WEBVTT - Finding Her Voice : How Music Saved Kelsie Watts 0:00:00.440 --> 0:00:02.920 Music Saved Me because writing is personal. It's all about 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.480 the song. You know, I can sing my face off, 0:00:05.519 --> 0:00:08.520 but if I'm singing for no reason and like there's 0:00:08.560 --> 0:00:10.680 no meaning behind what I'm singing, nobody's gonna feel anything. 0:00:10.680 --> 0:00:13.280 So it doesn't matter how boring. I would get tired 0:00:13.320 --> 0:00:14.000 of me singing like that. 0:00:14.240 --> 0:00:17.480 Welcome to another episode of the Music Saved Me Podcast, 0:00:17.520 --> 0:00:20.920 where we explore the profound ways that music connects art 0:00:21.280 --> 0:00:24.360 to emotional healing and shines a light on the stories 0:00:24.360 --> 0:00:27.120 of artists who have been personally impacted by its power. 0:00:27.560 --> 0:00:30.360 I'm your host, Lynn Hoffman, and welcome to the show. Today, 0:00:30.400 --> 0:00:34.680 we are so thrilled to welcome singer, songwriter and Broadway 0:00:34.760 --> 0:00:36.680 performer Kelsey Watts. 0:00:37.280 --> 0:00:37.600 Now. 0:00:37.760 --> 0:00:41.040 You may know Kelsey from her viral performances on a 0:00:41.080 --> 0:00:45.159 little show called NBC's The Voice, where her powerhouse vocals 0:00:45.200 --> 0:00:48.440 and heartfelt artistry earned her a spot on Team Kelly 0:00:48.920 --> 0:00:52.760 and millions of fans worldwide. But Kelsey's journey with music 0:00:52.800 --> 0:00:55.840 goes far beyond the stage and the spotlight. She was 0:00:55.880 --> 0:00:58.279 born into a musical family and has been using her 0:00:58.360 --> 0:01:02.080 voice not only to entertain, but also to heal, which 0:01:02.120 --> 0:01:05.480 is such a beautiful thing both herself and others through 0:01:05.520 --> 0:01:10.000 original songs that tackle themes of loss, resilience. 0:01:09.720 --> 0:01:10.399 And hope. 0:01:10.880 --> 0:01:15.199 Kelsey's advocacy for mental health is deeply personal. After losing 0:01:15.200 --> 0:01:18.680 her brother to depression, she channeled her grief into songwriting, 0:01:19.080 --> 0:01:22.720 creating moving tracks like I Can't Say Goodbye that offer 0:01:22.840 --> 0:01:27.080 comfort and solidarity to anyone struggling with loss or emotional pain. 0:01:27.560 --> 0:01:30.000 Her story is a testament to how music can be 0:01:30.040 --> 0:01:33.679 a lifeline in our darkest moments, a message that truly 0:01:33.720 --> 0:01:37.880 resonates at the core of this podcast. In this episode, 0:01:37.959 --> 0:01:41.200 Kelsey opens up about her creative process, her experiences on 0:01:41.280 --> 0:01:44.320 Broadway and the Voice, and how music's been a source 0:01:44.360 --> 0:01:47.320 of healing and connection throughout her life. Now, whether you're 0:01:47.319 --> 0:01:49.920 an artist or a fan, we sure do you hope 0:01:49.960 --> 0:01:52.960 Kelsey's journey inspires you and reminds you that you are 0:01:53.120 --> 0:01:57.280 never alone no matter what you're facing. Let's dive into 0:01:57.320 --> 0:02:01.440 this honest and uplifting conversation with the beautiful and incredibly 0:02:01.480 --> 0:02:05.080 talented Kelsey Watts on Music Save Me. Kelsey, Welcome to 0:02:05.120 --> 0:02:07.080 the show. It is wonderful to have you here. 0:02:07.680 --> 0:02:10.440 Hi, Oh my gosh, thank you. What an intro. My word. 0:02:10.800 --> 0:02:14.120 Well, I was so kind, very deservant of it, But 0:02:14.760 --> 0:02:19.200 certainly I'd love to start with the beginning in your 0:02:19.200 --> 0:02:23.640 early influences. Can you tell us about your earliest memories 0:02:23.760 --> 0:02:26.440 of music and how it became such an important part 0:02:26.480 --> 0:02:27.920 of your life. 0:02:27.960 --> 0:02:31.799 Of course, I really feel so cliche every single time 0:02:32.440 --> 0:02:35.480 I say this, because it's it's just the truth. I 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:39.400 don't remember learning to sing. But the first video we 0:02:39.480 --> 0:02:41.800 have of me singing, I was two years old in 0:02:42.000 --> 0:02:46.040 looney tune pajamas, sitting on the fireplace, singing old song 0:02:46.160 --> 0:02:48.520 called the Basics of Life by a gospel group called 0:02:48.600 --> 0:02:53.840 for him. And it's just I've just grown up with music. 