Folk musicians don’t typically worry about their clothing. The focus has always been about the music and that tangible connection with the audience. Singer-songwriter Kelley Smith is no exception to that as admittedly she’s never really been into showboating on stage. Although she confesses that a slightly cleaner, slightly nicer shirt is better to have when performing, the newly 40 year old Kelley Smith is a minimalist by nature and has plenty of mojo in her style. Raised in the northern woods of Minnesota, her debut record Moon Child has already garnered plenty of attention. She’s shared the stage with Minnesota greats like Charlie Parr, Dave Simonett (Trampled by Turtles), and Drew Peterson. The album has been included by The Current’s Radio Heartland “Best of 2022” list, and even nominated for album of the year by Blues and Roots Radio.
In just a short period, Kelley has emerged onto the scene with a captivating voice, authentic storytelling, and straightforward charm that only works to draw you in more. In chatting with Kelley before her show at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater, there is an immediate comfort and passion that clearly comes across from an artist experienced in age, but young in the scene. That wonderment to forge forward in the face of something new, while being steadfast in exactly who you are, makes for a powerful connection when seeing her perform.
“In a space where I’m presenting music, I want people to feel cozy. I like songs that are willing to go to sad or maybe darker places. There’s a healing power to naming things, and music is a safe place for that. I try to present myself visually as someone who’s approachable and friendly, even though I might sing a song about death. I always bring a stool from my kitchen, a rug from my bedroom, and my kitty cat mug as grounding items for me as this is all very new and I do still get nervous. The kitty mug provides a smidge of comic relief, if not for the audience, then for me. A reminder to relax and smile.”
Kelley’s first memory involving clothes goes back to church as a child. Growing up in the woods meant running around with almost free range and being dirty all the time in comfortable clothing. So when Sunday came along and a dress with itchy white tights was required, Kelley hated it. The second they would get home, the tights would be ripped off. To this day the feeling of those itchy tights means no leggings and dresses in her closet, and nothing gets worn that could be fidgeted with.
She admits there were definitely phases in her life when it comes to clothes. The first phase involved stealing her fathers long white oversized tee shirts and taking it to school. Then she would change into it, adding a belt around the waist and making it her own. Eventually she felt the desire to fit in more, trying to wear Abercrombie & Fitch, along with The Gap. But growing up in a small town that didn’t have those stores was the first challenge. The other being that her family bought budget clothes and those brands were considered expensive, high-end options.
Although both of her parents where involved in music; her mother being an elementary music teacher, while her father was a Catholic seminary dropout turned hippie rocker, both were more straightened out after the 4 kids came along. Kelley didn’t have the experience of seeing her parents dress up for performances and sadly no classic 70’s outfits from her fathers’ hippie days survived the decade. So many of the trends and influences that were floating around, didn’t emerge in her small town.
Kelley shares that her friend is really into the Enneagram test, where it gives you a number representing your personality. Her Enneagram is the number four. Fours are all about being individuals, unique, and different from the rest. A lot of musicians and artists certainly fall into this category and there certainly is a steadfastness with Kelley to not adhere to trends. Another trait that aligns with being a four is her commitment to minimalism. Every choice with clothing is based more on need instead of excess. It’s why she only owns two pairs of black pants, and why she doesn’t purchase expensive one-time clothes for shows. Her outfits serve a fuller purpose by suiting her life and shows.
Recently her youngest daughter has played a significant role in expanding her fashion sense. Her daughter marches to the beat of her own drum and loves to layer homemade patchwork skirts with colored leggings that clash. She’ll wear a t-shirt that has to be tucked into a skirt, loves to be fancy, and put on ALL the jewelry. She likes all the things that as a minimalist, Kelley doesn’t. Her daughter loves pinks, purples, and glittery things, while Kelley relies on browns and black for almost all of her outfits. The polar opposite mentality of her daughter has cracked open the possibility of expanding her view of fashion and trying things out a bit more. Kelley loves her Drew Peterson t-shirt of his original art of a plague bunny and a Langhorne Slim tee that boldly states “I’m feeling feelings exponentially” with a big smiley guy on it. Her daughter has sparked a new phase.
“She’s unapologetically herself. And I think, you know, that’s something I’ve struggled with my whole life. I’ve never felt like I fit in. I just got for it and wear what appeals to me, even if it’s a little odd. Becoming a full-time musician has really opened a lot of that up for me.”
