A chat with Kiely Connell

Hey Kiely, how the heck are you?

I’m great actually! Since the release of my album I have a lot in the works and I’ll be playing on much bigger stages in the immediate future. I’m so excited to play for live audiences again! 

So set the scene for me... where are you right now, and what are you up to today?

Right now I’m sitting in my house in East Nashville with my roommate’s dog on my lap as I answer your questions by candlelight and the blue light from my laptop. Today I had a meeting with my manager at our neighborhood coffee shop to talk about some upcoming deals and then I went for a walk in the park to enjoy the beautiful weather.

That sounds like the ideal day! Before all that though, can you introduce yourself to our campers.

Hello everyone! I’m Kiely Connell and I’m a Nashville singer-songwriter originally from Hammond IN.

Let’s talk about Calumet Queen how would you describe the album in two sentences?

The whole album is a collection of intimate stories about my life and people close to me. It’s a look at the everyday trauma that almost everyone will go through at some point in their life.

First question, and apologies as you’ve almost certainly been asked this loads of times… what is a Calumet Queen? Or who is it?

The Calumet Queen is who I try to be every day. I want to always strive to be someone who learns and grows from my experiences. I chose that title because the Calumet river is the one that used to run behind the neighborhood I grew up in.

Tell me about the first song you wrote for the album?

The first song I wrote on the album was ‘Wasting My Time’, and I wasn’t originally positive that the song would end up on this album. I wrote it a very long time ago before I ever moved to Nashville, but as we began recording the other songs I decided it belonged on there. It went with the flow of the album perfectly in my mind. It’s one of my earlier songs that I’m still very proud of. The first few songs that I knew for sure would be one there were the title track, ‘The Blues That Really Burn’, ‘Nobody’s Business But Mine’, ‘Caroline’s Corner Cafe’, and ‘Disappear’.

And what was the last one to make it onto the tracklist?

‘Wasting My Time’ ended up being the last song I decided to add to the tracklist.

What’s the story to ‘Caroline’s Corner Cafe’?

I was driving across the country helping my friend move back to Los Angeles and when we hit Utah I had to see the Great Salt Lake. We pulled off at a rest area that was close enough so that I could run into the edge of the lake. I kept thinking how the lake has this strange mirage-like effect and at the time I kept thinking how all I wanted was to have a cup of coffee and hash browns and stare out onto the water. The diner that I imagined is the diner in this song. An old west style diner with wood paneling, a jukebox full of classic country music, chocked full of personalities, open 24 hours a day.

Another song I really like is ‘Slow n Low’, an understated but powerful song.

Thank you. I really appreciate that. I wrote that at a time when I was drinking a bit more heavily than I typically do these days. I had just moved to Nashville on my own and I really only knew one person in the city. It was an adjustment period in my life. The song is really about using alcohol to numb out every aspect of your life that’s giving you trouble. It’s a love song to a bottle of whiskey.

You’re from Indiana originally, what's your hometown like? What did you do for fun?

I am. I spent my childhood in Hammond, Indiana. Hammond is a pretty interesting place actually. People forget that not too long ago Hammond was a bit of a hub in the area. We’re very close to Chicago and we had a big shopping district that was really popular. The shopping center ultimately closed in 1984. Hammond had a decline in its population starting in the 80’s like most of the other cities in the rust belt. I think growing up in a city like Hammond made me a stronger, more independent, and more understanding person. When I was a kid I loved riding my bike to Indi-illi park or riding down Hohman Ave to the schoop’s to get a cheeseburger and a green river with my friend. Living in a historic neighborhood gave me a very beautiful childhood. It felt like something out of a Ray Bradbury book.

And how is Nashville treating you?

Nashville has been great actually. I fell in love with it on my first visit and sure, at times I thought I’d leave, but it has my heart. I’ve also made some of the best friends of my life here too. Over the last nine years I’ve slowly been gaining more traction and getting better and better feedback and opportunities have started to present themselves.

You’re getting lots of positive press from UK sites, does that surprise you?

I think we’re always thrilled when people like what we’re creating. I certainly hoped I would get a good response in the UK because it’s a market I’d really like to play in. Hopefully we’ve kicked up enough dust to create some traction when we book shows over there.

Where’s the most exciting place you’ve got to play live?

My friends and I did a special event at the Grand Ole Opry and we got to play on the Opry stage for it and everything. That was a pretty amazing feeling.

And where’s the absolute worst?

I certainly wouldn’t want to drag any venue through the mud since I know everyone and every venue can have off days and I will say that I’m not sure I’ve played anywhere that was consistently awful. I do think that the worst conditions you’ll have to play in are the ones where you’re pouring your heart out to a crowded room who doesn’t want to hear you at all. It’s really just an awful feeling as a songwriter.

With the poor $ numbers from streaming, what’s the best way for people to support you and your music?

I have the album for sale on Amazon and very very soon I will have it available in more formats on my website and also at my live shows.

You seem pretty active on social media; is it a necessary evil or the most fun you can have with your phone?

I certainly try to be active on social media because I do think it’s pretty necessary if you’re trying to get momentum early on in your career. Also admittedly, I do think it’s the most fun you can have on your phone. I’m a big communicator so I suppose I don’t mind it quite so much.

If you could recommend one artist to listen to this week, who would it be?

It isn’t a new artist or anything but I’ve been going back through the Fiona Apple catalog and she’s just so great. I’ve been a fan since my first listen.

What’s the question I should have asked you today but haven’t?

Who is your favorite author? I’d say Neil Gaiman.

Finally, how do you take your coffee?

I like it dark and sweet. 

You can find out more about Kiely on her website or check out what she’s up to on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Her excellent album, Calumet Queen, is available to buy or stream now.