Whakatāne singer-songwriter Eve Kelly has been working with producers Hales and Christian Tjandrawinata in Tāmaki Makaurau. Her latest pop single Boy has a breezy, summertime, falling-in-love vibe that NZ On Air Music enjoyed – enough to add the song to their NewTracks compilation in December.
Eve Kelly Lyford, Whakatāne, basic guitar and keys – mainly just the voice!
Growing up I did a lot of singing competitions, theatre shows, and gigs which definitely helped with my confidence. Music lessons in school were a big help, plus my singing and piano lessons outside of school are definitely important to me, as they shaped who I am and what I’m capable of doing now .
You may have heard me at a wee bar gig, or from my other single releases Gotta Let Go, Dance With Me or Mr Big Shot. Or possibly have seen me doing some musical theatre – I’m currently in Christchurch doing The Court Theatre show Something Rotten.
My very talented producer Christian Tjandrawinata suggested we try something a little different to how I did my last three tracks, which was really great as I am a very fresh artist, and I’m still trying to learn the ropes. We went to the studio, he had a listen to some tunes I like and came up with the track, and collaboratively with the help of Jeremiah Fale (Hales) we came up with the lyrics to Boy.
Mostly through my writing journey, I’ve discovered some great bands that I really like and now listen to all the time, which helps a lot with trying to figure out ‘my sound’ and what I vibe with most. Their stuff is a little more complex instrumentation-wise to what I am capable of writing, but I’m still learning and l am very blessed to know some incredible musicians that have been helping me along the way.
My first name is Eve and my middle name’s Kelly! I was called ‘Eve Kelly’ a few times in school when new teachers would read my name out in class, and for some reason I didn’t really like it… but now I really do!
Highlight to date with my music would’ve been my gig in my hometown Whakatāne in September 2023! I felt so supported and loved by the community. Way more people showed up than I thought would, and it was just SUCH a great night!
It is heading more in the direction of the music I like to listen to, which is so exciting for me! Plus, I just love that it has a more chill easy listening to vibe, and I do think it’s quite catchy!
I started writing it with the intention of when you like someone, and you’re pretty sure they like you too, but neither of you want to bring it up, and that’s how my pre-chorus came about! Then throughout the writing process it fell into a wee quirky tune about falling in love with your insurance guy over the phone, and I LOVE it!
With Christian Tjandrawinata and Jeremiah Fale at Parachute Studios.
That is a tricky question! It has been different with every tune, but with Boy in particular lyrically it was a good challenge for me to try to come up with some lyrics on the spot with two other very talented people in the room! It was fun being creative and coming up with a little plot line of who the guy was, and what his occupation was, and trying to write into that.
I mean, I don’t know if I’d recommend making up an excuse to call your insurance guy several times because you have a wee crush, or maybe… go for it?! But what I love about the tune is the fun bop to it, the catchy chorus melody, and the fun sing along aspect to it, and I hope the listeners also vibe to that!
I personally have been writing more for myself as opposed to thinking what others would like and what I think would “make a good single,” but in saying that after having completed Boy I did definitely think out of all my tunes that this one is a good single to stream, it gives off Lily Allen vibes!
My producer/sound engineer for all my tunes has been Christian Tjandrawinata. I have had some incredible musicians that have played on some of my songs and made them what they are, but consistently I’ve been very blessed to have Nick Taylor and Stallone D’Souza involved in the majority of my work.
I also am very lucky to have the wonderful Kate Orgias from Lil Sister on PR, she has definitely helped my reach and I’m very grateful!
My next summer single, coming early Feb! I’d also love to do another live show… so stay tuned!
I haven’t gained any funding as of yet, and this is the first time I’ve made NewTracks! My advice is don’t give up, keep trying, if it is something you’re really passionate about you will make it work!
With being a very fresh artist on the scene still trying to get your music out there, there are definitely a few criteria that you just haven’t reached, yet, and that is because people are still discovering you and that is okay! We just gotta keep trucking along, and focus on the love for the craft which will hopefully show through your music.
I love watching the videos from the bands Lawrence and Couch on Youtube! The podcasts I listen to are just silly unrelated to music podcasts, usually it’s just someone chatting to a person from the reality series Love Island, haha.
The talented Shaun Greaves made me a fun quirky lyric video which I think fits perfectly with the song!
Stay tuned for an epic music video for the next tune!!
