KELS

About the show

Originally from Pittsburgh, KELS has been based in Atlanta for three years. She gained significant buzz when she went on a 52 show US Tour in 2023 independently with no management and no label. Her following grew by 5 times while she was on the road for 8 months on her own. Her fans funded the entire tour. KELS recently headlined the Atlanta Jazz Festival in May 2024, opening for Andre 3000. In 2024 she headed back on another independent tour for a 25 show run in the Northeast that started in August 2024. With co-signs from both Big Boi and Timbaland, she is currently working on her debut EP and album in 2025. KELS is the perfect mix of jazz, pop and soul. Her brash vocals and sultry style reflect the old school sound of some of her biggest influences- Ms. Lauryn Hill, Sarah Vaughan, Erykah Badu, Adele, and Amy Winehouse with a profound lyricism to match. She has been writing her own music since age 13, and started training as a Jazz vocalist at 15. Early on, she booked Jazz gigs to fund her music career. KELS debuted her original music at a series of music festivals in her hometown, Pittsburgh, during the summer of 2021- headlining at The Three Rivers Arts Festival, Millvale Music Festival, Picklesburgh and opened for Kat Wright on her fall tour stop at Thunderbird Music Hall. KELS has been based in Atlanta for two years, and recently held her first headlining show at Smith’s Olde Bar. The show sold out before doors opened. She has since played headlining shows at Eddie’s Attic, Arlene’s Grocery in NYC, The Analog in Nashville, and Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles. In 2023, KELS toured the entire United States independently on a 52 show run with no manager and no label. She is releasing the music she wrote on tour throughout the duration of 2024.