We were lucky to catch up with Kelly Schenk recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
I am releasing my debut album! This project has been in the works for a very long time. I originally intended to release it in 2020 but the pandemic ended up being a major hurdle financially and logistically. I’ve released a few singles from the album already and I’m very excited to release the rest. The album feels like a coming-of-age in both its lyrical themes and what it represents to me as an independent artist.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Kelly Schenk is a singer/songwriter from Portland, Oregon. With diverse influences ranging from pop, indie rock, bluegrass, to contemporary jazz, Kelly’s music has a unique sound and wide appeal. After releasing successful singles “Something About You” and “Making Room”, Kelly is set to release her debut album in 2022.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
Growing up, I was criticized a lot for being a very emotional kid. I have struggled with mental illness throughout my life and music has always been a source of comfort and expression. By no means do I want to glorify mental illness or undermine its debilitating affect, but I will say that I believe that my experiences have allowed me to connect with others through music in a powerful way. I know how healing music can be and I hope to be a source of healing for audiences.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Restrictions! Sometimes I have these seemingly magic bursts of inspiration that pour into songs easily, but a lot of the time I’m not sure how to start writing. By putting lyric/structure/composition limitations, I spend more time finding creative solutions than being overwhelmed by infinite possibilities. It can be really freeing to have a framework to work from when you don’t know where to start.
Contact Info:
- Website: kellyschenk.com
- Instagram: kellyschenk
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxbkHayA466Nu2uh2cyuj9Q
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3kHGDGEmX8EWocacdi5Ijk?si=CJ8qjOGbSzW3_mJfqTX-5g Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kelly-schenk/1438798999
Image Credits
(last photo) “Something About You” cover art by Megan Wood