con
Jump Little Children – Magazine
Ben Folds Five – Whatever and Ever Amen
Alanis Morisette – Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie
The Beatles – The White Album
Connect online with Rorie Kelly:
