Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Klein.
Hi Kelsey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Ojai, CA, a true Shangri-la just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. My dad was an LA native, and I was an actress as a child, so I spent a lot of time in LA visiting family and going to auditions.
I started playing the piano by ear as soon as I could sit up and reach the keys and trained classically from age six to sixteen. My family had limited means, but my grandparents were very generous and paid for all of my lessons.
Although I loathed the rigor of scales and repeating the same passage for hours, I relished in the satisfaction of mastering a piece to the point where I could lose myself in a flow state. I was fortunate enough to have teachers who spent equal amounts of time refining my technique and emphasizing the importance of allowing the music to move me, and eventually, to create.
By age 12, I was composing instrumentals, drawing inspiration from classical pieces, film scores, and artists like Enya, Sarah Brightman, and Moby. In my early teens, I discovered Tori Amos. She completely cracked me open, and her success affirmed what I was already creating. That’s when I started writing lyrics and forming complete songs. Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, and Kate Bush were also major influences in all regards –– their poetry, melodies, vocal style, and conviction.
I recorded music throughout high school and performed at various venues in the Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles areas. I attended college in LA and immersed myself in the music industry, which proved to be a long and winding road.
A couple of years ago, I decided it was time for a change, and I moved to Europe. That was a major step in reclaiming my identity—not just as an artist, but as a woman. Since then, I’ve started over on my own terms. I recorded piano and vocal versions of some of my most personal songs in France and recently released my debut EP, La Fabrique Sessions. I’m now fully independent, focused, and more connected to my voice than ever before.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been anything but smooth. Whatever you’ve heard about the predatory practices in the music industry, it’s all true. I was young and hungry, and unfortunately, people took advantage of that. For years, even when I knew things weren’t right, I kept holding out for the tides to change because I had sacrificed so much of my time, energy, and health. I was living the sunk cost fallacy.
On a personal level, my father was diagnosed with young-onset dementia in 2016, and in 2023, he passed away. I took care of a lot of practical matters for him, but I know I wasn’t as emotionally present as I should have been because music was sucking the life out of me. I was in survival mode and had tunnel vision.
After an experience like that, it’s impossible not to fixate on the “what ifs”— trust me, I did a lot of that. But, ultimately, living with regret allows the past to maintain a hold on your life. It prevents you from seizing the gift of the present and the wealth of opportunities that still lie ahead. Through it all, I learned the depth of my own resilience and the power of self-forgiveness.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
From a lyrical standpoint, I write about the human condition, and I like to weave in multi-sensory details. Early on, it was very symbolic, but now I lean more into storytelling. My work is rooted in emotional truth, usually from the perspective of someone navigating grief, shame, love, or longing.
Musically, I would say it’s my blend of pop and classical, both in a compositional and stylistic sense. In their current state, all of my songs are just piano and vocal arrangements, but my vision is to have a whole band and orchestra one day.
What I’m most proud of is that I’ve never chased trends. I don’t write for virality or to attract any particular audience. I’ve evolved my craft over the years, but no matter what, my DNA is embedded — it just sounds like “Kelsey.” Of course, I want my music to resonate with millions and achieve mass-market success, but that’s not the objective at the moment of inception. The only mandate is to serve the song that was given to me.
Any big plans?
I’m looking forward to performing and continuing to share my music with new audiences. I have an intimate show coming up in August, and would love to open for other artists. There has been a lot of serendipity in my life lately, and I’m excited about the possibilities — I haven’t had that feeling in a long time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kelseyklein.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamkelseyklein
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/iamkelseyklein
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/kelseyklein
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq45KkFC4uAap53TLzhZ-ng
- Other: https://bit.ly/KelseyKleinEP
Image Credits
Photography: Dagmar Krijt
Album design: Gordon Tindall
