GABRIEL KELLEY
HITS THE ROAD AGAIN IN SUPPORT OF HIS DEBUT ALBUM
‘IT DON’T COME EASY’ FROM NASHVILLE’S BADGE MUSIC GROUP
Video for
First Single, “Only Thing To Do,” Premieres Today on
AmericanSongwriter.com Site
Nashville-based singer-songwriter Gabriel Kelley hits the road again this week in support of his debut album, IT DON’T COME EASY, which was recently released by the independent Badge Music Group. The 10-song collection was produced, engineered and mixed by Grammy®-award-winner Neal Cappellino and features a stellar group of musicians backing up Kelley’s vocals and acoustic guitar work.
The first single from the album, entitled “Only Thing To Do,” is picking up airplay at key radio stations, and the video for the track premieres today exclusively on
A native of rural Georgia near Athens, Kelley relocated to Nashville to pursue a career in music after spending time in Sweden as an exchange student and in Guatemala where he worked at a school for orphaned children and created a music education program there. In 2006, he signed with a Nashville publishing company as a staff writer. Unfulfilled, he let his contract expire, sold everything he owned and made a change. By design, he spent the next four years living, writing and recording demos in an 8’ x 12’ RV. His goal was to pursue the craft of creating music as a genuine form of expression rather than one of commerce. When he was ready, he launched a Kickstarter campaign that generated $26,000 in 60 days to fund the recording of his debut album. Now 27, he has a great appreciation for the craft and the process. “It’s called ‘It Don’t Come Easy’ for a reason,” says Kelley of his new album. “After a while on the project, it became evident that there was going to be no short cut making this record. It needed time, and we recognized that—we didn’t force it along, but gave it everything we had – by choice.”
Praise for the record has been noteworthy:
“What listeners get is purity, with crisp lyrics, determined instrumentation, and zero frills. There’s still a rich, full-bodied sound, but nothing goes to waste. Every word means something, and every note has purpose.”—awaitingtheflood.com
“It Don't Come Easy, the debut album by Nashville-based singer-songwriter Gabriel Kelley, is truly a work of musical art.”—exclusivemagazine.com
"What it takes to pull off an album like this is a voice. Not any voice but one that can command the listener’s attention even when it’s the instruments turn to make a run at glory, and Kelley has one of those voices." –colossalpop.com
“Kelley’s voice is astonishing. The deep, but harmonious tone anchors every single song nearly perfectly.” –reviewfix.com
“You can hear the sincerity and emotion in Kelley's voice as well as in the words he is singing. It Don't Come Easy is an excellent introduction to a talented singer-songwriter who deserves to become part of your collection.” --blogcritics.com
“Overall, the record is wonderful.” –Athens (GA) Banner Herald
Kelley hits the road again this week after a summer that saw him opening for Reckless Kelly, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers and Old Crow Medicine Show. While in Louisville, he performed on WFPK Radio’s “Live Lunch” broadcast, and he also appeared on Nashville’s “Tennessee Mornings” on Fox17 and on “Good Day Dallas” on Fox4 in Dallas. Tomorrow he will appear on “Better Mornings Atlanta” on WGCL-TV.
The first single from the album, entitled “Only Thing To Do,” is picking up airplay at key radio stations, and the video for the track premieres today exclusively on
Americansongwriter.com. The video, directed by his tour manager Pickle while on tour, creatively combines thousands of still images into an unusual conceptual stop-motion montage. The video is available for viewing at either
http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/10/video-premiere-gabriel-kelley-only-thing-to-do/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNLGcxpqYzc&feature=em-share_video_user
“Only Thing To Do,” co-written by Kelley and Cappellino, is already in rotation at WXPN in Philadelphia, WFIV in Knoxville, WOCM in Ocean City, MD and WEXT in Albany, NY, among others.
