An Exclusive Conversation with Astra Kelly

What initially sparked your interest in pursuing a career in the arts for those who may not be familiar with your background?

I never had a choice. I knew as a young child that I would be a singer and began pursuing the craft as a pre-teen.

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind your latest single? What themes or emotions are explored in this song?

In 2022, I threw myself into the fires of full-time RV living after the loss of my Mom and best friend. I hadn’t found much inspiration during the pandemic or while caring for her on her end of life journey. I was on the road for 8 months with the intention of writing a new record. The latest single is called, Bessie, and named after my 32 foot class A motorhome. The song is about finding joy in traveling, while experiencing an immense feeling of loss, and learning to re-create a life without my Mom.

How does this single fit into the larger narrative of your music career or your upcoming projects?

This single (and the album it is a part of) leans toward country a bit more than my music has in the past. I see this continuing in my future writing projects and releases.

Could you describe the creative process behind this single, from concept to production?

Over the years, my creative process has evolved into listening to what the song wants. When It’s time to bring it into the studio, I enlist the talents of instrumentalists who I know will bring their own magic to the songs and to the production process.

What can listeners expect to experience or feel when they listen to this track?

They will laugh and cry as it touches upon common experiences and emotions.

Are there any interesting stories or anecdotes from the recording or writing of this song that you’d like to share?

They will let anyone drive giant RV off the lot! It was a huge learning curve adjusting to RV life as a solo women on the road. It wasn’t until about six weeks in to the 10,000 mile journey around the country that I became comfortable enough to overcome the fear and access a sense of humility about it all. That was when this song started to reveal itself.

As an artist, can you identify three key traits that define you?

Songs that inspire an emotive experience, lyrics that allow others to see their own experiences in the songs, performances that are powerful and captivating.

What can we anticipate in terms of your upcoming projects?

Themes that reflect the grit and glory of life and the resilience that we all have access to.

Where can our readers find additional information about you and your work?
www.astrakelly.com
https://astrakelly.bandcamp.com/
All socials and digital streaming platforms @astrakelly