Up & Coming New Nashville- Jadea Kelly (With Exclusive Interview)

For a young folk/country singer and songwriter, getting your first taste of fame recording and touring with the aggressive rock band and Juno nominated Protest the Hero seems happily out of character, but was, she insists, an incredible experience. Despite the unfamiliar metal tones favored by Protest the Hero’s growing following, Jadea’s fan base grew substantially after touring and recording with the band. She gained a reputation as the mysteriously beautiful female vocalist in the music video, ‘The Divine Suicide of K.’ This video has since gone into rotation on MTV and Much Music.

Following this collaboration, Jadea released her first CD, Second Spring, and won “Best Country” honors at the Toronto Independent Music Awards in 2008. It has since received CBC air play on such shows as Folk Roots in St. John’s. Blessed with what many call a hushed Loretta Lynn esque voice, she’s now performing regularly in Toronto with her band. A new album is in the works with famed producer, David Baxter for Fall 2009.

Jadea’s stage persona has been compared with such established female vocalists as Neko Case and Kathleen Edwards, yet, it is Jadea’s distinctive voice and the convincing harshness which engages and captivates her listeners.

“Jadea Kelly is one of the shining jewels in the crown of Canada’s new songwriters. When Jadea mailed me a copy of her first record for consideration for the show, I popped it in my stereo to have a listenand I was transfixed from beginning to end. This sort of consistency in such a young voice is rare, but exhilarating; I played it next chance I got and recommended that my colleagues play her as well. Her sound is pure Canadiana, that is, elements of prairie country, big city soul, and the sense to take just a little bit of both. While I can see her as a young Kathleen Edwards or Serena Ryder, there is somethingeffervescently original about her sound that separates her from the female singer-songwriter pack. In short, the more Jadea Kelly Canada can hear – the better.”- Tom Power- CBC.

You can listen and watch Jadea play HERE...

That Nashville Sound- What brought you to music in the first place?

Jadea Kelly- The country/folk classics like Joni Mitchell, Loretta Lynn and even Shania Twain brought me to music. I would sit myself in front of the TV every Saturday morning to watch the CMT count down until dinner came.

TNS- Describe your music- what's the mission behind the music?

JK- Our music sounds like a mix of Neko Case and Patsy Cline- many blues elements but a lot more rockabilly to it. The mission behind my music is to tell a story convincingly and move people- engage them. This is something i love most while on stage.

TNS- What might people be surprised to find out about you?

JK- People might be surprised to know that I just completed a B.A in World Religions and English at the University of Toronto. Aside from touring, I am also a personal assistant to a very well known music publicist by the name of Richard Flohil.

TNS- What kind of music are you listening to? What's in your iPod?

JK- Currently I am listening to every possible Neil Young record. "Tonight's the Night' is amazing.

TNS- If you had a crystal ball and looked forward five years, what do you see for yourself?

JK- If I had a crystal ball to see into the future five years from now, I would hope that I would still be touring and making records with the musicians I know and love.

TNS- Do any of your instruments have any nicknames we need to know of?

JK- I have a few nicknames for my instruments- my guitar in particular is Bessie- because she looks like a cow. (Laughter). All scratched up and heavy.