0:02:53.880 --> 0:02:56.239 Both of my parents sing and played piano and grew 0:02:56.280 --> 0:02:59.600 up singing in church. So I really don't remember life 0:02:59.720 --> 0:03:00.000 with that. 0:03:00.880 --> 0:03:03.959 Crazy enough, that's pretty cool that you have that memory 0:03:04.000 --> 0:03:04.839 so far back, too. 0:03:05.960 --> 0:03:08.920 Well, I've seen the video, man, Okay. 0:03:08.240 --> 0:03:11.480 So I'm like, I can't think beyond like ten. 0:03:11.639 --> 0:03:15.240 Two years old. Yeah, no, I couldn't. I do not 0:03:15.360 --> 0:03:17.600 remember that moment, but I've seen the video enough to 0:03:17.600 --> 0:03:20.120 where I'm like, well, that was real, So I guess 0:03:20.120 --> 0:03:22.280 it was me. It was meant to be. It was 0:03:22.320 --> 0:03:22.960 meant meant to be. 0:03:23.400 --> 0:03:25.679 Was there a moment or a song when you realized 0:03:25.720 --> 0:03:29.000 that music was a source of healing and had that 0:03:29.080 --> 0:03:29.800 kind of power. 0:03:30.760 --> 0:03:38.800 Hmmm. I don't know if healing necessarily is the word 0:03:38.800 --> 0:03:40.640 I would use for it. Like at the first time 0:03:40.680 --> 0:03:45.360 I really felt like emotionally moved by music. But we 0:03:45.360 --> 0:03:48.200 were on a vacation and we would always drive because 0:03:48.200 --> 0:03:50.720 we had five people in our family, And so as 0:03:50.720 --> 0:03:54.960 we're driving, I remember my parents playing Lem's rob the 0:03:55.080 --> 0:03:59.280 musical and it was the tenth anniversary edition, and I 0:03:59.360 --> 0:04:04.400 remember finally understanding like that Fontine was dying, and I 0:04:04.560 --> 0:04:09.200 was distraught, like absolutely distraught, like crying in the backseat, like, 0:04:09.200 --> 0:04:12.480 oh my gosh, there's not okay, like, and the five 0:04:12.600 --> 0:04:16.159 finally like moved, like I was really really moved by it. 0:04:16.240 --> 0:04:19.919 So that's the first time I actually remember having like 0:04:19.960 --> 0:04:23.239 an emotional impact by music for sure. 0:04:24.360 --> 0:04:27.880 Who were some of your early influences? This is I 0:04:27.960 --> 0:04:30.839 love to ask this question because it always blows me away. 0:04:30.920 --> 0:04:34.480 The younger the people I talked to, the more they 0:04:34.520 --> 0:04:37.800 listen to music I listened to growing up, which blows 0:04:37.800 --> 0:04:38.239 me away. 0:04:39.000 --> 0:04:41.880 Oh. I really think it's because that music is iconic, 0:04:41.920 --> 0:04:44.279 like legendary, it is. It is truly timeless. So I 0:04:44.279 --> 0:04:48.680 mean Whitney Houston, Seline Yon, Tina Turner. But I was 0:04:48.720 --> 0:04:50.719 also brought up on you know, def Leppard, the Rolling 0:04:50.720 --> 0:04:54.960 Stones and Kiss and you know then Kirk Franklin and 0:04:55.279 --> 0:05:00.240 I mean all of these like combinations, but from me 0:05:00.680 --> 0:05:05.839 as a vocalist, Whitney Houston and Selene were really really 0:05:05.880 --> 0:05:08.640 big influences. They just grow That's I feel like, that's 0:05:08.640 --> 0:05:09.680 all I listen to growing up. 0:05:10.000 --> 0:05:12.920 Wow, Well, that explains why you sound the way you do. 0:05:14.600 --> 0:05:17.160 You give them a run for their money. Now, on 0:05:17.200 --> 0:05:22.080 your personal journey and challenges, You've been very open about that, 0:05:22.640 --> 0:05:26.640 especially with grief and mental health, which you know, not 0:05:26.800 --> 0:05:30.599 normal to talk about publicly, right, I'm sure you know 0:05:31.160 --> 0:05:35.160 how did music help you process those emotions? 