INTERVIEW WITH... NOSTALGIA DRIVEN ALT-ROCK NEWCOMER MAD KELLY


Multi-instrumentalist and singer Mad Kelly just released his newest single “Hostage”. A hybrid of nostalgia, early aughts modern rock, and 90s alternative to his Gen Z re-brand of Pop Punk. I picked the artists' prior the release of this new single all of which you can read ahead.


THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Can you talk about your background and how you found music and became Mad Kelly?

MAD KELLY: Being homeschooled, I had a lot of spare time to teach myself to play and make music. I fell in love with the process of creating and from there, I just had that need to create music every day. I started with a lot of Christian influences since I grew up around church life then eventually, I broke away from that and went my own way, becoming “Mad Kelly.”

There’s no meaning behind the name really, it’s just something I was able to choose for myself. I picked what I wanted to be called.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: How did your track and music video “Hostage” come together? And what was the creative and recording process like?

MAD KELLY: “Hostage” came together with me and Mavigs making the instrumental…I remember recording the hook was tough. I’d have like 5 attempts before my voice would start going out. To be honest, the video was pretty last minute. The video we originally had for “Hostage” didn’t work out, unfortunately, so I had to go in a different direction and fly out to LA to reshoot it. (there might even be a part 3 in that TV for the next video).

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What does your creative process typically entail?

MAD KELLY: I usually start recording when I wake up. Typically, I start working on the beat and start writing as I go while recording. I try to do it all at once coming out naturally otherwise I start overthinking.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: I read that you are really good friends with label mate Talkless. How has that friendship helped you out in this industry or kept you grounded?

MAD KELLY: The music business can be a scary place and it’s good having someone who’s been through the struggles with you being there with you through all the new shit. You gotta remember you can’t do it all by yourself and if you do then, you’re probably really lonely.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER:  I read a lot of your inspirations come from ’90s to early aughts pop-rock and modern rock? What are some of the artists that you find the most inspiring from that era?

MAD KELLY: I love the 90s-00s pop-punk, nu-metal, alternative rock! From Good Charlotte to Korn to Limp Bizkit to Blink-182 to Shania Twain to Linkin Park to Christian bands back in the early 00s. Like Skillet (Alien Youth and Collide Album ), Family force 5s earlier shit. Solomon Olds was a big inspiration for how to use my voice as well as Oliver Sykes, John Cooper, and Chester Bennington.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: Switching gears... If you could live in any fictional universe, which would you choose?

MAD KELLY: I’d live in Ratatouille if I could. I wanna live in Paris and cook with my rat Mr. Bojangles.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What is your earliest music-related memory?

MAD KELLY: In elementary school when I was 9 or 10, l had a friend whose father taught guitar lessons. I went to his guitar class at some church in Michigan when I lived there and learned a Christian hymn song and from there, went to YouTube and figured it out on my own.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: What is one album that you cannot get sick of?

MAD KELLY: Either Collide by Skillet or Life is Peachy by Korn.

THE RECLUSIVE BLOGGER: And, lastly what is next for you Mad Kelly? Is there anything that I might’ve missed?

MAD KELLY: My EP is coming out soon. Gonna be dropping a couple more singles and videos before then. Other than that, you can expect some heavier, more upbeat music.


Mad Kelly's new single 'Hostage' is out now


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