We recently connected with Kelsey Tegenkamp and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kelsey, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I knew from a very young age that I was interconnected to my own artistry. I was drawn to performance, engaged in a wide spectrum of genres, and constantly getting lost in creative writing. I started singing at my church which helped me find my purpose and connection to the soul of singing. Around this same time, I was introduced to electronic music and the EDM scene/community and was absolutely blown away by the production, community, and the rush of emotions I felt from the music. Once I started meeting and networking with local DJ’s and Producers and the opportunities started flowing in, it was clear to me that this was the path I was meant to be on. I hit a pivotal moment after I wrote my first song in 2018 because the response was massive and people aligned with my lyrics and story. It felt like magic to be apart of such a universal language with the ability to connect deeper and I knew then that I wanted to write music that was relatable, moving, and make people feel that same magic that I always felt from music.
Kelsey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Kelsey Ray and I was born and raised in Cincinnati. I started singing at an early age in school plays and choir, I had a deep passion for poetry and creative writing and eventually transitioned to singing at church and singing acoustic sets in small local bars and restaurants. I even tried out for American Idol when I was 18. When I started working at some bars downtown, it led me to meeting local DJ’s and producers that were looking for vocalists. My first song ‘Bloom’, with Tofu Music, came out in 2018 and the response was massive. ‘Bloom’ was being played on Q102 radio, the FC soccer stadium, and many clubs and bars throughout the city. In 2019, I entered my first singing competition, The Voice of Victory, where I won the “Fan Favorite” and was asked to sing at the Reds Baseball Stadium. Once I was introduced to the electronic dance music scene, I was so inspired by the production, the community, and the wide spectrum of music that it incorporated. I was totally blown away by how elemental it was. I started writing EDM tracks for local DJ’s and after I would complete one song, another door would open for another one. This domino effect led me to working with bigger artists like Riot Ten, Bear Grillz, landing a couple songs on Excisions label Subsidia and working with many more artists from around the world. I fell in love with the energy and diversity that this genre had to offer. In 2022, I was booked my first music festival, Interstellar which was held at the Kentucky Speedway. Since then , I’ve been constantly challenging my writing styles, networking with artists all over the country, booking more shows and starting to self release my own projects. Im striving to land bigger and better opportunities, festival lineups, and eventually working with headlining names.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part about writing music is when someone tells me that my song helped them heal, made them cry, or touched their hearts. I truly believe that there is a song for everything and for every situation and there has been so many songs that have been a light in my darkest hour or lyrics that felt like they were made for me. Writing music can be so vulnerable and raw, so when people can feel, conceptualize, or relate to my music, it makes me feel that much more closer and united to them. It feels like I’m making a difference which fulfills my heart in an indescribable way.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
There were so many moments from the beginning where I felt like I wasn’t good enough, fought with my anxiety and fears about performing, and had many collaborations fall through. I struggled with the idea that I was capable of being successful or that I could actually make a living from this career. I had to find out the hard way that this journey didn’t have instant gratification and that you would have to put so much of your own time, money, and effort into your work and just accept that you wouldn’t always receive something back. It can be discouraging when you’re living the life of a “Starving Artist”, working several jobs to fund your dreams and being challenged as an artist to find inspiration. Even though I felt defeated and buried in the dark, the universe continued to remind me that I was planted and that everything was a lesson that could help me grow. I continued to follow my heart despite my doubts.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @iamkelseyray
- Facebook: Kelsey Ray
- Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kelsey-ray/1522068518 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7vaxoftsW1DcrUNxOTA9Eu?si=8GoczBoNQ96sXfMhmzbO_A Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkelseyray?igsh=MTQwamtxMTM2anh4eg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelseyraymusic95?mibextid=uzlsIk Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamkelseyray?_t=8kNbVnRsx8Z&_r=1
Image Credits
Pictures By: Samantha Noble Jake Hicks Noah Hines Lindsey Tateman