Kellie Lewis, a Limerick-based pop rock singer Kellie Lewis has released her new single, Battle of Love. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
Kellie was a runner-up on The Voice of Ireland in 2014, during which she was mentored by her idol, Dolores O' Riordan.
After releasing her debut EP, Behind the Moon, Kellie moved to Los Angeles to further pursue music, performing in The Hotel Cafe, VidCon and launching her own show at Molly Malones.
To mark Dolores O'Riordan's 50th birthday, Kellie appeared on The Late Late Show, singing Cranberries hit Dreams accompanied by the RTÉ Orchestra.
Kellie featured on album Salvation - Inspired by The Cranberries, covering Ridiculous Thoughts.
Speaking about Battle of Love, she says, "I wanted to write a song about a love that is different from the 'practice ones'. This time there's a longing for this person and it’s more than wanting them.
"They’re so crucial to your happiness, in one moment they could tear your whole world apart. Love is always going to be a battle of sorts and you can fight for it to be good or bad."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
When I was a child, I dabbled with homemade science experiments and borrowed my older sister’s secondary school science books to read. I enjoy reading about astronomy and watching documentaries. My favourite one is Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey with Neil Degrasse Tyson. I got a telescope for Christmas, and I got one from Santa when I was small too. I studied Biochemistry in UCC for a year because I missed out on Music in the CAO points. When the points for Arts Music dropped, I changed my course and also took Religious Studies and Archaeology. I completed my degree in Music and Religious Studies with a First-Class Honours degree.
How would you describe your music?
Dreamy pop rock. I love playing with atmospheric sounds, ethereal bells and heavenly sounds matched with powerful drums and dramatic builds. I loved powerful messages and singing along to belters growing up, putting on pretend concerts on pallets in the backyard at home. When I write my songs, I play with light and shade and like to make space for my voice to grow for those big notes. I’m a big lyricist and when it comes to songwriting that’s my strength. I wrote poetry from a young age and find so much wonder in beautiful words and phrasing. I keep a notebook in my phone for lyrics and whenever something comes to mind or strikes awe within me, I date and time the entry and write it down. With piano being my first instrument, once I have a lyric or inspiration in mind I take to the piano and feel it out melodically.
Who are your musical inspirations?
My top five inspirations and idols are Dolores O’Riordan, Florence Welch, Kate Bush, Stevie Nicks, and Sinéad O’Conner. Their music feels homely to me. They’ve been a massive source of influence for me. On the Voice of Ireland, I got to sing songs by Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush and Florence & The Machine for the Live shows and my audition and they were my favourite performances.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My very first gig was Richie Kavanagh singing live at the ploughing match when I was around four years old, and I went up on stage to sing Aon Focal Eile with him.
My first "adult" concert was Oxegen, and I got to see Florence & The Machine, Muse, The Killers and My Chemical Romance. That was incredibly inspirational for me!
What was the first record you ever bought?
My first album was Hot Fuss by The Killers. I loved it. Brandon Flowers is an incredible songwriter, and I loved the imagery in this album
What’s your favourite song right now?
Cure For Me - Aurora. She is amazing.
Favourite lyric of all time?
"I’m the one who sits in the back room, I’m the one who doesn’t know how to have fun, I’m the one to cause a mist around me, cause I don’t like no one around me. Cause If I love someone. I might lose someone." - Sinéad O’Connor.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Harvest Moon - Neil Young.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My Instagram and TikTok handles are kellielewismusic.
