Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, Tyson Kelly creates music which fuses gritty 60’s psych rock with tripped-out modern pop soundscapes. As a New York Film Academy graduate, Kelly’s artistic flair runs deep throughout his music and visuals. Having taught himself both classical piano and guitar from a young age, his music reaps musical maturity, with his highly anticipated debut EP featuring an eclectic mix of both old and new.
You may have seen Kelly in his previous band King Washington who shared the stage with such notable acts as Arctic Monkeys, Ambrosia and Collective Soul. Or perhaps you’ve seen him disguised as John Lennon, where he has spent the past nine years touring the world far and wide, even making his debut on Broadway and ultimately being labeled one of the most sought-after John Lennon impersonators. Kelly has now taken it upon himself to truly embrace the music he writes through a new avenue, taking the leap as a solo artist and pursuing his vision.
The new five-track EP, entitled No Signal is a collection of songs which focuses on reflection and contemplation. The release is filled with heavy and heartfelt lyricism narrating the feelings of love lost. “I named the EP No Signal because there is a bit of that theme throughout. There are five songs and each one touches on the feeling of friction and pain of rejection in one way or another” reveals Kelly. Leading single ‘Girl You’re So Money’ thematically focuses on wanting something so bad but trying to play your cards right. Draped in modern electronics and oozing synthesizers, the track evokes summery vibes with its minimalistic yet compelling melodies. Kelly’s laid-back, sultry vocals softly ride atop the quirky instrumentation, emitting an almost hypnotic effect.
‘Heathen’ showcases the songwriters’ diversity, breathing more energy and attitude. Featuring a propulsive bassline, infectious grooves, and pulsating drum beats, the bold single is a lot more audacious both lyrically and sonically. ‘Heathen’ narrates the feeling of retribution and how at some point we all have to face up to the consequences of our actions. Kelly admits, “I was inspired by the likes of Tame Impala and their accentuated basslines and how groovy their rhythm section is”.
As the son of renown Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Tom Kelly, who wrote multiple hits such as Cyndi Lauper’s ‘True Colors’, Whitney Houston’s ‘So Emotional’ and The Pretenders ‘I’ll Stand By You’ to name a few, Kelly is no stranger to the world of hit-making. Following his father’s footsteps, he is on the path to writing his first hit, who at a young age wrote Madonna’s breakthrough hit ‘Like A Virgin’. Influenced by the likes of David Byrne, Thom Yorke and David Bowie and other artists who maintained true to themselves throughout their careers, Kelly is embracing who he is and going with it. Tyson Kelly’s highly anticipated debut EP, No Signal is due for release summer 2018.
Links
https://soundcloud.com/nicovin
https://www.instagram.com/panklets
