Kelly Carvin

Trenton, NJ-area singer/songwriter KELLY CARVIN was my most recent guest on ROCK ON RADIO. This relative newcomer to the Jersey music scene, with her rangy vocal style, has accomplished much in an incredibly short time period.

Only twenty-two years old, CARVIN began playing guitar in earnest at the age of eighteen. Her musical journey began when she was across the country from her family and her mother sent her a guitar to help her pass the time. It was then that she began to teach herself to play by "looking up chords online" and writing songs. Upon returning home, she began private lessons and her solo career exploded on the local Trenton scene.

CARVIN began playing area clubs and showcases in an effort to "get herself out there." At one point, she waited over twelve hours and auditioned for "American Idol" when the popular show came through Philadelphia. Fortunately for her, she made it through one round and onto the next.

However, here was where the dream died. In the second round, the judges allowed her to sing for approximately thirty seconds and, in a cold manner, told her "you're not ready."

Admitting to us that her self esteem took a minor hit, she was undaunted by the rejection. "The best basketball players only make fifty percent of their shots. It's not how many times you fall, but what you do when you pick yourself up." This was her thought process when it was all said and done. CARVIN went on from there to win a local talent contest in Mercer County, and placed in the top three in another.

As her confidence grew, so did her desire to bring her original music to the masses. Seeming to never stop scheduling gigs, she plays anywhere and everywhere. A regular on Wednesday nights at local Trenton bar/restaurant KATMANDU and their "Acoustic Songwriters Showcase," along with Kim Yarson's "Songwriters In The Round" concert series, she can be found from the Jersey Shore to New York City and as far west as Harrisburg, PA, where she'll be performing at the "Millennium Music Conference" in February.

Recently, Kelly and her band performed for a television audience on a local NBC affiliate the "10 Show" in Philadelphia, PA. CARVIN brought two of her band mates along with her for the interview, drummer JOHN D'ANGELO and bassist ANDREW KOSEK. The three of them spoke fondly of their TV experience, as well as what it's like to play together on the road. This trio, along with guitarist JESSE BUSHNELL, are currently in the studio laying down tracks for her first CD, which has a tentative release date of late spring/early summer 2010.

In four short years, CARVIN has climbed the musical ladder seemingly two rungs at a time. Her "if I fail, I'll try again" approach has so far served her well. CARVIN plays places, and has made contacts and connections, that have taken other artists years to achieve.

To find out more about KELLY CARVIN, go to her websites: www.myspace.com/kellycarvin or www.kellycarvin.com.
- Danny Coleman

"Vanessa Rogers, a special guest judge who is the coordinating producer for the Apollo Theater's Amateur Night, Linked Carvin's performance of her original song 'Keep On' to a combonation of Joan Armatrading, Joni Mitchell and Joss Stone" - The Trentonin

I always welcome someone like Kelly Carvin to the music scene. Newcomers are far from being jaded and world weary, like most of us. Carvin's enthusiasm and belief in what she is doing is not only refreshing but infectious as well, naturally drawing people to her music and getting them to think about who she is and what she writes about. As she says at the beginning of her tune "Revolution", "It only takes a small group of dedicated people to make big things happen." And you can feel her challenging eyes upon you as she adds "Are you in or are you out?". That's the question your going to have to ask yourself if your going to keep up with this budding artist. And I can tell you right off the bat, she’s got a plan and she intends to follow it all the way to its conclusion.
Carvin says that her personal goal is to spread love, life and beauty around the world and to fire up the shift of global consciousness. Echoing the same sentiments used in the early 60's, when people actually believed that they could make a difference in our world, Carvin belts this message out with conviction and style.
Her musical approach is simplistic and pristine. Her guitar is sparse and supports her melodic structure perfectly, the space creating the focus on her dusky and soulful voice, a voice far more experienced then her years (she's 20), creating a mix of several influences including Norah Jones, Janis Joplin and even a tasty helping of Tracy Bonham sass. Her CD demo was recorded well but is merely an introduction to a young woman with a lot of talent coming straight out of the gate with an eye on the prize.
Songs like "Keep On", with it's funky Zeppelin feel, rolls on sweetly to "Revolution". a shuffled Sheryl Crow styled tune. The minor keyed lilt of "This Cloud", my favorite, is a beautiful song that showcases her talent for emoting dynamic, rising and falling back softly to the diminished ending. Carvin has demonstrated that she has the voice to take her exactly where she needs to go. I feel that with the right producer and 10 more songs, she could be unstoppable. But trust me, that's just around the proverbial corner.
Carvin has played venues such as Triumph Brewery, Katmandu, The 449 Room, The Mill Hill Saloon, The Saint and tons more. She is building a fan base, networking. and definitely creating a name for herself everywhere she goes. Her Buzz in Asbury Park is building, and with the help of friends like AMP's Christine Martucci, and The Shore World, her visibility will only improve. Go check her out online and don't forget to see her live at The Saint on Jan 11. Go to her website at myspace.com/kellycarvin for more. - Shore World (John Pfeiffer)