76. “Suddenly Seymour” (with Kelsie Watts) - Episode Artwork
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76. “Suddenly Seymour” (with Kelsie Watts)

In this episode of Sentimental Men, hosts Quincy and Kevin chat with Kelsie Watts, who shares her journey from a musical upbringing to making her Broadway debut in 'Six'. They discuss the in...

76. “Suddenly Seymour” (with Kelsie Watts)
76. “Suddenly Seymour” (with Kelsie Watts)
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Interactive Transcript

spk_0 Hi y'all this is Kristen Chenowick. Hi I'm Gloria Stiffon. This is Sarah Burrellis.
spk_0 Hi I'm Patty LePone. This is Lynn Menwell Miranda you're listening to the Broadway podcast
spk_0 network. And if I get to be playing a dream one day I will actually pass away. I will
spk_0 literally pass away and then come back so that I can be the role player.
spk_0 My name's Quincy and my name's Kevin and this is Sentimental Men. We're here to talk and maybe
spk_0 scream about our favorite women in musical theater.
spk_0 Oh
spk_0 the brightest colors fill my head. A million dreams are keeping me away.
spk_0 Straight tone. I think of what the world could be.
spk_0 A vision of the one I see. A million dreams is all it's gonna take.
spk_0 A million dreams for the world that I'm gonna make.
spk_0 Great to show him is good. We forgot that time.
spk_0 It is good. I've never forgotten it. For a day in my goddamn life I've never forgotten it.
spk_0 And you know what Quincy you know who shops at my Trader Joe's on a regular basis would be one
spk_0 Mr. Hugh Jackman. Really? Yes. Like once a week one time you've reached right past me to get the
spk_0 watermelon cucumber juice and I was like is he Hugh Jackman or is he in Cognito?
spk_0 Um he wears a mask. I love that that's the new celebrity thing now. Taylor Swift talked about in her
spk_0 podcast episode of Travis Kelsey which was amazing how she went to a football game of Travis and
spk_0 literally walked in the main entrance and just had a hat and a mask on it and no one talked it.
spk_0 Yeah he comes in like that. He is also a hundred feet tall so it is a little easier.
spk_0 A little easier for Taylor Swift to blend in than Hugh Jackman.
spk_0 One time I held the door for him and he said thank you. So he's very nice.
spk_0 Oh that's very. He's very sweet.
spk_0 Yes sweet. I just saw him at Radio City.
spk_0 Tell me how it was. I mean it kind of felt like I entered a different timeline because it is such.
spk_0 Firstly he like kind of like 15 minutes in was like how many of you only know me as Wolverine
spk_0 and so many people rose their hands which to me in the year 2025 if that's
spk_0 how we're still thinking of Hugh Jackman. I think you've missed a lot of things in culture.
spk_0 I just don't I feel like he's kind of shaken the Wolverine of it all but maybe I'm just living
spk_0 in a bubble. Yeah I feel like we probably have a skewed opinion of Hugh because a lot of his
spk_0 more recent things are very pertaining to us. Like I think like if you asked like my brother what
spk_0 or like your brother what Hugh Jackman is from they both would probably say Wolverine.
spk_0 And with that context you then by a ticket to see his show titled Hugh Jackman live from Radio City
spk_0 from New York with love I believe it's called. Yeah maybe I don't know. I'm not an X-Men
spk_0 girly. I don't know what that fandom's like because there was just like also the X-Men fandom
spk_0 is a lot of gay people. So yeah because it's a very like queer allegory. I think a lot of gay
spk_0 people like X-Men. Interesting. We were going from wow to sweet Caroline.
spk_0 What have I done? Sweet Jesus. What have I done? Become a thief? No. I was loving it. It's like
spk_0 who is this for? For us. He rented out Radio City for the gays.
spk_0 He did do. There was a lot a greater showman. A lot a lot of greater showman which I was not upset
spk_0 about at all. No. And I was actually texting videos to a lot of my straight friends who are
spk_0 obsessed with the greatest showman, straight guy friends. It was great. He is such a showman.
