Spread the Social Love:
For many of you Kelli Sae probably won't be a name you're familiar with, but her voice, I'm sure will be. From collaborations with artists like Incognito and Count Basic, Kelli Sae has made a name for herself (or should that be voice?!) as one of the finest soul vocalists around. With her latest solo album Pure, Kelli Sae has broken away from what you may expect of her, and is finally being true to herself and doing what the hell she wants...and the outcome? A fantastic album filled with soulful, Latino, rock tunes melded together with her very own Kelli Sae twist.
We were lucky enough to grab some time with Kelli Sae, and we were really excited to get to know more about her; from her influences to her personal life and everything in between.
AltSounds: Pure is your 3rd solo effort, and certainly your best and most honest to date. How different is it working solo than for the likes of Count Basic and Incognito?
Kelli Sae: Wow, I think Pure is my best also. Not to be big headed about it, but I do agree with you. While working & collaborating with others can be a lot of fun and draw other things out of you, working alone has some cool benefits. You get the final say and creative license to explore everything and anything. It's a more free approach.
AltSounds: When with those guys how much input did you have into writing / the performance?
Kelli Sae: Well with Count Basic, it's pretty much always a collaboration and I do have a lot of free reign. With Incognito, it's a little different. Bluey (Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick of Incognito) mostly does all of the writing - which he is very brilliant at. I always enjoy singing whatever he has written. I have collabo'd with him before and that was great too. As far as live performances go - both of those groups just let Kelli Sae do what she does. I like that.
AltSounds: I read that you chose every musician on this latest album, that’s pretty hand’s on in comparison to some artists, what process did you have for choosing them?
Kelli Sae: Well that is part of the beauty of writing and producing/arranging your own music. I've been lucky enough in my career to have played with some of the best the industry has to offer - so I know just who to call to get the job done. Certain songs have a wild style and I just think of who I know that can kill it. Then I call and pray that they are free to come and bless my project!
AltSounds: “Heroine” and the self-titled “Kelli Sae” albums are very RnB heavy. “Pure” though, you've managed to marry your Latino roots with rock and funk, “No Use” being the perfect example of this...was this something that you consciously wanted to achieve and went looking for or was it more of a natural progression and occurrence?
Kelli Sae: This is true. The first two albums are more RnB / Neo Soulish but I think I was being a bit dishonest trying to fit a square into a circle. I wasn't really in control of the project and I didn't produce it or arrange it. I was also trying to be accepted by doing what was deemed as "commercial or the style" that would be more marketable. I learned quickly that was a huge mistake. At the end of the day, I have to love what I've done and it must be 100% authentic.
AltSounds: Speaking of RnB, it’s a genre that I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with over the past few years, sub-genres I feel have muddied the water and it’s lost its way somewhat...where do you think it’s at / heading?
Kelli Sae: I have to agree with you. It's all pretty samey samey and not very imaginative. I see a lot of people doing what I used to do - which is try to make what you think will fit in to the appropriate category. Where it's heading? I don't know - but I do know that a lot of people listeners/buyers are getting a little bored. I know I am.
AltSounds: In fact, where do you think the industry is at / heading? We’ve seen a huge shift with the digital revolution...how do you feel about it....how does it affect your music?
Kelli Sae: The shift is good. Indie artists have a lot more control although it is a difficult path. I love the digital revolution because it allows an artist like me to be as creative as I want. I can put 19 tracks on Pure with a musical gumbo and people get to choose what they want to buy. You can go for all the rock tracks or just get the R&B one's - whatever's your pleasure. The consumer has a lot of control now- instead of buying an album and only getting the one track you like - now you can customize your experience.
AltSounds: Your lyrics are real, there’s no denying that. A personal favourite of mine is “Can’t let go” from Heroine, a song I related with instantly. You've been through some shit and you certainly wear your heart on your sleeve – any of it got you into trouble / hacked anyone off?!
