WHERE THE
MUSIC MATTERS
Peter Kelly is not your average pop singer/songwriter. His music isn't superficial and neither is he. A vocalist/guitarist who proves soulful, confessional, relatable songs still live when the right artist breathes life into them. His range of influences varies much like the audiences he attracts. Fans of the Beatles and Billy Joel can appreciate his classic approach to songwriting while being refreshed by the modern presentation influenced by Coldplay, John Mayer, Imagine Dragons, and even pop divas Pink and Katy Perry.
In a recent on air interview with True Radio, the host described Peter Kelly as the “Bruce Springsteen of our generation.” His latest single, “Fear of Landing,” got a thumbs up from acclaimed producer Steve Lillywhite who had a chance opportunity to listen. Long before releasing "Fear of Landing,” ten year old Peter Kelly was beginning to hone his guitar skills. By thirteen he was performing live with his first band and building his reputation in his community’s music scene. It was during his years at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston that
he made his transition from sideline guitarist to singer/songwriter. After graduating with a degree in Music Performance, he relocated to New York City to begin his career. Peter’s first solo effort was his “Forever, Again” EP which was released in 2012. The title track played on NY's Q104.3 and all six songs received play on college and online stations across the country and around the world.
The introspective song "Maybe" was featured in Victor Bruno’s short film "Thanks Dad" which was a finalist at the 2012 Tropfest film festival. Peter has described the experience of sitting in the audience and hearing his song play in front of an audience of over 10,000 in New York’s Bryant Park as “life altering.” The film received further attention when it appeared on the Starz Cinema channel. Peter maintained a live presence including a performance of his song “Oz” at the United Nations Correspondence Awards Ceremony at Cipriani in New York. The response from critics was encouraging with quotes like: “The wit and charm of "Forever, Again" engages the listener instantly and completely. The top notch writing, playing, and arranging ranks with the best.” -Roger Z (More Sugar Entertainment). With the positive response received from their first collaboration, Peter has again teamed up with John Campos to produce his next offering. This latest compilation of tracks are, as Kelly describes, his best work to date. Skope Entertainment, an online indie music media site, was quoted saying: "Peter Kelly’s voice is steady, confident, and in a style that is all his own as he bends notes and croons powerfully throughout .”
Before going solo, Peter fronted his first original band Hemenway. They attracted the attention of of the famed Beatles promoter Sid Bernstein, Skip Carlton (father of Vanessa Carlton), and Ari Goldstein (CEO of NYC PR company Goldstein Communications) and recorded with producer Mike Jackson (Christina Aguilera) and producer Mike Sapone (Brand New, Taking Back Sunday). After disbanding Hemenway, Peter joined a New York City based country band called the Roadside Poets. It was during the recording of their debut album that he first met his producer-to-be, John Campos. For the past year, the two have been very productive with writing and recording new material, producing their own music video for “Fear of Landing,” and building a substantial following through live performance and social media.
The new album, due out February 2015, will blend all of Kelly's early & coming of age influences. His fusion of coffeehouse lyrics with competent musicianship and dynamic compositions doesn’t tempt the snooze button but rather wake audiences to the sound of the alarm. With soundscapes that refuse to be ignored, he moves from heartfelt ballads to soaring pop anthems that are injected with both earthy and electronic tones. “Substance” is a word that has not been associated with pop music for quite some time. The shoes of great singer/songwriters need to be filled, Kelly could do just that and even convince fans worldwide they need a new pair…