Taylor Kelly brings an introspective and soulful vibe to her music, reflecting her deep connection to jazz, soul, and funk.
Born and raised in Rochester, NY, Kelly has become a staple of the vibrant Philadelphia music scene.
Her latest release, The Spins (EP), is a seamless blend of genres. This six-song collection navigates the complexities of the human mind wrapped in infectious melodies and richly textured instrumentation.
Taylor Kelly’s background as a skilled trumpet player and vocalist shines through in every track.
Her smooth, powerful voice and intricate arrangements set her apart as a musician.
The EP is a lyrical mouthful, complemented by meticulous attention to detail, with textured sounds like trumpets, strings, myriad synths, and even sound bites from her exposure therapy sessions.
Recorded in various studios across Philadelphia, The Spins captures Taylor Kelly’s essence and the many voices within her.
Taylor Kelly The Spins EP Track Listing
- Sometimes
- Take Me
- Fit In
- Ain’t it Funny
- Attention
- The Spins
Taylor Kelly’s introspective lyricism permeates the opening track, Sometimes, which she wrote back in 2019.
This wordiest song of hers weaves through the complexities of human overanalysis, with a bassline nodding to early 2000s Pop/R&B.
Her vocals intertwine with a sparse piano melody in the intro, capturing a rich melancholy.
As the song progresses, it transforms into a more soulful sound, showcasing Kelly’s precision in navigating the dynamic soundscape.
With a string arrangement played by her friend Frankie, the track delves into feelings of hopelessness and the vicious cycles of overthinking, posing the existential question, Why do I hold on to what isn’t right? It is equal parts confession and catharsis.
The introspective journey of Sometimes sets the stage for the next chapter in Taylor Kelly’s The Spins (EP).
As the final notes of Sometimes fade, the mood shifts seamlessly into the upbeat and confident world of the second track, Take Me.
Take Me leverages simple and repetitive lyrics to amplify an undercurrent of upbeat confidence.
Conceived during a moment of self-assuredness, Taylor Kelly channels her feelings into a track that embodies her essence.
Playing all the horn parts herself on the trumpet, she creates a dark and mysterious fantasy world, perhaps existing in an underground alternate dimension.
The vibe of the song is immersive and entrancing, inviting you into an energetic escape.
The next song on The Spins (EP) scales back the introspection but maintains Taylor Kelly’s infectious energy, blending her soulful sound with jazzy vibes and ethereal synths.
Fit In navigates a stream of consciousness, its repetitive chords and lead keyboard line reflecting Kelly’s feelings of entrapment.
On the surface, it presents as a melodic, smooth tune with a cosy, jazzy vibe, but beneath lies a struggle with intrusive thoughts and OCD.
The song’s outro fades into an abyss, enhanced by real sound bites from Kelly’s exposure therapy sessions, culminating with her therapist asking how she’s doing.
The heart of Fit In shines through this raw honesty, capturing Kelly’s desire to escape her own mind and find solace in her art.
Ain’t It Funny stands out as a breezy ballad that elevates everyday anxiety to a poignant journal entry.
Taylor Kelly captures a moment of vulnerability, recounting a gym session where she felt judged and out of place.
Initially intended as an interlude, the track evolved into a full-fledged song, stripped down to just vocals, guitar, light piano, and percussion.
“I wanted this to feel like you’re reading a journal entry, and I think it does just that,” Kelly reflects.
The simplicity of the arrangement underscores the rawness of the lyrics, balancing the track’s emotional weight with its gentle melody.
Attention plays like a soulful confession lifted straight from Taylor Kelly’s journal, blending her calming vocals with intricate instrumentation.
Written six months into recording the EP, this track emerged from a melody Taylor Kelly found too compelling to ignore.
“The chords really influenced the lyrics on this one,” she explains. Starting with internal struggles, the song morphs into a narrative about attraction and longing.
Jamicka’s bass lines elevate the track, which builds steadily before exploding in a raw, live-performance energy.
Taylor Kelly’s voice remains the star, guiding the listener through a journey of desire and self-discovery.
The closing track on the EP, The Spins, is a breezy and bouncy finale that counters the record’s introspective tones with a burst of brightness.
Inspired by Andrew Goldring’s performance at World Cafe Live, Taylor Kelly transforms her elation and overwhelm into a song that embodies the duality of life’s joys and sorrows.
Jotting down the lyrics in a flurry of inspiration, Kelly captures the feeling of wanting to love life while grappling with its inherent difficulties.
With Eoin Murphy’s dynamic production and Logan Roth’s ethereal synths, The Spins swirls with hopefulness and curiosity, making it the perfect closer for the EP.
We receive an overwhelming amount of music submissions, and it’s rare for an EP to compel us to write a review.
Often, EPs struggle to maintain a consistent flow or feature only one or two standout tracks.
However, Taylor Kelly’s The Spins (EP) breaks this mold entirely. Her music ignites a passion that made this review not just a possibility, but a necessity.
Kelly’s artistry is undeniable; she clearly knows exactly what she wants to achieve, and she executes it with remarkable precision and emotional depth.
Beginning July 25, she’ll embark on a month-long tour in support of The Spins.
Hitting ten cities across seven states, Taylor Kelly will bring her unique take on jazz, soul, and funk to strongholds including Chicago, Columbus, Baltimore, Richmond, Bethlehem (PA), Geneseo, NY (near Rochester), Syracuse, and Pittsburgh.
Sunday, July 28, she’ll celebrate the release of the EP with a big hometown show at Johnny Brenda’s, an LGBTQ+ friendly venue in downtown Philly that’s a favourite of foodies and music lovers.
Also on the lineup are Chicago-based collective Human Bloom and Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist Rachel Andie.
All are welcome to fit in with the majestic whirlwind of The Spins.
Taylor Kelly Tour Dates
7/25 – Baltimore, MD – The 8×10 (w/ Grayson Moon + Ray Winder)
7/27 – Richmond, VA – Révéler
7/28 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s (w/ Human Bloom, Rachel Andie) EP Release
8/01 – Columbus, OH – Old Towne East Arts (w/ Mistar Anderson + Ebri Yahoe)
8/02 – Rensselaer, IN – eMbers Station
8/03 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean (w/ Human Bloom + Jennifer Hall)
8/04 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Cellar, PGH Winery (w/ INEZ & Back Alley Sound)
8/07 – Bethlehem, PA – Musikfest (Main Stage)
8/16 – Geneseo, NY – Drumroll
8/17 – Syracuse, NY – Funk N Waffles (w/ Sing Trece)