-Kelley Smith
Kelley has discovered an affinity for vintage clothing and thrifting while keeping the minimalist core intact. She works in downtown Brainerd at a music store teaching guitar lessons. Right across the street is Bargains On 7th, where she’s found so many good things. The place isn’t necessarily curated well and is always packed full, but that’s what makes it relaxing for her. When she’s feeling stressed, the therapy of zoning out while digging through clothes helps. Her goal is to find one really cool thing that is cheap and worth adding to a limited closet.
Still many of Kelley’s values continue to hold court in her choices. The main purpose remains comfort and not ever wearing anything equivalent to those itchy white tights and the feeling they had of being restraining. The foundation of her outfit consists of dark colors and adding a top layer of something weird that was found thrifting. Currently her obsession is using vests over her shirts and cuffing her pants at the bottom for a tight edge to her 8 year old shoes. This simplistic intention displays a cozy look and matches the very approachable personality. There’s no tricks or switcheroos from what you see and what you get with Kelley. That authenticity speaks loud and makes the personal connection between her music and voice strong.
Her Vivobarefoot boots have been worn almost everyday since she bought them 8 years ago. As a big fan of zero drop shoes. These shoes keep your feet in the same position they would be in if you were barefoot. This translates to more flexibility and strength in your foot, while being completely all about comfort, like slippers.
Her black pants were purchased immediately after another pair went down. The gold-brown cuffed short sleeve shirt with a western ruffle was found on Etsy from a women in a synth-pop band in Seattle.
“The buttons are all different and it used to have a hook at the top for the Peter Pan collar, but it’s gone. It came in the mail today. I ripped out the shoulder pads, and deemed it the perfect shirt for tonight’s show. It’s so old the tags are all disintegrated. It’s basically falling apart, but I love it” Kelley shares.
The vintage 70’s Jordache maroon suede vest adds a bit of color and texture to the outfit. Kelley doesn’t wear earrings, rings, or bracelets because of the distracting ‘jingling around’ feeling of them while she plays.
“It’s been an evolving thing with getting older. There are perks to it. It’s easier and easier to be yourself and have fun with clothes.”
-Kelley Smith
Her infamous winter green coat was found at a thrift store in Brainerd that was next to the music store. One day she went out for a walk and noticed it in the window. Her first thought was, “I could never pull that off.” But as she’s been transitioning into having a little more fun with her clothes, she was drawn inside to ask about it. The store shared that it wasn’t for sale. Apparently she looked disappointed and the owner called his wife and asked if Kelley could buy the jacket. She agreed over the phone and snagged it for forty dollars. The green coat has been one of the first pieces photographed for press photos and promotional materials. It feels like something Kelley can most certainly “pull off.”
Taking the stage at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater immediately felt like a living room show. The rugs, the stools, and cat mug certainly helped with that feeling, but the warm presence of Kelley Smith made it feel very intimate.
Her ability to close the distance from the stage to your ears, while portioning out strong emotions, keeps you constantly leaning in more and more. Songs like “Marriage” incorporate a playful beat with an enduring weave of wintry nature and love.
The soft moments between songs held happy tension as you could feel the joy of performing radiate from Kelley. The songs off of Moon Child tie in with her clothes and performance. It feels simple and worn, something you want to listen to in a safe place. But at the same time, there’s true authentic intention behind the choices. Every song on the album serves a direct purpose and dynamic of Kelley’s songwriting.
The added foot drum and tambourine in “Marriage”, the banjo in “Moon Child”, and the wispy reverb in “Dust” are vests over the core value of the song. Observing her play these songs, bravely share new ones, while bantering with the audience, felt natural for Kelley. It’s hard to believe that this is all a new experience for her.
Kelley disclosed during the set that “sad songs are my happy places.” Said with a smirk and followed with a slew of deeply emotional songs about loss, feeling seen, and letting go, it’s baffling that you can feel happy while listening to sad things. She makes that impossibility a reality, which is definitely a unique trait.
Following in the footsteps of folk legends, Kelley certainly adheres to making the show about the songs, not the clothes. But stepping out and reinventing herself midway through life is a lesson we all can be inspired by. It’s a voice that strips back the materialistic nature of our world and stays tight to the unembellished emotions we all share. There’s an excitement in witnessing this new phase and how her forest mojo will grow in larger cities.
Check out the links below for ways to follow Kelley Smith and all the things we mentioned above.
Kelley Smith Website - Instagram - Facebook - "Dust" Music Video - Bargains on 7th - Vivobarefoot - Enneagram Test