0:05:35.800 --> 0:05:41.440 Yeah? So I lost my brother in twenty thirteen. And 0:05:41.960 --> 0:05:44.680 most of the time, whenever people say they've lost somebody 0:05:44.720 --> 0:05:48.520 to depression or they've taken their own life like it's 0:05:48.600 --> 0:05:52.800 not a very popular topic of conversation. But a reason 0:05:52.800 --> 0:05:55.320 that I love to talk about it is because it 0:05:55.360 --> 0:05:59.359 gives a little bit of insight into what happens like 0:05:59.400 --> 0:06:03.360 and everybody story is different, obviously, but for us, you know, Jordan, 0:06:04.480 --> 0:06:08.120 there weren't telling signs. It's not like there was a 0:06:08.120 --> 0:06:12.600 big plan out. He didn't leave anything there was. Long 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:15.039 story short, Once we got the autopsy back, we found 0:06:15.080 --> 0:06:17.920 out he had run out of his medication, went from 0:06:17.920 --> 0:06:19.560 such a high to such a low. It really was 0:06:19.600 --> 0:06:24.000 a chemical like just his brain literally just broke. So 0:06:25.400 --> 0:06:29.200 I love to talk about it because it gives people 0:06:29.360 --> 0:06:32.719 a little bit more insight into what depression is. That 0:06:32.800 --> 0:06:35.920 it's not just being sad, it's actually a chemical imbalance 0:06:36.000 --> 0:06:40.720 in your brain, which is every other mental struggle as well. 0:06:41.120 --> 0:06:45.720 So you know, I love to just give a little 0:06:45.720 --> 0:06:47.920 bit of education as best I can. I'm not an expert, 0:06:47.960 --> 0:06:50.120 but I lived it, so I've just I'll just share 0:06:50.120 --> 0:06:54.479 at least what I've learned. But then using music in 0:06:54.600 --> 0:06:57.479 order to heal from that is something that I'm able 0:06:57.560 --> 0:06:59.600 to pass on. Like not only am I able to 0:06:59.640 --> 0:07:01.440 tell peop, well, hey you're not alone, because I have 0:07:01.560 --> 0:07:04.200 lived it. So even if I don't know exactly how 0:07:04.200 --> 0:07:08.200 you feel, I can relate enough and then to be 0:07:08.279 --> 0:07:10.960 able to put it into music, to be like this 0:07:11.080 --> 0:07:15.880 song is for anybody that's lost somebody too soon, you know, 0:07:16.040 --> 0:07:19.280 it's I think it's important because then people don't feel alone, 0:07:19.960 --> 0:07:23.440 because the biggest way that people like feel isolated is 0:07:23.440 --> 0:07:26.920 because they think, oh, well, I'm weird. Oh nobody else 0:07:26.920 --> 0:07:29.520 has ever dealt with this. Oh I'm you know, it's 0:07:29.760 --> 0:07:31.760 just me. Everyone's going to think I'm a burden or 0:07:32.280 --> 0:07:34.440 or that this is a weird thing to deal with 0:07:34.600 --> 0:07:38.120 or struggle with. And the reality is it's not weird. 0:07:38.400 --> 0:07:42.040 It's very normal, very very normal. And so I think 0:07:42.080 --> 0:07:46.239 the more that we talk about it, the less taboo 0:07:46.280 --> 0:07:50.080 it becomes, and the more comfortable other people begin to 0:07:50.120 --> 0:07:53.280 talk about it. You know what, now. 0:07:54.840 --> 0:07:58.480 It's very giving to want It's so selfless what you're doing. 0:07:58.920 --> 0:08:00.920 You know a lot of people would turn inward and 0:08:00.960 --> 0:08:03.160 maybe just being you know, the family or your close 0:08:03.200 --> 0:08:05.920 friends you would talk to, or a therapist. But what 0:08:06.040 --> 0:08:10.040 made you want to share this with people? Just just 0:08:10.120 --> 0:08:13.600 out of wanting others to be okay? I mean, that's 0:08:13.360 --> 0:08:17.760 a beautiful thing that you do. Thank you easy. 0:08:18.240 --> 0:08:24.160 It's it's it's not and I I really believe it 0:08:24.160 --> 0:08:29.960 brings purpose to the pain. One thing that my dad 0:08:30.040 --> 0:08:33.360 has always said is, you know, we are making it. 0:08:33.840 --> 0:08:36.160 You know, people so often say, oh, we're gonna make it. 0:08:36.200 --> 0:08:38.160 You're gonna make it. You're gonna make it. And with 0:08:38.240 --> 0:08:42.360 a loss of this nature and with any sudden loss, honestly, 0:08:43.320 --> 0:08:46.640 you are making it every day. You have to learn 0:08:46.720 --> 0:08:49.280 to live with the grief instead of in the grief. 