November 6th, 2019

Meet 2019 NewSong finalist Kelly Hoppenjans

NewSong is proud to introduce 2019 finalist Kelly Hoppenjans! The Nashville-based singer-songwriter will join our other finalists onstage at Isis Music Hall on Saturday Nov. 23 for the final competition.

Kelly creates empowering rock, combining the spirit of riot grrrl tinged with folky introspection. Her debut album, OK, I Feel Better Now, has garnered praise from NPR who has this to say about the new release: “Band-Aid Girl’ [off album OK, I Feel Better Now]… is an exhausted, exquisitely solitary dirge about settling into a romance that doesn’t quite work with a partner who isn’t quite emotionally available. The torch in Hoppenjans’ heart is reduced to a mere wisp, and she conveys its final embers with her lovely, plaintive alto.”

We asked Kelly about her musical inspirations, songwriting process and what news she has coming up in the Q&A below.

Connect with Kelly on her website, Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter. For more information on attending this event, please visit our Facebook event page. Buy tickets here.

What are your most significant musical/artistic inspirations?

My biggest musical inspirations of all time are PJ Harvey, Bjork, Radiohead, and Joni Mitchell. Lately, I’ve been into Phoebe Bridgers, Angel Olsen, and Sleater-Kinney.

What is your songwriting process like?

It depends! Sometimes I get a hook that comes to me and gets me started. Other times, an idea, or sometimes a rhyme that I like, inspires a song. But when I sit down to write, I usually grab a guitar and start playing around with chords and singing over them.

What was your reaction to being named a NewSong finalist?

I was so floored! It’s such an honor to be able to participate, and I’m excited to get to perform with all the other finalists!

What music news would you like to share with readers?

I just released my debut full-length album, OK, I Feel Better Now, on Oct 18 and am going to be touring a lot this year to promote it.

For more information on attending this event, please visit our Facebook event page. Buy tickets here.

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