Kelley McRae, an artist living in Brooklyn, made her CD debut in 2006 with the album Never Be. The album received rave reviews, including four stars in Paste magazine and her performance on WNYC's 'Soundcheck' was named one of the year's best. The album also led her to reunite with an old friend, director Lear Debessonet, who called on her to write and perform the music for Brecht's "Saint Joan of the Stockyards" at legendary NYC theater,
PS 122. The show received a glowing review in the NY Times. These successes, along with the stand-out track "Johnny Cash," put her on the map— at least the Lower Manhattan music and theater map. With her forthcoming release, Highrises in Brooklyn, produced by Brian Deck (Iron and Wine, Modest Mouse, Josh Ritter, Counting Crows), she deserves more longitude: at least three more time zones.
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This is an album that should be all over the map. Not because Kelley arrived in Brooklyn by way of Baltimore, Dallas, and Starkville, Mississippi, but because she, like everyone, makes a daily commute through joy, despair, gratitude, doubt, hope, fear, shame, and the rest. Big cities like New York have a way of uprooting us existentially and daring us to call them home. In many ways, Highrises in Brooklyn is Kelley's answer to that call. She chides Brooklyn's highrises in the album's title track, confesses co-dependence on late-night bars and diners in "Last Call Town" and "Long Walk Home," both rues and needs the BQE—the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in the pop number "BQE."
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Another reason she's all over the map is that she lists as influences James Baldwin, Nina Simone, Betty Smith, Lucinda Williams, Anne Lamott, Johnny Cash, Cormac McCarthy, Otis Redding, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Patty Griffin, Marilynne Robinson, and Joni Mitchell. "None of them," she says, "is afraid of the darkness that's here." For her, these are people who "just dare you not to believe them." Kelley believes them and, in turn, dares herself.
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When Kelley, a former visual artist and stage actress, was asked why she turned to song she said "I found that I was much better at singing what I meant than saying what I meant." This comes through in every track of Highrises in Brooklyn, whether it's electronica (banjo and synthesized hand claps), gospel and blues, folk, synthesized pop, harmonies, and swaying rhythms, or simple, beautiful Americana. By pairing sound with emotion, by faithfully naming, through song, a heart that often looks like a NYC transit map, she elevates life over art. Some best speak truth in acting, some by painting, and some, like Kelley, through song.
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Do you remember me....Engine studios....Colin Sipos.....back up vocals.....anyway, just wanted to say hi! I hope the music is going well for you...its seems like it! Dig the tunes. Cheers!
Hi Kelly great tunes. You may have been added or have added yourself to The Toniks as a freind.
If you have not have a chance to listen to our music as yet, feel free to pop by and say hi and have a listen, and let us know what you think of the new recordings?
We also have a mailing list, if you wish to join, just ad your prefered e-mail address on the ReverbNation banner on our front page for the latest new on The Toniks.
Hello Kellery, Thank you for adding me to your Myspace circle of friends. I really enjoyed your song samples. Your vocals are very pleasing. Good luck with Highrises in Brooklyn. -John
Dropping by to wish you the best day ever and tomorrow do the same. If you have the means please give a couple of dollars to charity. Be it to fight Diabetes, Asthma, Cancer, Hunger, AIDS, or any other cause that touches your heart. I know of no better feeling than what you feel when you make another person’s day a little better. Bill
If any of you guys states side know who Roesy is you will be pleasantly surprised to hear that he is coming to New York this week to play a few gigs post Paddy's Weekend or is it to keep the party rolling.
March 22nd at The Scratcher Sessions, 8pm March 24th at The Rockwood Music Hall, 7pm March 25th at The Red Lion, 7pm March 26th at An Beal Bocht, 9pm
Our own Jenna Nicholls will be sharing the bill at The Scratcher Session this Sunday, so if your in New York this weekend come on down and support independent musicians.
Online Now!
We would love to see you at this event
come and show your love for Good Music!