0:08:49.320 --> 0:08:54.800 And for me, being able to share this story allows 0:08:55.559 --> 0:08:59.679 Jordan's story to continue to minister to other people, and 0:08:59.720 --> 0:09:02.440 that feels like it at least brings purpose to the 0:09:02.480 --> 0:09:06.800 pain because it keeps him alive. Well yeah, oh my gosh, 0:09:06.880 --> 0:09:09.600 for real, the amount of people that don't have never 0:09:09.640 --> 0:09:12.240 met my brother but feel like they know him are countless. 0:09:12.600 --> 0:09:13.240 It's insane. 0:09:13.800 --> 0:09:17.760 That's incredible. What was it like to channel your personal 0:09:17.840 --> 0:09:24.320 experiences into your songwriting? I mean again very inward and 0:09:24.360 --> 0:09:27.480 sharing personal things, which a lot of artists don't do. 0:09:28.480 --> 0:09:30.960 You know, left to kind of figure out how does 0:09:31.000 --> 0:09:34.240 this relate to my life? But you're like, this is 0:09:34.880 --> 0:09:37.360 this is really your life? 0:09:37.440 --> 0:09:44.440 Yes? You know it's there's parts of it where it's like, oh, 0:09:44.520 --> 0:09:46.040 how fun because I can really relate to this, and 0:09:46.040 --> 0:09:48.199 then there's other parts where it really is painful, and 0:09:48.559 --> 0:09:54.880 you have to learn how to separate in the moment, Like, sure, 0:09:54.920 --> 0:09:57.240 you can let yourself feel it, but it's also very 0:09:57.240 --> 0:10:01.679 important to process deal with it so that way you 0:10:01.720 --> 0:10:03.840 can write about it and not have like an emotional 0:10:03.880 --> 0:10:07.560 breakdown every time you talk about it or write about it. 0:10:07.600 --> 0:10:11.439 Which I'm so grateful for my therapist because she helped 0:10:11.440 --> 0:10:14.000 the ton with that being able to process the grief. 0:10:14.000 --> 0:10:16.240 So when I do put it into my music, even 0:10:16.280 --> 0:10:22.160 though it is raw and vulnerable, I'm able to say, hey, 0:10:22.640 --> 0:10:25.360 I'm writing a story about this. Yes it's my story, 0:10:25.559 --> 0:10:26.720 but it's going to do a lot of good because 0:10:26.720 --> 0:10:27.720 it's going to reach a lot of people. 0:10:27.960 --> 0:10:30.360 Yeah, to separate that out, I mean, I know, just 0:10:30.400 --> 0:10:33.000 when I get choked up about anything emotional, I can't 0:10:33.040 --> 0:10:36.040 even get a word out. I don't know how you 0:10:36.040 --> 0:10:38.120 could sing without having some type of. 0:10:38.200 --> 0:10:40.880 The first few times it was really hard, especially if 0:10:40.920 --> 0:10:43.000 I can't say goodbye singing that live, I was like, 0:10:43.120 --> 0:10:45.840 oh no. And then especially if like my husband's in 0:10:45.840 --> 0:10:48.240 the audience or if my family's at oh, then I'm 0:10:48.280 --> 0:10:50.520 like I can't look at you. I need I need 0:10:50.600 --> 0:10:52.520 to just sit way over there because I will not 0:10:52.600 --> 0:10:56.520 be able to turn off the house turn around. 0:10:58.920 --> 0:11:02.120 Yeah all right, Well let's move on to something that 0:11:02.160 --> 0:11:05.200 I'm dying to know about the voice and Broadway, because 0:11:05.240 --> 0:11:08.720 these are two humongous things for you. I want to 0:11:08.720 --> 0:11:11.400 know what your experience on The Voice was like and 0:11:11.440 --> 0:11:14.240 how it was able to shape you as an artist. 