Juliet Kelly is a cool, sophisticated singer and songwriter with a fresh approach to jazz. She is an artist with universal appeal that goes for beyond the usual jazz audience. Her debut album "Aphrodite's Child" introduced her original songwriting style with beautiful, haunting vocals floating over laid back grooves. Her second album "Delicious Chemistry" further showcased her talent for writing accessible laid-back jazz.
Her new album "Licorice Kiss" to be released early in 2009 is her most ambitious yet. Referencing influences as diverse as Soul II Soul, the Eurythmics and Soft Cell, she offers up her own take on some 80s classics alongside her own creations that range from toe-tapping grooves to latin-inflected ballads.
Becoming a jazz singer seemed an unlikely prospect for Juliet who grew up in London in a strict, religious household. In fact, all music apart from the religious variety was completely banned! After following the expected path by studying for a degree in economics, everything changed when she discovered that she had a talent for singing after enrolling on a jazz acappella vocal class at a local music workshop. She knew nothing about jazz and had never sung in public - but it wasn't long before she was completely hooked...
Within a year she had auditioned for and been accepted on to the postgraduate jazz course at London's prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Since then, Juliet has worked with many outstanding musicians and performed in venues around the UK as well as in Ireland, Germany, Israel and Australia.
She started writing her own songs after deciding that as much as she loves the classic standards, she wants to share her own fresh perspective of the beauty, freedom and expression of jazz-influenced music - music that can appeal to a younger audience as well as to more mainstream jazz fans.
Performing live is where my heart is. I've performed in bars, clubs, concert halls and festivals all over the UK and in Germany, Italy, Ireland, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Australia. Most recently I've performed several times in Athens, Greece and in various parts of Russia. I've even started to teach myself a bit of Russian!
Everything from Anita Baker, Annie Lennox and Sade to Peggy Lee, India Arie and Madeleine Peyroux.
I'd love to know what you think of my music! Let me know by adding me on MySpace and/or signing up to my page on Facebook. And you can always send me an email through my contact page on www.julietkelly.com
