Clay and Kelsy Reveal Their Personal Favorite & Keystone Track In Their New Debut EP ‘I Am’

This music duo is incredible!

With nearly 1 Million streams on just Spotify alone, Clay and Kelsy are quickly taking the music industry by storm. And their debut EP ‘I Am’ is testament that they are just getting better and better with every release.

We had the absolute pleasure of speaking with the pair about their Osc collection, queer representation in the music industry, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue music together?

C+K: “Well, I think that deep down, we’ve always known. When we first met, what interested us most about each other was our connection to music—that love for expressing ourselves. And the first time I heard Kelsy sing was, I’m pretty sure, when I fell in love. As we’ve each evolved, this bond has only grown!”

Can you tell us more about your amazing debut EP “I am” and how it came to be?

C+K: “I am came out naturally. The first songs emerged from deep places within us, without any concept of an EP. What ended up happening was, when we looked back at this music we had written, we realized there was a thread—a story, almost like a theatrical play. So, we just followed that path and created the music that revealed itself on the journey.”

If you had to choose, what are your favorite songs off of the EP and why?

C+K: “Each song is really there to support the next; it’s more about the progression of the songs together. But if we had to pick one, I’d say “Memories of Me.” It came from such a raw place and may have been the keystone that brought out the overall vision of this body of music.”

For each of you, do you personally prefer the performance or production aspect of creating music?

Clay: “For me, I’m a studio girl. A lot of my creative ideas come while sitting with and responding to audio over time. Having that space to sit with something is when my imagination really comes to life.”

Kelsy: “I love being in the studio, especially with the feeling of time not really existing and just creating. But there’s nothing more sensational or that makes me feel more alive than when I’m singing. And not just singing by myself (although I enjoy that, too)—there’s something else that happens when you perform to an audience. I’ve always known that’s where I belong.”

What do you love the most about your aesthetically-pleasing Osc collection?

C+K: “We love how everyone who’s used our instruments is always surprised and immediately inspired to make something new. We really wanted to create tools that are quirky and sometimes even ask questions of the person performing, sparking curiosity to explore. That’s where something collaborative happens. I think our instruments exist somewhere in that space. We’re also just fans of anything adorable, proudly feminine, and instantly useful for musical expression.”

How important do you consider queer representation to be in the music industry?

Kelsy: “Without it, the industry would just be a sad shell of itself. Art has always been fueled by queer people, and their freedom, pain, and unity is palpable across every art form.”

Clay: “Right now, queer representation might be one of the most important actions we can take. Somehow, people across the globe have lost the ability to truly speak with one another, and it feels like we may never bridge this divide. But music has this extraordinary power to float past the walls people build up over years, reaching their core. At this point, music might be the only way to reach those who feel alone and lost.”

What would you consider to be the most validating moment of your career thus far?

C+K: “There’s something about wanting to share something so special and powerful in your own life that you’d do anything to reach as many people as possible. With this album, people are finally able to listen to the deepest parts of our soul’s journey. Like any journey, we must start with a descent—but this time, we’re descending together. Being trusted with that personal and spiritual space has been the most beautiful and validating part so far.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

C+K: “We have a website where we share more personal newsletters, and you can explore our
instrument company at www.clayandkelsy.com. Our IG and TikTok handles are @clayandkelsy.”

Make sure to stream their debut EP ‘I Am’, available now on all music platforms!

Photo Credit: AceofLA (IG: @Aceofla)

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene Magazine, back in October 2020. When not helping her team and working on their print issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral TikTok recipe.