Project Description
Interview with
JUDAH KELLY
Interviewer – Vicky Hebbs
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He won The Voice in 2017 and now Judah Kelly is touring with Adam Harvey and The McClymonts! His brand new album will be released on October 5th, with his own headline shows confirmed throughout October ( See tour dates below).
The first single and title track off the album ‘Real Good Time’ is a fine example of the shift that Judah, multi-award-winning producer Matt Fell, and the studio band have made – easing up on the pop sheen from the first album and dialing into an organic and truly authentic sound. It amounts to the perfect soundtrack to highlight Judah’s soaring range and rich, honeyed tone.
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How did you first get into music? When did it become a serious?
A: I was a very musical baby according to my parents. So music was just always what I was attracted to. Growing up I was always the kid getting in trouble at school for singing in class. I started gigging in pubs at the age of 10 but it really became serious when I was 15 or 16, I joined a band and started travelling more playing shows all over and by the time I got to senior year of high school, I actually missed 51% of the year because I was travelling so much for music, but thankfully I still managed to graduate.
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What kind of music did you grow up on? What artists inspired you and which do you still look to now for ideas?
A: Growing up I listened to heaps of different music. Everything from Motown, soul and funk and anything on the radio too. When I was 13 I heard the music of Vince Gill and that was the moment I fell in love with country music though. I still listen to anything, but Vince will always be the number 1 influence for me.
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What do you do when you are not creating music or performing?
A: Well if I’m not playing or performing, I’m listening to music haha. I also enjoy gaming. I have friends all over the country that I can’t always see so it’s good sometimes to log in and spend some time talking and playing with them for a while.
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You’ve come a long way since winning The Voice last year! Is it a very different experience to be releasing an album now as opposed to your first album after The Voice?
A: It’s very different, the the album took 10 days to make. This one was months to find songs, weeks to record and weeks to mix and master so there was just a lot more time to let the songs breathe. Also, I lost my voice during the show last year so it’s good to record and album and let people really know what I sound like.
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You have a brand new album coming out October 5th, what can fans expect from the album?
A: Good songs. That’s what I think anyway. I spent a lot of time listening to those songs and making sure I loved them as much the 100th time as I did the first time I heard them. Hopefully people listening to the album feel the same way.
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How would you describe the style of your new album as compared to your first album?
A: Well I would say this album is a blend of country and blues I guess. The last album was too country for a pop audience and too pop for a country audience. With this one there’s no doubt where it sits.
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How has your songwriting evolved or changed on the latest album?
A: Well once again I’ve only got 1 writing credit on this album which I’m fine with. I’m working on getting better at writing but I’m not really too fussed on where the songs come from, as long as they’re good songs.
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Is there a song from the album that you know or perhaps hope people will particularly connect with?
A: All of them really but I guess if I had to pick one. Nothing makes sense. Thats the one I co-wrote. It’s just very honest and hopefully people sense that.
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What inspired your new single, Real Good Time?
A: Well, this one is just a good fun song. I’m sure everyone has had or has a friend who had a big night out. You can’t really remember what happened but you’re sure you had a good time.
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Did you enjoy the process of making the music video for Real Good Time? Are there any other songs off your new album you would be keen to make a music video for?
A: Oh I loved it! Half of it we played the song and the other half I went out with friends and just had a good night out. Easiest way to make a video if you ask me. I’m not sure, I just think any song would be fun to make a video for.
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If someone had never listened to Judah Kelly before, what song of yours would you recommend to them if they could only listen to one?
A: Probably, Ain’t No Thing. It’s a song that shows my singing ability and I think it represents me well, it’s very laid back.
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What are you most looking forward to when you go on tour this October?
A: Meeting people! I love the fact that my job requires me to travel the country playing music and meeting people!
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If you could pick absolutely anyone to bring on tour with you, whom would you pick and why? (Dead or Alive)
A: Vince Gill, he is the number 1 guy for me. I’m a big fan, I’m pretty sure I would cry if I met that man.
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What are your major goals or milestones for the future?
A: I really don’t know. My goal at the moment is to just play more shows in places I’ve never been before.
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Finally, this is a paragraph dedicated to some quick discovery. Really corny, but for the fans, can you tell me your favorite album, artist, movie, place, drink, meal and person (living or dead) and some brief reasons why? Answer some or all please?
A: My favourite album is ‘These Days’ by my favourite artist, Vince Gill. Vince is an incredible writer and one day decided to release a 4 part Album. So all at once he released 40 brand new songs. I get so many options from that one album haha
My Favourite movie: Soul Men, it’s got Bernie Mac and Samuel L Jackson in it so you know it’s gonna be funny. It revolves a lot around music so you know I’m gonna love it.
My favourite place, I don’t really have one yet. I haven’t found that place that I really love being yet, I’m sure it’ll come one day.
My favourite meal and drink. Well my favourite meal is Lasagna, my sister would make a killer one when was growing up and it’s still my favourite. As for drinks I’m pretty boring, I like Pepsi max haha.
Favourite person, big shocker I’m gonna go with Vince Gill. I think it was just because I found a lot of similarities to myself, in him. I’ve got quite a high voice for a guy and so does Vince. One of my favourite quotes I ever heard him say was that he’s ‘man enough to sing like a woman’.
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Album Track Listing
1. Found
2. Real Good Time
3. 2 Million Miles
4. Ain’t No Thing
5. What Not To Do
6. Don’t Kick Me When I’m Down
7. Call It A Night
8. Strangers Like Us
9. I Can’t Think
10. I’ll Come Running
11. Tuckers Daughter
12. Nothing Makes Sense
13. House On The Hill
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NATIONAL TOUR DATES
OCTOBER
Friday 5th – Lefty’s Old Time Music Hall Brisbane (tickets available here)
Saturday 6th – Racehorse Hotel Ipswich (tickets available here)
Friday 12th – Rooty Hill *
Saturday 13th – Mount Hunter Stampede Mount Hunter *
Thursday 18th – The Brass Monkey Cronulla (tickets available here)
Friday 19th – The Bridge Hotel Rozelle (tickets available here)
Saturday 20th – The Boom Room at Rooty Hill RSL (tickets available here)
Thursday 25th – Memo Music Hall St Kilda (tickets available here)
Friday 26th – Workers Club Geelong (tickets available here)
Saturday 27th – Townsville Rock Fest Gone Country Townsville
(tickets available here)
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NOVEMBER
Friday 2nd – Alexandra Hills Hotel #
Saturday 3rd – The Shed Sunshine Coast #
Friday 9th – City Golf Club Toowoomba *
Saturday 10th – Kedron Wavell Chermside *
Sunday 11th – Dag Pub Hotel D’aguilar *
Friday 16th – Halekulani Bowls Club Budgewoi *
Saturday 17th – Lizottes Newcastle *
* with Adam Harvey
# with McClymonts
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Follow JUDAH KELLY
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
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