Kelly

Tristan Copeland, vocalist and guitarist, was raised on music. His father showed him bands like Led Zeppelin, Phish, Rush, and a few of the greatest folk singers; Bob Dylan included. Copeland's father taught him that songwriting is an art form and how to properly appreciate this art form. From learning how to properly appreciate the art form Copeland has found music to be a limitless form of self expression. He credits music as being a form of therapy. When an artist enters this form of therapy they sit down and play a song, "sing random lyrics and you realize that there is poetry in your hardships," explained Copeland. "It's like meeting and shaking hands with your higher self." In this therapy, an artist draws from their life and what they are inspired by. For Copeland, musically that inspiration comes from blues based rock bands like The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. He mixes the drawling blues rock with the faster intensity of old school punk rock. Copeland believes you can find inspiration in everything as long as you keep your mind open. 

Adriel Contreras, drummer, was graced by a childhood where listening to the radio with your parents was still a normal occurrence. Between the radio and movies like 'Detroit Rock City' and 'School of Rock' Contreras was able to form an early appreciation for music. As he got older he became more angry and jaded so the next step in his musical journey was obviously getting into metal and hardcore punk. These sub-genres of rock are still a strong influence on how he drums, but nowadays Contreras listens and finds inspiration in nearly all music. But still falls back on his biggest inspiration: Black Sabbath. Regardless of where his inspiration is being sourced, he finds a "pure, raw energy" in music. This energy creates a strong mental connection when two people listen to a song together; a connection no other medium allows. As a teenager Contreras knew he was going to be an athlete or a musician; thankfully he did not receive any offers to play sports for colleges. When the lack of offers came in he began jamming with friends leading him to the pursuit of a music career. 

Brandon Hagen, bassist, believes music runs in his blood. Taking after his older brother who played upright bass throughout middle school, Hagen began his musical endeavors in grade school on the upright bass. His grandfather, jazz clarinetist Barney Bigard, might have a bit to do with his family's musical abilities. Hagen finds inspiration in everything he hears, but if he narrows it down his biggest inspirations are Modest Mouse, Sleep, and Parliament/Funkadelic. He believes it is important to learn as much as you can from whatever forms of media you consume. A news story or a personal experience will cause a certain emotion; an artist will play and write what they are feeling, the feeling can be caused by anything. For Hagden the reason he is a musician is all about, "creating something that is greater than the sum of all it's parts," said Hagden. "It seems to be analogous with how life works and how we should be operating through this thing and I find that pretty dope." 

Copeland believes when a person listens to music it becomes a type of ritual. Making a ritual of the whole thing is what he is doing with his band, Kelly.  The band was formed after Copeland got an offer to play a show, which he agreed to even though he did not have a band. So he called upon Hagen and Contreras, both of whom he had played in a band with years prior to the show. After that show the trio just kept jamming together. The group's first recordings are a bit rushed and unpolished, but the group is only improving with time. Kelly is working on recording new music that will be a part of a full length record. Kelly hopes to put this record out within the next year. The new record will be more groove oriented while still holding the bluesy punk sound that Kelly has been producing.