Kelli Sae: [Laughs] I'm always in trouble!!! Most of the songs I pen are all from personal experience - whether it be mine or someone close to me. I find it easier to write that way. Hacked anyone off? Probably! [Laughs]
AltSounds: I also read that, after your divorce and sad losses, you fell in love with and married your female soul-mate. Having led a ‘straight’ life, as it were, did this realisation come as a bit of a surprise to you or had you, deep down, always known? How long had the two of you been friends for before you realised it was something a bit more? How did people around the both of you react, did you even care what they thought?
Kelli Sae: I always knew I was gay. I don't think I was living a lie when I was married though. I did feel actual love for the person as a person. Not a sexual love though. I think I did what many do when you are young and brought up to believe that Woman and Man are what the norm is and bury any feelings that differ from that. I don't think I really knew myself what it was I wasn't connecting to. So sorry it took me so long to understand myself and my feelings. As soon as I did - I let it out!!! I couldn't care less who agrees or doesn't or whatever. My family and my wife's family are very supportive. Seriously though, if they weren't I wouldn't care - I could never live my life imprisoned and unhappy for fear of judgement.
AltSounds: You talk about how the world isn’t a nice or good place, with people more interested in the superficial and the fake, than they are the shocking and harsh realities many of us face on a daily basis...do you think that this is a way of them to escape, to immerse themselves into something so far removed from anything around them?
Kelli Sae: There's something wrong with a society who relishes and praises a large ass and a sex tape before being concerned with our troops or war veterans. WTF!!!! I also think too many are easily fooled and duped into what they see on TV or read in the tabloids. So it's essentially a false escape.
AltSounds: If you were president for the day what would you change?
Kelli Sae: Homelessness and Hunger!
AltSounds: It’s all got a bit serious, on a lighter note and back to the music....if you could collaborate with any one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Kelli Sae: Oh my. I have two. Rick James and Marvin Gaye! Rick for his funk and rawness with those blaring guitars. I just know we would've made something amazing! Marvin for the smoothness that he has and I think a lovely duet would've produced some babies around the world! [Laughs]
AltSounds: What’s on your sound-system right now....and what will always be on it?
Kelli Sae: At the moment I'm listening to a mixture of things. Today was Gym Class Heroes. What stays on my playlist is Prince. I never get tired of listening to him.
We were lucky enough to grab some time with Kelli Sae, and we were really excited to get to know more about her; from her influences to her personal life and everything in between.
AltSounds: Pure is your 3rd solo effort, and certainly your best and most honest to date. How different is it working solo than for the likes of Count Basic and Incognito?
Kelli Sae: Wow, I think Pure is my best also. Not to be big headed about it, but I do agree with you. While working & collaborating with others can be a lot of fun and draw other things out of you, working alone has some cool benefits. You get the final say and creative license to explore everything and anything. It's a more free approach.
AltSounds: When with those guys how much input did you have into writing / the performance?
Kelli Sae: Well with Count Basic, it's pretty much always a collaboration and I do have a lot of free reign. With Incognito, it's a little different. Bluey (Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick of Incognito) mostly does all of the writing - which he is very brilliant at. I always enjoy singing whatever he has written. I have collabo'd with him before and that was great too. As far as live performances go - both of those groups just let Kelli Sae do what she does. I like that.
Kelli on stage with Incognito in New York
AltSounds: I read that you chose every musician on this latest album, that’s pretty hand’s on in comparison to some artists, what process did you have for choosing them?
Kelli Sae: Well that is part of the beauty of writing and producing/arranging your own music. I've been lucky enough in my career to have played with some of the best the industry has to offer - so I know just who to call to get the job done. Certain songs have a wild style and I just think of who I know that can kill it. Then I call and pray that they are free to come and bless my project!
AltSounds: “Heroine” and the self-titled “Kelli Sae” albums are very RnB heavy. “Pure” though, you've managed to marry your Latino roots with rock and funk, “No Use” being the perfect example of this...was this something that you consciously wanted to achieve and went looking for or was it more of a natural progression and occurrence?
Kelli Sae: This is true. The first two albums are more RnB / Neo Soulish but I think I was being a bit dishonest trying to fit a square into a circle. I wasn't really in control of the project and I didn't produce it or arrange it. I was also trying to be accepted by doing what was deemed as "commercial or the style" that would be more marketable. I learned quickly that was a huge mistake. At the end of the day, I have to love what I've done and it must be 100% authentic.