spk_0 Punny Ten-Man. He'd someone say he's the greatest. And just so clearly loves being on that stage
spk_0 and doing his dancing, singing thing. It was like a super enjoyable evening at Radio City.
spk_0 I think it's a tour. I think you have ample opportunity to see him. I think he has several like
spk_0 mini residencies. It was a good time. You know what I kind of walked away with? He is so good at
spk_0 the crowd work aspect of live performance. There was a lot of crowd work. He was going into the crowd.
spk_0 People up on stage to do little bits and stuff. That's really excellent. I kind of feel like he
spk_0 be a talk show host or something. I think there's a fun lane for him there. If James
spk_0 Corden can be a late night host, so can he. And I don't even mean that shady. I just mean like he
spk_0 Hugh Jackman literally, if he can sell out Radio City, he can do what James Corden did and
spk_0 beyond TV at night. No, I mean Hugh Jackman is an A-list. He's an A-list. Yeah. Did he ever guest
spk_0 our on Glee? I don't think so. Okay. Then I think he should do a Glee-esque reboot where he is
spk_0 like the teacher because that also feels kind of like perfect for him. But like on a channel
spk_0 that's allowed to curse like a showtime show, yeah, or FX, yeah. And it's like a set at a college
spk_0 or something like somewhere that is a little, we can see his sex life a little bit. Yeah.
spk_0 Also for the gaze. No, it was great. Highly recommend. Go see it. I love going to Radio City.
spk_0 That was the first time I had been at Radio City for not the Rockets or the Tony Awards. And so it
spk_0 was cool to see like a normal kind of concert show. Oh, that's not true. I went to Lord's Solar
spk_0 Power back in the day. It's just such a cool, it's like so massive. It's so unlike anything else.
spk_0 I've also got for Quinn 92 and Chelsea Cupers. So I guess you've been lying to me.
spk_0 It is huge. I did like I walked it on Friday. It was kind of like this thing where I forgot I had
spk_0 tickets to it and then realized a couple of I texted you a couple of things I responded.
spk_0 I was working, working my fingers. And I was walking in and I was like, wow, what a cultured evening.
spk_0 I'm about to have a Radio City music call in New York City. Cut to sweet.
spk_0 St. Trouble from the music man. He did the greatest hits. Which I just,
spk_0 it going back to like is he still just Wolverine to some people. It's like this is a man who's
spk_0 done enough movie musicals that he has a greatest hits to do. And yet, yeah, I feel like music man
spk_0 should be his calling card moving forward. That was kind of like perfect for him. Like he should
spk_0 just do it. Do that. No, I want people to be like, oh Hugh Jackman Harold Hill, not Hugh Jackman
spk_0 Wolverine. Yeah. Maybe there would be a new movie of music man. Sure. I'll take it. Put it on record.
spk_0 It kind of made me want to watch the Les Mizz movie again because they played some scenes from it
spk_0 on the lake screen. I also should we watch it together because I've been also craving this
spk_0 lately. Okay, maybe we'll do that for Patreon. Oh my god. A commentary track.
spk_0 For the laymiss. The laymiss. The laymiss movie. And it's just us going,
spk_0 it's going, oh, they played the bishop scene where he, the bishop is like, yes, he, I did give him these
spk_0 things. Yeah. It was great. I am listening to the laymiss audio book right now. Why? Because I like to have
spk_0 long things to listen to as background noise. And it's like 68 hours long. I've been listening
spk_0 for like three hours and we just got like I just met that bishop. Like the book is so like if you
spk_0 think it's a long musical, it's four times that long of a book. Is it a good listen? I like the voice
spk_0 of the narrator. He has a nice speaking voice. And I like this translation that I'm listening to.
spk_0 It's very accessible. So yes, is the answer. It is a good listen. I love an audio book. Send me your
spk_0 audio book recommendations. I'm starting to read again real books. Paper. Paper. That's very
spk_0 surprising for you as an individual person. Well, I do so much podcast listening that the thought of
spk_0 like an audio book doesn't really excite me because it just feels like more of the same. I need
spk_0 my boyfriend was telling me I need some an activity that grounds me instead of just waking up and
spk_0 going straight to working or scrolling. So I figured a hard copy book is a good way to kind of
spk_0 get in touch with the earth. I love that. Good for you. Good. Thank you for listening to the
spk_0 boyfriend. You can tell him that I co-sign that. And I used to read a lot. I used to really read a lot.
