Garland Kelley – Mortal (2023)
With a reputation for thought-provoking lyricism and profound themes dressed in heartfelt melodies, singer-songwriter Garland Kelley’s music can be described as intimate, personal and moving. Over the past few months, Kelley turned our heads with several singles from ‘A Mind Of Your Own’ to ‘Give It All Away’. Passionate about alternative and classic rock, most of his singles have a rock element; however, do not be so quick to pigeonhole Garland Kelley. Traipsing various types of rock with infusions of folk and pop, the Nashville-based musician offers a refreshing obscurity to familiar sounds.
When we left Kelley, he nodded to the sounds of classic rock with hard rock sentimentality in ‘Give It All Away’. With his latest single ‘Mortal’, the title track of his upcoming album, he weaves together tinges of country, indie-folk and rock. Performing for over 15 years in the Nashville music scene, Kelley can be considered a veteran musician; however, ‘Mortal’ has a whimsical vulnerability and rugged rawness flitting about the melody. The balance between sophisticated elegance and fragile roughness teetering at the edges brings something unique to ‘Mortal’.
An expert storyteller intrigued by humanity in its totality, particularly the core of life, Garland Kelley is a musical philosopher. Touching on existential issues from mental health to individualism and mortality, Kelley’s singles make you think while carrying you along a soothing sweep of sound. In ‘Mortal’, he approaches the topic of futility and the mundaneness of life. The heavy subject matter swirls about in guitar-driven soundscapes with wistful sincerity – sincere as he captures acceptance, empowerment and hopeful insight into the topic.
A nature lover always seeking adventure, Garland Kelley has an uplifting joviality lurking beneath the griminess of his melodic messages. His aim is not to distress listeners but to resonate on an intimate level offering you a hand to travel through the heaviness. He exquisitely extends a hand to clasp our own in the evocative, gentle and relatable ‘Mortal’.
For more from Garland Kelley, check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