WATCH // 'No Use'
AltSounds: Speaking of RnB, it’s a genre that I’ve grown increasingly frustrated with over the past few years, sub-genres I feel have muddied the water and it’s lost its way somewhat...where do you think it’s at / heading?
Kelli Sae: I have to agree with you. It's all pretty samey samey and not very imaginative. I see a lot of people doing what I used to do - which is try to make what you think will fit in to the appropriate category. Where it's heading? I don't know - but I do know that a lot of people listeners/buyers are getting a little bored. I know I am.
AltSounds: In fact, where do you think the industry is at / heading? We’ve seen a huge shift with the digital revolution...how do you feel about it....how does it affect your music?
Kelli Sae: The shift is good. Indie artists have a lot more control although it is a difficult path. I love the digital revolution because it allows an artist like me to be as creative as I want. I can put 19 tracks on Pure with a musical gumbo and people get to choose what they want to buy. You can go for all the rock tracks or just get the R&B one's - whatever's your pleasure. The consumer has a lot of control now- instead of buying an album and only getting the one track you like - now you can customize your experience.
WATCH // 'I'm Loving You'
AltSounds: Your lyrics are real, there’s no denying that. A personal favourite of mine is “Can’t let go” from Heroine, a song I related with instantly. You've been through some shit and you certainly wear your heart on your sleeve – any of it got you into trouble / hacked anyone off?!
Kelli Sae: [Laughs] I'm always in trouble!!! Most of the songs I pen are all from personal experience - whether it be mine or someone close to me. I find it easier to write that way. Hacked anyone off? Probably! [Laughs]
AltSounds: I also read that, after your divorce and sad losses, you fell in love with and married your female soul-mate. Having led a ‘straight’ life, as it were, did this realisation come as a bit of a surprise to you or had you, deep down, always known? How long had the two of you been friends for before you realised it was something a bit more? How did people around the both of you react, did you even care what they thought?
Kelli Sae: I always knew I was gay. I don't think I was living a lie when I was married though. I did feel actual love for the person as a person. Not a sexual love though. I think I did what many do when you are young and brought up to believe that Woman and Man are what the norm is and bury any feelings that differ from that. I don't think I really knew myself what it was I wasn't connecting to. So sorry it took me so long to understand myself and my feelings. As soon as I did - I let it out!!! I couldn't care less who agrees or doesn't or whatever. My family and my wife's family are very supportive. Seriously though, if they weren't I wouldn't care - I could never live my life imprisoned and unhappy for fear of judgement.
AltSounds: You talk about how the world isn’t a nice or good place, with people more interested in the superficial and the fake, than they are the shocking and harsh realities many of us face on a daily basis...do you think that this is a way of them to escape, to immerse themselves into something so far removed from anything around them?
Kelli Sae: There's something wrong with a society who relishes and praises a large ass and a sex tape before being concerned with our troops or war veterans. WTF!!!! I also think too many are easily fooled and duped into what they see on TV or read in the tabloids. So it's essentially a false escape.
AltSounds: If you were president for the day what would you change?
Kelli Sae: Homelessness and Hunger!
AltSounds: It’s all got a bit serious, on a lighter note and back to the music....if you could collaborate with any one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Kelli Sae: Oh my. I have two. Rick James and Marvin Gaye! Rick for his funk and rawness with those blaring guitars. I just know we would've made something amazing! Marvin for the smoothness that he has and I think a lovely duet would've produced some babies around the world! [Laughs]
AltSounds: What’s on your sound-system right now....and what will always be on it?
Kelli Sae: At the moment I'm listening to a mixture of things. Today was Gym Class Heroes. What stays on my playlist is Prince. I never get tired of listening to him.
Kelli Sae's 3rd solo album Pure is out now and available here:
Pure - Kelli Sae
Pure - Kelli Sae
![Review: Steak Number Eight - The Hutch [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F1%2F4%2F8%2F5%2F7%2Fsn8th.jpg&h=75&w=75&zc=1&q=70)