spk_0 I like reading. I just like it like it physically makes me tired. But audio books I can listen
spk_0 all day. I can knock a book out in a day. My concern about audio books is I zone out when I'm
spk_0 listening to things. So then I'm like, fuck, I'm going to have to rewind to like get when I missed.
spk_0 I don't have that problem. I think you absorb more than you think you do. Sure. Can we move on?
spk_0 To talking about today's guest who is who is Miss Kelsey Watts, which I'm
spk_0 Loki very excited to have someone like Kelsey on the podcast. I mean to have Kelsey specifically,
spk_0 but to have someone with Kelsey's journey on the podcast because she has a very cool path.
spk_0 Now what is her dream? It's so funny. You should ask. Kelsey grew up in a musical family performing
spk_0 at church and in her school plays. This particularly interesting. She studied opera, vocal
spk_0 performance and commercial music at Belmont University in Nashville. You can study commercial
spk_0 music. Well, that's the first thing that I wanted to say was like that is such an interesting
spk_0 formula for like being a pop star. Opera, vocal performance and commercial music. It's kind of
spk_0 like a perfect trifecta. Yes. Come on, L Woods. After she went to school, Kelsey competed on season 19
spk_0 of The Voice, where her version of Kelly Clarkson's I Dare You got her a place on team Kelly Clarkson,
spk_0 which is a sleigh. Since competing on The Voice, Kelsey and her music have gone on to be featured
spk_0 all around the world. She has accumulated over 100 million views across social media,
spk_0 including TikTok and Instagram with her original music, but also with her covers of iconic
spk_0 pop songs. See, that's social media game. That's what she learned in commercial music classes.
spk_0 To market herself. Yeah, honestly, probably. Kelsey, most pertaining to this podcast, is currently
spk_0 making her Broadway debut in six as Jane Heart of Stone see more the X-Wife track.
spk_0 Take a look. One of us had the right word.
spk_0 I love six so much. I hope it runs forever and ever and ever. You were obsessed with six pre-Broadway.
spk_0 I do remember this. I think you saw it in London. The last show I saw before the pandemic was six on
spk_0 the West End. No, that's not true. The last show I saw before the minutes or before the pandemic
spk_0 was the minutes starring Army Hammer before he got cannibalism canceled and it reopened with
spk_0 the guy from Shits Creek. I saw it with mine. It was the company revival and every I was so sick.
spk_0 Everyone in the audience was so sick. I think two people were out and then like two days later,
spk_0 the COVID shutdown happened. And then we started a podcast. That's the inception of sentimental.
spk_0 So thank God. Yes, so she's currently making her Broadway debut in six, which I think is
spk_0 some well, that is something I wish more of the pop girlies and the recording artist girlies
spk_0 would be doing. Six is such an easy gateway show for the pop girlies to cross over into the
spk_0 theater. I agree. And I think like, I don't know how long Kelsey's in the show, but it feels like a
spk_0 show here. But I feel like you could do like a shorter stint in it. Totally. Well, I don't know.
spk_0 I guess learning all the background stuff like the background vocals is probably a time commitment.
spk_0 If you're not going to do it for a year, I don't know. Yeah, who, Quincy, is your dream? What
spk_0 girly would you put in six? I've asked you this before. I would really love to see Emma Hunting in
spk_0 six. Probably in the James Seymour track. Yeah. I was talking pop girlies, but I love that answer too.
spk_0 I'm sure Emma Hunting would love to know that she was the first name that came to mind.
spk_0 Speaking of, we must go see Exorcist stick the musical. Gotta go. Okay, pop girl. Put my name up.
