Kelly Lee Owens - A Rave Among the Clouds

Hi Kelly, how are you? Where are you? Tell us how you're spending these last few days before the release of “Dreamstate”, your fourth album.

Hi! I'm doing great, thanks. Well, what can I say, right now I'm spending a lot of time talking about “Dreamstate” with the press, prepping the dj sets and the new live show. Then there's rehearsals, of course. Whenever I find a quiet moment, in between all that, I spend it walking in London's parks, sipping my favourite coffee.

How would you describe this album to your audience? Try to do it in just a few adjectives.

Euphoric, emotional, vulnerable and empowering!

The first thing I thought after listening to the album was, "oh my God, this time Kelly is really pushing hard!" I feel like this time, in terms of BPM and general approach to song structure, we really have a dance record on our hands. That aspect was certainly quite pronounced on "Inner Song" too, but comparing the new material to your past work, especially the more reflective "LP.8", it comes as a surprise. How did you arrive at this approach?

I think the only way to bring out material like this was precisely by having previously immersed myself in the subconscious world of "LP8". That's why it's important to support artists throughout the full arc of their journey. Not just in the more commercial moments.

Tell us something about how the album came together.

At the heart of the record is my own growth and, perhaps, a confidence in myself that's now reflected in my sound. But there's also a vulnerability I dive headfirst into, like when it comes to talking about tracks such as "Trust & Desire".

Listening to tracks like "Dreamstate" or "Love You Got", I found myself thinking of artists like Orbital or Underworld, basically the English rave scene of the '90s. What other influences shaped the writing of this album?

I love those artists, but strangely enough the main album I was listening to while recording "Dreamstate" was Ray Of Light by Madonna: the darkness of "Frozen" and the light of "Ray Of Light", as well as simple yet touching songs like "Mer Girl".

In the second half of the album, on the other hand, which leans a bit more towards downtempo, it sounds like you had a lot of fun with old keyboards and organs, trying to reach a more ethereal dimension.

That's true... I think it was a combination of working with Tom Rowlands of Chemical Brothers and my love for analog synthesizers and their vast sonic world. Even when soft synths are present, I chose to layer them over analog ones.

Obviously, this is a record that's going to have a huge impact live... what should we expect from your upcoming shows?

A real journey. Plenty of big moments, full of euphoria, and some more intimate ones, others deeply emotional. Welcome to the dreamstate. A sonic place to be. A sonic place to meet.

In general, I find your music very cinematic. Have you ever thought about composing for the screen?

I would absolutely love to. I created the soundtrack for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and it was a chance to let myself go and compose truly anthemic moments. I loved doing it. And I also feel there's a strong need for more women composing for the world of film.

I'm also very curious to know what your favorite films and series are, the ones that, to some extent, inspire your music, if there are any.

Absolutely. For this album, the key film among my inspirations was "Wings Of Desire", with all its observations on the human condition. Sometimes I feel like I'm a spirit observing the entire world, trying to understand it. Other times I'm a human caught up in the depths of emotional turmoil.

What have you been listening to lately? Any new artists you'd recommend to our readers?

Certo, sto ascoltando tantissimo Mustafa The Poet.

That's all for now, Kelly. Thank you so much for your time!

Thank you for the questions!

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