About

Growing up in Chicago in a multi-cultural family, singer, songwriter and composer Tracey Kelly always had an energizing mix of music on offer. Under the influence of pop/rock songs on the radio, her grandparent's big band records, her father's love of Johnny Cash, country and Celtic, her aunt's love of soul and Motown, and a sprinkling of Italian opera (she's related to Enrico Caruso), Tracey developed a thirst for divergent musical styles - all of which have influenced her singing and composing.

From eight to 18 years old, Tracey sang with semi-professional children's choirs in musicals, with orchestras and on children's TV shows. Moving to London, she formed the indie duo Rosebud (after Citizen Kane) with keyboardist Andy Butler. Comments from music executives about Rosebud's cinematic approach to pop music led Tracey to study composing for film at Trinity College of Music.

Taking advantage of London's profusion of music, she also explored styles from Cuban and Gamelan to jazz and contemporary classical, and played with a Javanese Gamelan group specializing on the saron. Tracey has composed music for film and media projects such as Photo to Castro (BBC TV), Eidos games and global brand agency Wolff Olins, and fashion shows and art installations for Royal College of Art.

Recently, she composed choral music for the play Where We Are Now, performing it with the Theatre Royal Bath ensemble, also performing in two other new plays, Wings and HIs Peers, at the Ustinov Studio in Bath, UK. Other credits include: Robert Morgan's live film score for 1920s classic Nosferatu; Starlight Swimming, a free jazz ensemble gig at the bottom of an empty lido in London, and dates with the David Salt Big Band in the Bristol area. Tracey has also sessioned for TV and film, including an album of children's songs for PBS television. Her latest group, Tracey & Jason - a pop-jazz duo with guitarist Jason Sidwell - is all about new takes on beautiful melodies. The duo has been championed on BBC 2 and 6 Music by Mark Radcliffe and other DJs.

 

 

Tracey Kelly