His appreciation for the Y2K sound bleeds into his music, with hits like "Everybody's Enemy" and covers of songs like No Doubt's "Hella Good" and Disturbed's "Stupify." And now, after a yearlong hiatus, Mad Kelly is back with a new single, "Sore Eyes," out on Friday, February 14.
Mad Kelly's Musical Background
The self-taught multi-instrumentalist's musical journey began with an appreciation for various Christian music genres. Inspired by Christian rap and church rock, Kelly began experimenting with music production using a demo version of FL Studio on his computer. His family's eclectic music tastes also inspired Kelly throughout his childhood."My grandma actually was the first one to show me Korn and got me into heavy stuff. My grandma loved Tool and Korn, big Slayer fan, Metallica — all the heavy music. My mom was super Madonna, Depeche Mode, and then my dad was 311 and Deftones, so I got everything," Kelly says. "My favorite band of all time is Blindside, and they're a Christian Swedish band. I love that band so much; they're very influential on the new sound that I have with this EP."
Kelly has been making music since 2017, with his early work highlighting his trademark vulnerability. In 2022, he released his debut EP, Human, a raw and emotional record that seamlessly shifts between his skillful production techniques and rock star talents. Tracks like "You Seem Proud" and "Hostage" command your attention, perfect for moshing at Warped Tour or headbanging at EDC.
In 2023, he performed at III Points in Miami, where he opened for Alice Glass, formerly of Crystal Castles. And last year, Mad Kelly played at the Hollywood Walk of Fame's iconic Bourbon Room, opening for Landon Barker, son of Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker.
"The last show I did in California, the Bourbon Room, I opened for Landon Barker. I played alongside Noah Thomas and Killvein. Killvein is a very important piece of the puzzle for this EP. He does post-production, mixes, and masters the EP," he adds. "My band wasn't able to travel for the show, so I had a band in California that I had never played with, and they did fantastic. It was a very chaotic build-up to the show, but it was one of my favorite shows I've ever done."
A New Chapter, Starting with "Sore Eyes"
Beginning with "Sore Eyes," Kelly's upcoming EP moves away from his previous existentialism and speaks to his growth and optimistic perspective. Kelly blends his nu-metal sound with a more uplifting message, hoping to create something that both he and his fans need to hear. Incredibly vulnerable, "Sore Eyes" marks the beginning of Kelly's self-love journey, echoed in his decision to release the single on Valentine's Day."I wanted to make a very uplifting song for myself, but also for anyone who hears it — anyone who feels unwanted or feels like they don't have a purpose. I chose Valentine's Day because I thought it would be a great gift for everybody," Kelly says. "It's not so much of a love song — it can be a love song to yourself — but I just want to encourage and uplift people with music. I feel like I've covered a lot of impending-doom-type songs with Human. With 'Sore Eyes' and the EP, I really wanted to use lyrics to reach out to people that need to hear it, versus people that just want to listen to a heavy song,"
As a firm believer in receiving what one puts out into the world, he understands the importance of creating music that validates the experiences of his listeners. With this upcoming EP, which is set to be released in April, Kelly's music responds to the emotionality of Human with soothing reassurance. The new record features the track "Tetherball," a metaphor for the trials and tribulations of life that are ultimately overcome through Kelly's perseverance. The new EP will also feature a full-blown love song and even a new bandmate, 99, on guitar.
"I wanted to reflect more positively because I know I'm going to be singing these songs and listening to them over and over and over, and I don't really want to hear so much of 'I'm going through a lot' or 'I feel this sadness' — I want to speak life into myself," Kelly remarks. "When you start making music for you, and you start meeting people out there who are like you that way and need the music you put out, it's a different feeling than anything else."