0:11:14.280 --> 0:11:17.120 I don't really know where you were before you got 0:11:17.160 --> 0:11:19.360 there in terms of your skills, so I'm. 0:11:19.480 --> 0:11:24.440 Yeah, you know. I feel like I'm always surprised with 0:11:24.520 --> 0:11:28.679 this answer because the public view is Wow, The Voice 0:11:28.720 --> 0:11:31.800 has created so many artists and this is what they 0:11:31.840 --> 0:11:36.160 did and how awesome. Realistically speaking, I spent maybe a 0:11:36.200 --> 0:11:40.079 total of ten minutes with Kelly, who's a lovely human, 0:11:40.400 --> 0:11:43.880 But as far as being shaped as an artist, I 0:11:43.880 --> 0:11:47.760 don't think it really was. One thing that it did 0:11:47.840 --> 0:11:50.440 really teach me, though, was to have a very thick 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:54.960 skin and to see this as a business. Like I'd 0:11:54.960 --> 0:11:57.200 already seen it as a business, but going into it, 0:11:57.240 --> 0:11:58.959 I had to understand, this show is not going to 0:11:59.000 --> 0:12:01.120 make me famous, It is not going to be my 0:12:01.360 --> 0:12:03.320 like I've made it. But what it is going to 0:12:03.360 --> 0:12:07.560 do is bring so much visibility to me and bring 0:12:07.600 --> 0:12:09.679 me a lot of eyes that I couldn't even pay for. 0:12:09.880 --> 0:12:14.640 So it taught me how to really dig into that 0:12:14.760 --> 0:12:18.480 part of it and then to start showing people who 0:12:18.520 --> 0:12:20.880 I really am because I was like, that's what people 0:12:20.920 --> 0:12:23.080 are going to get or want to, like, are going 0:12:23.120 --> 0:12:25.640 to want to latch onto outside of his show. 0:12:26.000 --> 0:12:33.200 Yeah, that's amazingly insightful because no. I mean example, I 0:12:33.240 --> 0:12:35.680 was featured in a magazine early on. I was working 0:12:35.720 --> 0:12:40.400 in a town in Boston and short story, my mom said, 0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:43.079 oh my god, maybe someone will see the picture and 0:12:43.120 --> 0:12:44.840 they'll offer you a job. And I said, no, it 0:12:44.840 --> 0:12:45.640 doesn't work that way. 0:12:45.720 --> 0:12:47.800 It doesn't work that way. No, it'd be really cool 0:12:47.840 --> 0:12:52.120 if it did, Yeah, wouldn't it. I know. Wow, Yeah, 0:12:52.480 --> 0:12:53.560 I'm curious your thoughts. 0:12:53.600 --> 0:12:57.640 How does performing on Broadway compared to singing on a 0:12:57.679 --> 0:13:00.520 televised stage, because a lot of people don't really that 0:13:00.559 --> 0:13:04.079 the televised stage is for the audience at home. Broadways 0:13:04.120 --> 0:13:05.320 for the audience in the house. 0:13:06.000 --> 0:13:09.800 Yes, they're so different. It is. It is so different. 0:13:09.920 --> 0:13:15.320 For I mean even even with six I did a 0:13:15.320 --> 0:13:17.600 press performance and its performed like to the cameras, and 0:13:17.640 --> 0:13:20.960 that that alone is so odd. That was confusing. I 0:13:21.000 --> 0:13:23.480 was like, wait, this is a stage song. How am 0:13:23.520 --> 0:13:27.440 I doing? Okay, Like my brain sort of like freaking out, 0:13:28.480 --> 0:13:31.720 But you know on television, yes, it's live. So I 0:13:31.720 --> 0:13:35.240 mean they're both live, right, but the sound is way different. 0:13:36.440 --> 0:13:39.240 Audience is like, we didn't have an audience on my 0:13:39.280 --> 0:13:41.400 season because I was during COVID, so the audience was 0:13:41.440 --> 0:13:41.800 at home. 0:13:42.040 --> 0:13:44.600 Oh wow, even more strange. 