Roc Nation artist, Bridget Kelly, is one of the newest voices in R&B music today. With every lyric she writes and every note she sings, she instantly connects listeners with her sense of honesty and humility.
Last year, the R&B songstress had ladies writing goodbye letters to their lovers with her debut single, “Special Delivery.” After the success of her debut single, she quickly followed-up with her second single “Street Dreamin” ft. Kendrick Lamar, which is now bubbling on urban radio. The Grammy Award winner is now touring across the United States and gearing up for the release of her debut album expected later this year.
As the opening act on Mary J. Blige’s Liberation Tour in Columbia, SC earlier this month, Bridget Kelly held nothing back! She commanded the stage and performed effortlessly with records such as her lead single “Special Delivery,” “In the Morning,” and Lauryn Hill’s classic “X-Factor.” It has been a long time since I have witnessed a voice as angelic as Kelly’s and like other crowd attendees, we were all amazed at the wonderful talent gracing the Colonial Life Arena stage.
After wowing the crowd with her heartfelt 20 minute set, I had the pleasure of meeting the “Every Girl” singer backstage. As I walked into the cozy dressing room, I noticed an assortment of vegetables on the table as her stylist made room for me to be seated.
Right away, I assured her I would not take up much of her time, but she quickly shot me down. “You think I kept on all this makeup for nothing,” as she laughed.
I thought to myself, “she’s got jokes.” It was in that moment her energy and positive vibe reassured me, this interview would go smoothly.
Earlier this year, Bridget won her first Grammy for her writing contribution on “Einstein,” which appeared on American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” album. The win was unexpected.
“I really didn’t even know I was going be nominated. I wasn’t paying attention,” says Kelly. “I was at home getting ready to go out to all the parties because all my friends were celebrating their own accomplishments. When I got the phone call, I was like ‘Alright well I guess we really have to turn up now,” laughs Kelly. However, with an album on the way and readying its release, her victory party was short-lived.
“We turnt up and the next day I had a bunch of work I had to do,” she said. “It was really like okay, two or three glasses of champagne, celebrate, and then go home and sleep.”
While she may not have celebrated the way she wanted, the singer has much more to be thankful for these days. She is a part of the Roc Nation family, where Jay-Z is head of the household. She grew up as a teenager in New York City and being a part of a New Yorker’s label was at the top of her list.
“I always either wanted to be a part of Puff’s (Diddy) label or Jay’s. Either the shiny suits or throwing up the Rock. It had to be one of the two,” says Kelly jokingly.
After graduating from a performing arts high school, she stayed on her grind to make her dreams come true. Whether it was performing backup for R&B artist Alicia Keys or continuing to perfect her craft as a songwriter and singer – she remained determined.
Luckily, an intern at Def Jam who went to the same performing arts school, kept her informed with Jay’s next move.
“She was like ‘Yo it’s this rumor going around that he’s going to leave and start his own label again,’” says Kelly. “She introduced me to my management, who is still my management today, and we were kinda like preparing for everything and just recording. When Jay started Roc Nation, we just really hounded them.”
After getting her foot in the door, she imagined the traditional way of getting a record deal and becoming a star – but it didn’t happen the way she planned.
“I’m anticipating just walking into an office – ‘okay sing’ and everyone just sit there with their straight face and they’re waiting for you to blow them away,” says the “My Heart” singer. “It took a couple of meetings, dinners, coming to the studio sessions and them saying ‘sing something in the booth for me.’”
In the end, it all paid off for Kelly. She has been signed to Roc Nation for almost five years and during that time she has gained valuable information from the hip-hop mogul.
“To be patient and to really love what I do,” makes it all worth it says the songstress calmly. “Whatever point you get to, make sure you’re always enjoying yourself and still living your dream. Whether you’re broke, sick and tired and whatever else, if you love it and you’re still having fun with it, then it means there’s still more fire left in you and you should still be sharing that with the world. ”
Two years ago, Kelly released her eight-track EP “Every Girl,” and when asked about her evolution as an artist, her answer was simple. “I stopped killing people in my records,” laughs Kelly.
