Garland Kelley came crashing into our worlds at the very beginning of this year, and we’ve been proud and dedicated followers of his music ever since! A veteran of Nashville’s live music scene, Garland has taken the plunge and decided to stake his claim as an original solo artist, and we’re with him every step of the way!
Honoured that agreed to chat with us for an interview, Kelley talks about his hypnotising new single ‘Mortal’, what “being successful” in the music industry would look like for him, and when he’ll be heading back into the studio. Please give a big welcome to our friend Garland Kelley!
Hey Garland, it’s so great to be finally able to chat with you! We at Mesmerized have been proud followers of your music straight from the beginning but, for those who haven’t discovered your musical prowess just yet, who is Garland Kelley and when did your love affair with music begin?
I am a Nashville-based rock artist, musician, and music producer. I have been playing music since I was 13 and knew right away it was my passion. I have an incredible family and home life and am an avid outdoor enthusiast.
You’ve just unleashed a beautiful and hypnotising new single called ‘Mortal’, and I know it’s also the title track of your upcoming debut EP. What does the song mean to you and do you remember its “birth” so to speak?
I am particularly proud of this song and am glad to be able to share it. ‘Mortal’ addresses my personal struggles with acknowledging and accepting mortality. This topic unites all humans and I feel that a healthy acceptance of our temporal nature is essential.
Another tune of yours that I fell deeply in love with was ‘The Higher Road‘. A stripped-back masterpiece I believe I labelled it! With it nearing 11,000 plays on Spotify, how does it feel to know that so many people are listening to and resonating with your songs?
Thank you so much for your kind words and ongoing support! Knowing people are listening to and enjoying my music is an indescribable feeling and I am truly grateful to every person who has taken the time to listen. Most importantly, I hope the songs are connecting with people in a real and meaningful way.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences? Who did you grow up listening to? And would you say that your tastes have changed over the years?
I will start by saying that my musical tastes have certainly evolved over the years for a number of reasons. I am most firmly rooted in classic rock from the late 60s to the mid-70s. Bands and artists such as The Beatles, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and Jimi Hendrix are my primary influences. I am also heavily influenced by 90s bands such as The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against the Machine, TOOL, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, and The Smashing Pumpkins. These days, I listen to almost every type of music and I still love all of the music from my formative years.
Success is such a broad term with different meanings for everyone. What would “being successful” in the music industry look like to you?
This is an incredibly accurate statement and defining success is absolutely essential. I also think goals and success are different in the sense that one can be successful without achieving every goal. I already feel successful but am always striving for more. I have played thousands of shows at this point and have put in well over 10,000 hours. I am able to perform on a weekly basis with incredible musicians whom I love and respect. My wife and I perform regularly and we have so much fun together. For me, long-term success as an original would be to be able to tour and perform for a fan base that truly connects with my music. I am less concerned with audience size and popularity than I am about building an authentic presence.
If I stole your cell phone and opened Spotify (or your streaming service of choice), who would I see under your recently played section?
This is a funny question to answer because I often have to learn songs that I wouldn’t necessarily choose to listen to. I perform in a corporate band where the clients request songs. I also listen to quite a bit of atmospheric instrumental music when I’m working or sleeping. Honestly, most new music I enjoy listening to is from artists I have discovered through the process of releasing my own music. I have found most of these artists through shared playlists and publications.
So I did a little digging and came across your cover of Gary Jules’ ‘Mad World’ on YouTube. It’s beautiful! What drew you to the song?
Thank you so much! I have always loved this song and, honestly, I discovered it through the movie Donnie Darko when I was in high school. I tend to love melancholic music like this or the music of artists like Elliott Smith.
What, to you, is music’s role in society?
This is a difficult question to answer and I run the risk of sounding pompous. There is a divide between what I see as music’s role in our current society and what I feel the role of art “should be” in society. I feel that the value and role of music have both diminished in modern society, unfortunately. From my perspective, music has become exploited to the point of becoming plastic and its role is now to support the influence and brand image of artists so they can sell products. Music seems to be a secondary addition to support social media where the audio may even be muted while people flash scroll through short content videos.
Thanks so much for chatting with us Garland! I can’t wait to hear the EP! Do you have a release date in mind? And, in a broader sense, what do you hope for in your musical future?
It was a pleasure as always! I am looking at releasing the EP sometime in September but will definitely keep everyone updated as to when I have a definitive date. In the meantime, I will be back in the studio writing more songs. My goal is to focus on building a fan base so I can take this show on the road!