0:13:45.160 --> 0:13:46.719 It was weird. Yeah, it was really really weird. So 0:13:46.800 --> 0:13:47.800 I was like, I just feel like I'm in an 0:13:47.800 --> 0:13:51.280 audition every day. Yeah, I bet, But it was more 0:13:51.320 --> 0:13:55.040 of a Okay, this is going to be taped. There's 0:13:55.080 --> 0:13:58.160 going to be multiple shots. I know, it's going to 0:13:58.200 --> 0:14:01.480 be edited together. Nine out of ten they'll add like 0:14:01.520 --> 0:14:05.560 an effect to the final vocal as they're taping, you know. 0:14:05.559 --> 0:14:07.640 I mean, there's so much more that goes into it. 0:14:08.000 --> 0:14:13.280 So with theater, which I think is a million times 0:14:13.280 --> 0:14:19.440 more difficult, Oh my word, it's you can't like just 0:14:19.560 --> 0:14:22.040 do it over. You'll be like, oh, hey, hold on 0:14:21.800 --> 0:14:25.040 one sec. I'm gonna I'm gonna redo that. Like if 0:14:25.080 --> 0:14:27.000 you miss a note, if you miss the beat, you're 0:14:27.160 --> 0:14:30.320 you're It's obvious. And there are only six of us 0:14:30.360 --> 0:14:32.600 on stage, so you really can't. You don't have a 0:14:32.640 --> 0:14:36.360 lot of room for error. And you're also dealing with 0:14:36.840 --> 0:14:40.200 a live audience's response when you're playing a character, but 0:14:40.280 --> 0:14:43.120 you're also interacting with them, but I'm not Kelsey interacting 0:14:43.120 --> 0:14:46.480 with them. I'm a character interacting with them. So it's 0:14:46.920 --> 0:14:50.000 there are just a lot more layers, whereas both of 0:14:50.040 --> 0:14:53.080 them can be really intense and a lot of work. 0:14:54.240 --> 0:14:58.160 On the television side, I'm just Kelsey Kelsey, and I'm 0:14:58.200 --> 0:15:01.000 doing this one song, this one performance because it's for 0:15:01.040 --> 0:15:03.240 a TV show, and everybody knows exactly what it's for 0:15:03.480 --> 0:15:05.520 and they already like me just because I'm on the voice. 0:15:06.320 --> 0:15:08.280 And then you're in theater and there have been so 0:15:08.320 --> 0:15:11.120 many different casts, They've heard so many people sing this song. 0:15:11.480 --> 0:15:13.480 Some people don't even like theater that have come to 0:15:13.520 --> 0:15:16.840 the show along with them, you know, and you're just like, hey, 0:15:16.880 --> 0:15:19.600 oh my gosh, I hope to god you really like this, 0:15:19.640 --> 0:15:23.160 and you're trying to, you know, be in this character 0:15:23.200 --> 0:15:25.320 of it also be really entertaining at the same time, 0:15:26.080 --> 0:15:28.880 on top of doing it eight times a week and 0:15:28.920 --> 0:15:30.800 you're dancing for an hour and a half and heals 0:15:30.920 --> 0:15:34.680 every single show, not leaving stage, trying to stay healthy. 0:15:35.320 --> 0:15:38.960 There's just a lot. There's just a lot more to it. 0:15:39.120 --> 0:15:41.240 And sometimes people, you know, even though you're not allowed 0:15:41.240 --> 0:15:43.920 to film, sometimes people will get away with filming, and 0:15:43.960 --> 0:15:46.920 sometimes it's not a great night, Like if you see bootlegs, 0:15:46.920 --> 0:15:50.040 which right under it's a very controversial topic, but whenever 0:15:50.120 --> 0:15:52.760 people you know, like take bootlegs and people that can't 0:15:52.800 --> 0:15:54.840 don't have access to theater love them because they're like 0:15:54.840 --> 0:15:57.240 I get to see a show. But then sometimes for 0:15:57.320 --> 0:16:00.520 the actor it's not their best day, sometimes really tired, 0:16:00.560 --> 0:16:03.560 and they'll get judged on one single performance where like 0:16:03.640 --> 0:16:06.800 something messed up, and so it's just I think there's 0:16:06.840 --> 0:16:11.479 a lot more at risk in a live Yeah. 0:16:10.680 --> 0:16:13.560 You're right, there is. There definitely is. There's a vulnerability 0:16:14.000 --> 0:16:16.400 and then also that vibe like you said, you know 0:16:16.600 --> 0:16:17.040 the voice. 