“I went through a really bad breakup and I got my heart broken, so I was just anti-men. I was a man-eater for a minute. I felt like I wanted to make angry girl music, ” she says. “I wanted to be a spokesperson for all the angry women, you know the Jazmine Sullivan’s – ‘busting the windows out your car’ and setting your house on fire.”
Fortunately, she experienced growth and detoured from her original plans.
“After studio sessions, I consider therapy sessions now. I just felt like I can’t just be angry and not deal with the fact that I was more hurt than anything else,” says Kelly.
Long before the new wave of R&B artists emerged, artist went through artist development where they learned about the music business. Times have changed since then. Artists today have been thrown into the industry without proper guidance on their careers.
Kelly says while she wears the crown of the ‘new kid on the block’ proudly, challenges still await at her throne.
“I think the biggest challenge for me thus far has been (pauses) really being thrown into a really surfaced competition with those artist that haven’t been developed yet. I think that’s the hardest part for me,” says Kelly. “My team and I work hard and we’ve humbled ourselves so much. We’ve been blessed with so many opportunities to shine and to grow. To kinda see those type of efforts just undermined by reality TV or the fact that I’m not a size zero….are really annoying.”
Still she is not letting critics or her own personal feelings stop her from reaching her highest potential.
“I feel like the things that have hindered me a little bit, have also helped me in a way because I feel like it encouraged me to be more integrity driven and more confident in my craft.”
Fast-forward to the present. Kelly has finished her debut album, which is due this September. She names the album “Something Different,” as it reflects the direction she is taking R&B music.
“With my album and just with myself in general, I’m bringing something different to R&B music,” says Kelly. “I think R&B… as a woman anyway, the cliché and the stigma is to be bitter and man bashing and I’m not really into that. Even in my most painful moments, I think I really have been able to make the best of the situation. I love love, I love love. ”
When asked about the producers and songwriters she brought aboard for her debut, she named two heavy hitters – Shea Taylor and Jerry Wonda.
Taylor, who Kelly noted as her “Quincy,” has written and produced for several notable acts such as Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, Rihanna and most recently Beyoncé’s “4.”
Producer Jerry Wonda who produced Mary J.Blige’s “Don’t Mind” and Estelle’s “Thank You,” is one of Kelly’s most favorite producers to work alongside with.
“He kinda brought some stuff out of me that I didn’t think I was ready to say or talk about yet, which as an artist is a very scary thing. We feel like ‘oh yea we tapped into everything, I got it all covered’ and then there’s that one underlying layer you didn’t even know you had and Jerry brought that out of me.”
“Hear No Evil,” is a ballad off the upcoming project, which Kelly says anytime she hears the record it brings her to tears. The song tells the story of one person who is always on the road while the other is holding down the fort. It is all too familiar for Kelly.
“I’ve been on both ends of that, so I understand how that can be. I think the song itself will speak to so many women, especially nowadays with all these reality shows, who are the housewives of whatever city and basketball wives and all these different women for the most part who seemingly compromise themselves to be a part of a relationship that may or may not be good for them. I think this song will tell the story of those women.”
Toward the end of the interview, Kelly and I played a game called “Only One.” She talked about her celebrity crush, who is a Toronto native.
“It’s so many [celebrity crushes]. Tyrese used to be number one for a long time.” However, she changed her answer. “Drake…I like the cornballs,” laughs Kelly.
She also told us a Harlem female MC she would love to collaborate with in the future. “Azealia Banks,” she quickly answered. “I love her music. I think that the shit she does in her records is on point. She’s a poet. She’s quick at the mouth and I love it.”
As the interview ended, and she and I were anticipating seeing Mary J. Blige hit the stage, who she was thrilled to open for earlier, I asked her to pick her favorite Mary record. “No More Drama,” says Kelly.
Be sure to follow Bridget Kelly on Twitter – @TheyCallMeBK