Kelli-Leigh - 'It's a rollercoaster life'
By Run That Again
Kelli-Leigh’s new single Just for One Day is a great example of Anthemic Pop done right; it simultaneously makes you want to get up and dance whilst also holding that emotional weight in its relatability to anyone who hears it. Her music combines influences which include Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke, Mariah Carey, Norah Jones and Destiny’s Child amongst others.
We sit down with the South London-based artist to talk about her career, her background working with Leona Lewis and James Hype before moving confidently into the spotlight, and her journey setting up her own label.
She’s had an unconventional and early start in the music industry, touring with industry powerhouses like Adele on her 21 album tour. But a few years ago, she set up her own record label Music Core, which has given her the power to showcase her music on her own terms. We were intrigued about what led her to this decision, to become a musician in general, and her proudest moment so far.
“I’m not exactly sure when I officially decided but I’ve known since I was kid it was the only path for me. This year is my year to really break out and show people my sound as a solo artist, my lyrics and musical vision. I’m most proud of selling out my headline show in Islington O2 Academy 2 last year in April.”
“I set up my own label so I could release my own music to give myself an opportunity, platform and a place for my voice, and selling it out showed me that backing myself was the right decision to make, I felt overwhelmed and extremely proud.”
Being exposed to every level of the music industry comes with many experiences both positive and negative. We ask her about these and what advice she might have for aspiring artists as well as the best advice she might have received herself.
“I have had negativity towards my journey, I’ve been told perhaps it would’ve been better to stay in my lane as a session singer and sing records for other people and earn a small living from it instead of wanting my own path as an artist. That came from someone I truly respected so that hurt the most.
“I’ve been told perhaps it would’ve been better to stay in my lane as a session singer...That came from someone I truly respected so that hurt the most.”
“Other things have been; which I’m sure a lot of us have experienced, is that lack of support, people who don’t shout you out or want to credit you for your work. However, I have also met some of my best friends through working in the music industry, friends I will have for life and been on some of the most incredible adventures I could’ve dreamed off. As one of my besties Katie & I say ‘It’s a rollercoaster life’.”
“The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given was by my friend Leona Lewis who told me to make sure I have good management. I’ve definitely learnt my lesson from having bad management in the past!”
With a versatile background musically, we’re interested to see who her dream collaboration would be.
“I would love to work with Fink, I’ve been touched and inspired by so much of his music. One of my favourite concerts ever was seeing him and his band play with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam a few years back, absolute goose-bumps! I’d also love to work with Artist and writer Tayla Parx, the hits she’s written is insane and her own music is so fresh. I’d love to see how her brain works in constructing a song.”
Kelli-Leigh has already shown international success with her music: she’s appeared on Radio 1 Live Lounge, been played on KISS FM, been in the top 10 Shazam trending and even entered Virgin Radio Dubai’s HOT 30 chart as a global artist. But it’s not all about the music. We’re also interested in what she gets up to when she’s not grinding out results. What’s one thing no one knows about her?
“I’ve seriously got into video editing, I co-edited my last few videos, and have completely edit my next two. I find it so rewarding getting the visuals right to the music and the more I’m involving myself in the editing process the more I feel like I’m giving the most honest creative version of myself.
“Non-music related, I have an obsession with checking IMDb after I watch a movie, I love reading all the behind the scenes stuff, although the background goss is always better on older films. That’s totally boring, sorry about that! Oh - I’ve spent a lot of time in Poland so my very basic Polish isn’t bad and I have a very strong love of Polish food!”
Go on then. What’s your favourite Polish dish, we ask, or food in general?
“Chrupki!! These spring-onion ring crisps are literally drugs to me! I cannot get enough of them! Once I was in a writing session in North London and we went to the corner shop on a break and they had it in there, couldn’t believe it! I bought 4 packs and the other Artists/Writers I was with couldn’t believe how addictive they were, truly the BEST snack on the planet! Don’t try them because you won’t be able to stop!”