0:16:17.080 --> 0:16:20.040 They're all like team but you know Kelsey, and there's 0:16:20.480 --> 0:16:22.360 a right inside it just because I'm on it. Yeah 0:16:22.400 --> 0:16:24.040 really yeah, it's amazing. Yeah. 0:16:24.080 --> 0:16:27.440 And Broadway you're like, you know, people are looking at 0:16:27.440 --> 0:16:28.360 you like let's see it. 0:16:29.120 --> 0:16:31.240 Sometimes you be like what is this? Yeah? Yeah, I 0:16:31.280 --> 0:16:34.000 mean now, granted, we get really awesome audiences because our 0:16:34.040 --> 0:16:36.800 show is really fun and nine times out of ten 0:16:37.760 --> 0:16:41.280 people are very like receptive and super fun, but man, 0:16:41.360 --> 0:16:44.080 it is very difficult when you get the ones that 0:16:44.120 --> 0:16:46.720 aren't and they're just on the front row. Yeah, and 0:16:46.760 --> 0:16:49.440 you got to keep going and smiling. You're still smiling 0:16:49.440 --> 0:16:50.920 because you're still in character and you're going to give 0:16:50.960 --> 0:16:53.760 them the same show you give anybody else. So did 0:16:53.800 --> 0:16:55.720 you learn It's incredible? 0:16:55.760 --> 0:16:58.680 And what a character builder or a strength builder for 0:16:58.760 --> 0:16:59.440 you personally? 0:17:00.080 --> 0:17:00.360 Sure? 0:17:00.440 --> 0:17:02.400 Is there anything that you can think of that you 0:17:02.560 --> 0:17:06.760 learned personally or as a performer during those sort of 0:17:06.880 --> 0:17:10.280 really high profile moments in your life? 0:17:10.560 --> 0:17:17.320 Yes, for me, in any performance that I give, whether 0:17:17.400 --> 0:17:21.600 it's in an arena of fifteen thousand people or on 0:17:21.720 --> 0:17:27.240 natural television or on Broadway or at home, like I 0:17:27.320 --> 0:17:29.919 every day, I'm like, all right, Jesus, I'm just singing 0:17:29.960 --> 0:17:33.960 for you. That's it. And it takes away any pressure 0:17:34.040 --> 0:17:37.720 I feel to be perfect or to be great or 0:17:37.760 --> 0:17:41.879 to impress. So I always love. For me personally, faith 0:17:41.960 --> 0:17:45.040 is a big part of my life, and it allows 0:17:45.040 --> 0:17:48.160 me to refocus and resenter myself and say, all right, 0:17:48.240 --> 0:17:51.040 I sing for an audience of one and that's all 0:17:51.040 --> 0:17:53.639 the matters. So if these people love me, amazing. If 0:17:53.640 --> 0:17:55.720 they hate me, that's okay. They don't have to love me. 0:17:56.320 --> 0:18:01.920 So that's huge. Yes, And it did not happen overnight. 0:18:02.119 --> 0:18:05.520 Let me talk like it took a while because as performers, 0:18:06.680 --> 0:18:10.280 we like, we love performing, we love performing for people, 0:18:10.440 --> 0:18:13.080 you know, Like we don't perform for the applause, but 0:18:13.080 --> 0:18:14.600 if you don't get an applause, you're like, what did 0:18:14.600 --> 0:18:17.280 I do wrong? Why don't you like me? What happened? 0:18:17.320 --> 0:18:21.639 You know? And we're so easily influenced to buy audience's 0:18:21.720 --> 0:18:26.200 reactions or comments online or because we're putting out craft 0:18:26.200 --> 0:18:28.920 out there and performing. Yes, we put ourselves out there, 0:18:28.920 --> 0:18:32.520 that's our job, but also it's just being human, like 0:18:32.560 --> 0:18:35.800 you just want that validation. And so it took me 0:18:35.880 --> 0:18:39.320 a while to really be able to focus in on 0:18:39.400 --> 0:18:42.880 that and be like, well, this is why I can 0:18:42.920 --> 0:18:46.919 be calm on national television, on a Broadway stage in 0:18:46.960 --> 0:18:51.280 an arena, like because I'm like, I just I'm singing 0:18:51.280 --> 0:18:53.520 for an audience of one, and that's the way that 0:18:53.600 --> 0:18:55.720 I stay calm. That's all I can do. 0:18:55.960 --> 0:19:01.440 It's amazing, that is no, but I really for you 0:19:01.520 --> 0:19:05.399 to be able to figure that out even you know, Also, 0:19:05.520 --> 0:19:07.600 I would say that most performers want to perform because 0:19:07.640 --> 0:19:11.200 they want to make people feel good, happy. Yeah, yeah, 0:19:11.240 --> 0:19:14.640 you know, there's so much selflessness in it. But then 0:19:14.680 --> 0:19:16.720 there's all that personal stuff that gets in the way. 0:19:16.760 --> 0:19:20.000 So if you're able to find that faith, as you said, 0:19:20.040 --> 0:19:23.479 to know that there's no pressure on you really than 0:19:23.520 --> 0:19:24.640 what you put on yourself. 