Kelsie Kimberlin: at the right place right time

I have to confess that the first thing I liked about Kelsie Kimberlin, apart from her musical eclecticism, is her professionalism. Although she is only 22 years old, Kelsie already has 6 great singles + videos in her bag and is preparing to release another one filmed in Colombia. Highly disciplined, she is not shy about the fact that she accompanies all stages of her music production until the moment she is completely satisfied with the result.

When I am singing in the studio, I might sing a dozen or more takes before I am satisfied and sometimes I even re-sing it again right before it goes for mixing

Kelsie on being a “perfectionist”

Another great attribute of this Washington D.C. singer of the new and great American breed is that, in addition to sentimental lyrics, she also writes about worrying and global social-political situations, such as armament and the war in Ukraine, and is even sometimes criticized for her engagement , bearing in mind that in a sexist world any blonde singer who dares to discuss politics is automatically discredited. “I follow politics a great deal and am very worried about the Amazon rain forest and want to see it protected as much as possible so I am hopeful that your new president will do everything to do that“, Kelsie comments, referring to our president-elect Lula.

As you see, Kelsie’s exactly at the right place, on the right time.

2 6 Things about Kelsie Kimberlin

RC – Hello Kelsie, how are things over there in the US?

KK – Things are OK here, we are getting ready for the holidays so I am looking forward to that.

RC – When listening to your beautiful single “Right place wrong time”, it’s impossible not to think of names like Adele immediately. With the large number of nominations she got at the 2023 Grammys, do you think the world is open to sentimental ballads again after the long pandemic period?

KK – Thank you for the compliment. Right now, I am actually working with one of the Grammy winners from Adele’s 25 album which you refer to. I create a lot of different types of music because I have been steeped in music all my life and love almost every style. So I will release a ballad, then a pop song, then a rocker and my next release in a few weeks will be a Latin style song called “Fruit Basket” produced by a well-known Bogota producer with the video filmed in Cartagena, Colombia.

RC – From now on, do you intend to invest in a more sober vibe in your songs or do you intend to keep the soft side forever?

KK – I am sure that all of my fans will be happy with the trajectory of my music. I can sing and write in any style and since I have an international following, people across the globe will be able to experience all of my emotions through my music.

RC – You are just living your twenties but you write like an “old soul” about all sort of aspects of life. When did you discover that you had a talent to be a songwriter and musician and who encouraged you the most on this journey?

KK – Again thank you. I have been involved with music my entire life. My father has been my greatest inspiration and booster, and he is a musician and took me to concerts as a toddler, then I joined several choirs, and when I was eight, I worked on Yoko Ono’s Peace Project and won first prize with a $5000 award which I spent on music lessons. Then I started actively recording in the studio at 11 years old, and since then, I have recorded about 150 originals. So even though I am young, I have a lot of experience. One thing I want to say is that I have been fortunate to have always worked with professional musicians of the highest quality. Currently, I am working with a number of Grammy winners on each of my new songs.

RC – You participate in all stages of recording your music. Is it a sense of control, curiosity, or perfectionism?

KK – I am definitely a perfectionist. When I am singing in the studio, I might sing a dozen or more takes before I am satisfied and sometimes I even re-sing it again right before it goes for mixing. Moreover, I have to feel good about the final product, both audio and video.

RC – Brazil has a thing for female singers like you. Have you already visited our country, do you like it and do you know something about our culture that you could share with our readers?

KK – I have several friends from Brazil and my sister’s best friend is from there. I have a new song that will come out next year called ”Whisper” that has a Brazilian beat, Bossa Nova. I know it will be a big hit there. I wish I could release it right now but it is still going through the mixing/mastering process. Like I said, I just returned from Cartagena and I was so delighted with the people, beauty and food. And I have heard so many good things about Brazil and now you have a new president. I follow politics a great deal and am very worried about the Amazon rain forest and want to see it protected as much as possible so I am hopeful that your new president will do everything to do that. Of course, I would love to visit and it is certainly on my bucket list. In fact, I would love to do a major concert there some day.

Watch “Right Place Wrong Time” by Kelsie Kimberlin

“Right Place Wrong Time” is perhaps the best example of Kelsie’s sentimental ballad module. With a prominent piano that is so reminiscent of some of Adele’s best songs, along with tender backing vocals, the lyrics talk about a relationship that didn’t work out and its consequences on the mental health (at least for the one who was left aside). See it for yourself: