Paula Kelley
Encyclopedia
Paula Kelley is an American
indie pop
singer-songwriter and orchestral arranger/composer from Boston
, Massachusetts
. She began her musical career in the 1990s with the band Drop Nineteens
before leaving them in 1994 to start her own career in songwriting. She worked with several other bands before finally going solo with her first album, Nothing/Everything
, which was released in 2001 on Stop, Pop, and Roll Records in the US and then later on Caraway in Japan, which gained her plenty of Japanese fans. The Trouble With Success or How You Fit Into The World
was released in 2003 on the independent Kimchee Records label in the US and again on Caraway in Japan. She followed this up with a US tour and a tour of France after the album's European release through Polaris Musique/Sony
. Her latest release is the "Airports EP (2008)," a collection of four orchestrated tracks intended to be a teaser for her forthcoming album. Paula is known for her melodic, emotional songs, expansive instrumental arrangements and sweet, distinctive singing voice.
Kelley began playing piano at age three and was an orchestral harpsichordist by the time she was in high school. She also plays guitar
, bass
, drums
, and other sundry instruments. She attended Phillips Exeter Academy, then Boston University
, receiving her Bachelor's Degree with a double major of History/Political Science.
In 2005 Ms. Kelley relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career scoring films and doing orchestral arrangements, in addition to recording and performing her own music. A filmography can be found on her professional website.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer-songwriter and orchestral arranger/composer from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. She began her musical career in the 1990s with the band Drop Nineteens
Drop Nineteens
Drop Nineteens were a Boston-based indie rock band active from 1991 to 1995. They were one of a few U.S.-based bands who styled themselves on England's distinctive shoegazing sound, taking their inspiration from bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Th' Faith Healers, and Bleach...
before leaving them in 1994 to start her own career in songwriting. She worked with several other bands before finally going solo with her first album, Nothing/Everything
Nothing/Everything
Nothing/Everything is the first debut album recorded by pop singer-songwriter, Paula Kelley.-Track listing:#"Nothing/Everything"#"Two Possible Answers "#"Everything Full"#"You Gonna Make It?"#"Nothing"#"All Request Hour"#"For Someone"...
, which was released in 2001 on Stop, Pop, and Roll Records in the US and then later on Caraway in Japan, which gained her plenty of Japanese fans. The Trouble With Success or How You Fit Into The World
The Trouble With Success or How You Fit Into The World
The Trouble With Success or How You Fit Into The World is Paula Kelley's second solo album. It was released in September 2003 on Kimchee Records in the United States. The album also has been released in Japan and France under different labels. The album shows off her many talents such as playing...
was released in 2003 on the independent Kimchee Records label in the US and again on Caraway in Japan. She followed this up with a US tour and a tour of France after the album's European release through Polaris Musique/Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
. Her latest release is the "Airports EP (2008)," a collection of four orchestrated tracks intended to be a teaser for her forthcoming album. Paula is known for her melodic, emotional songs, expansive instrumental arrangements and sweet, distinctive singing voice.
Kelley began playing piano at age three and was an orchestral harpsichordist by the time she was in high school. She also plays guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, and other sundry instruments. She attended Phillips Exeter Academy, then Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, receiving her Bachelor's Degree with a double major of History/Political Science.
In 2005 Ms. Kelley relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career scoring films and doing orchestral arrangements, in addition to recording and performing her own music. A filmography can be found on her professional website.
Discography
- The Airports EP (2008 Worm Kid Music)
- Some Sucker's Life, Part 1: Demos and Lost RecordingsSome Sucker's Life, Part 1: Demos and Lost RecordingsSome Sucker's Life, Part 1: Demos and Lost Recordings is Paula Kelley's third solo debut. The album is a collection of songs that were unreleased. It was released in April 2006.-Track listing:#"High Boots"#"Born to be a Star"#"Burnin' For You"...
(2006 Stop, Pop, and Roll Records) - Why Christmas (The Longest Day of the Year) (song)(2005 Volunteer Records)
- The Trouble with Success or How You Fit into the WorldThe Trouble With Success or How You Fit Into The WorldThe Trouble With Success or How You Fit Into The World is Paula Kelley's second solo album. It was released in September 2003 on Kimchee Records in the United States. The album also has been released in Japan and France under different labels. The album shows off her many talents such as playing...
(2003 Kimchee Records) - Nothing/EverythingNothing/EverythingNothing/Everything is the first debut album recorded by pop singer-songwriter, Paula Kelley.-Track listing:#"Nothing/Everything"#"Two Possible Answers "#"Everything Full"#"You Gonna Make It?"#"Nothing"#"All Request Hour"#"For Someone"...
(2001 Stop, Pop, and Roll Records) - A Bit Of EverythingA Bit of EverythingA Bit Of Everything is an EP recorded by pop singer Paula Kelley.- Track listing :#"Everything"#"Nothing"#"The Light Under the Door"#"Ordinary Mind"#"Left & Right"#"Lucie"...
EP (2000 JacquesAss Records) - Why Christmas? with The Misfit Toys (1999 Rhubarb Records)
- Break the Spell, Etc. EP with Boy Wonder (1999 Jackass Records)
- 5:01 with Paula Kelley Rock Band(1997 Rhubarb Records)
- Wonder-Wear with Boy Wonder (1997 Cherrydisc/Roadrunner Records)
- Mission to Destroy b/w Backyard 7-inch with Boy Wonder (self-released)
- Speed - Danger - Death with Hot Rod (1993 Caroline/Hut Records)