0:19:25.440 --> 0:19:29.040 It's so true. It is. It's so true. And I'm like, 0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:31.480 as long as if I'm doing my job, I'm warming 0:19:31.560 --> 0:19:33.360 up correctly, I know my voice is in the right 0:19:33.359 --> 0:19:35.800 place and taking care of my body. You know, I'm 0:19:36.200 --> 0:19:38.480 I know the steps, I know the songs, I know 0:19:38.520 --> 0:19:41.080 where I'm supposed to be and what I'm doing. Well, 0:19:41.080 --> 0:19:44.600 then I I don't. I already have the job. So 0:19:45.080 --> 0:19:47.240 as long as stay good at what I'm doing, I'm fine. 0:19:47.280 --> 0:19:49.520 So yeah, it takes away the pressure for me to 0:19:49.600 --> 0:19:52.840 feel like I have to be something that I'm not. 0:19:53.600 --> 0:19:55.800 It's so true to what you just said, and it 0:19:55.880 --> 0:19:59.800 works in any profession, you know, wherever, whatever you're doing 0:19:59.800 --> 0:20:04.200 in life. To carry that type of wisdom, it's pretty incredible. 0:20:04.880 --> 0:20:07.440 We'll be right back with more of the Music Saved 0:20:07.440 --> 0:20:10.639 Me podcast. And by the way, if you like this podcast, 0:20:10.680 --> 0:20:13.640 you are going to love our companion podcast called Taken 0:20:13.720 --> 0:20:16.640 a Walk. It's hosted by my dear friend buzz Night, 0:20:16.680 --> 0:20:19.240 and you can find it wherever you get your podcasts. 0:20:23.400 --> 0:20:26.840 Welcome back to the Music Saved Me podcast, the podcast 0:20:26.840 --> 0:20:29.760 where we discuss the healing powers of music with some 0:20:29.840 --> 0:20:32.639 of the biggest names in music as well as up 0:20:32.640 --> 0:20:37.520 and comers. Now, speaking of putting yourself out there, there's 0:20:37.560 --> 0:20:39.800 a creative process. I would love for you to just 0:20:39.840 --> 0:20:42.120 walk us through a little bit of your songwriting process 0:20:42.200 --> 0:20:47.440 and where you find your inspiration to write songs and 0:20:47.760 --> 0:20:50.159 is are you ever what are you thinking when you're writing? 0:20:50.440 --> 0:20:53.359 Is this I know people are going to relate to 0:20:53.400 --> 0:20:55.880 this or is it just your story? What's your process? 0:20:56.000 --> 0:21:01.120 Like? So I really love to write with people's That's 0:21:01.160 --> 0:21:04.240 what I enjoy. And sometimes you're writing for sync which 0:21:04.600 --> 0:21:07.840 is TV film, movie like things like that, where you're 0:21:08.160 --> 0:21:11.280 you're writing a song for a prompt for something to 0:21:11.320 --> 0:21:15.680 be placed for an advertisement, things like that. And then 0:21:15.920 --> 0:21:17.760 sometimes you can do both at the same time and 0:21:17.840 --> 0:21:19.920 you're writing for sinc but it's also for yourself and 0:21:19.920 --> 0:21:22.520 it's like, well, I could totally release this as Kelsey Watts, 0:21:22.760 --> 0:21:24.200 but then this would also do really great in a 0:21:24.240 --> 0:21:26.520 sports ad, you know. I mean, so I like to 0:21:26.520 --> 0:21:29.560 think that way as well. But I think the best 0:21:29.600 --> 0:21:32.720 example is the song that I'm about to release in 0:21:32.720 --> 0:21:35.480 a few weeks is called fit In, and I was 0:21:35.520 --> 0:21:38.160 writing it with a guy named d Q. He's worked 0:21:38.200 --> 0:21:40.960 with Gosh, Demulevado, Sosha Fiers. He's a great vocal producer. 0:21:40.960 --> 0:21:45.439 He's incredible, and he's out of Nashville. And whenever we 0:21:45.520 --> 0:21:48.160 first met, we just kind of sat down and hung 0:21:48.160 --> 0:21:51.720