spk_0 Ooh, okay, as which one? Again, James Seymour, but like an off the wall pick that I think she would
spk_0 kind of say is the cleaner that can't have some sort of dirty rascal. Yeah, that's what I was going to say as
spk_0 well. My gut instinct would be to put Sabrina Carpenter in as all you want to do. Oh, oh,
spk_0 sure. I thought sorry, not sorry, don't lose your head. Oh, yeah, also that too. That's what I'm saying.
spk_0 They just like, oh, we've talked about our like dream are like NBC live six with the stars,
spk_0 right? We've done that. Yeah. We've basically have a whole new crop of pop girls since we've
spk_0 probably discussed that probably where would Chapel Roan go? You know, I love you. Chapel Roan would
spk_0 do House of Hallbine. Like as like a seventh girl, you know what I mean? Like to turn it into it
spk_0 for NBC live to get a seventh name in there. Taylor Swift can be. You know, I love you, boy.
spk_0 Every single way. That's like a good song for her. Better than Heart of Stone. It would not
spk_0 put Taylor's Heart of Stone. That's what I'm saying. Cut like, I feel like she would slot into like
spk_0 one of those two. Oh, because yeah, and she would totally go well into where one of a kind of
spk_0 category. Yeah, totally Taylor would be. And also Taylor would would never agree to go anything but last.
spk_0 Life of a showgirl, baby. Life of a showgirl. Back to Kelsey. Back to Kelsey. I can't wait. I'm so excited
spk_0 to talk to her. I'm happy we got these two like non-wicked guests in before we head into wicked
spk_0 bananza. Oh my god. Banana Ramza. It's our it's our busy season. You me and Elvira. We get busy
spk_0 every October. It's time. Right. Like that. The ice is melting and you and me are like
spk_0 someone did the meme and it was Ariana's and Cynthia in a block of mine. They're defrosting and I'm
spk_0 meant to like put us in the block of mine. All right, let's talk to Kelsey. We're off the
spk_0 we're off the rails. Did you want to talk about Nicole Scherzing or at all? Oh my god. Wait. Yes. Wait.
spk_0 Okay. Listeners in our episode outline, all he has written is Nicole SCH and then he stopped
spk_0 typing and I have no context as to why Nicole would be in this outline because Kelsey competed on
spk_0 the voice. I love the voice because I love the blind audition element of it. If you are also a fan
spk_0 of that type of show, that format, there's a new show on it's not really new anymore.
spk_0 Ish show on Netflix. Oh, called building the band you bitch called building the band. And is
spk_0 the cut side one? Why don't you let me tell you about it, Quincy?
spk_0 If you're like, why'd you write Nicole Scherzing or down? Hey, is that the ship?
spk_0 It is a show. It's been rude.
spk_0 Okay, but one more thing. Do you have anyone else taught? It is a new show. It is like the voice
spk_0 meets love is blind where they have all these singers in these little pods and they take turns
spk_0 singing for each other. And then they sort themselves into bands based off the blind audition.
spk_0 Then they exit the pods like like a like a cozy cat dolls. It can be any. It could be all boys,
spk_0 all girls or co-ed. Then they leave the pods and they get mentored by Nicole Scherzinger.
spk_0 And Quincy, if you specifically are going to eat this show up, it is just like hot girlies
spk_0 in their sluddy little pop outfits, belting riffing whistle toning, and then like arguing over who
spk_0 gets to sing lead. It's so good. And the boys are a mess. The boy, it's like, it's one of these
spk_0 things that makes me like it is so hard to be a woman. It's like America forever really hit it
spk_0 on the head. It's like these boys show up and are so uncharismatic and just like yelling into a
spk_0 microphone. And everyone's like, oh yeah, man, excellent tone. And then there's girls like
spk_0 singing the house down boots and people are like, I don't know, it's pitchy. I don't know if
spk_0 she sounds like someone I would vibe with. It's so good. You got to watch it. But Nicole Scherzinger's
spk_0 on it. So is Liam Payne, which is a little sad. But they do like a very nice like in memoriam
spk_0 thing to him. Like he doesn't finish the season. No, he finished it prior. I think they filmed it
spk_0 like a year ago. Like I think they filmed it between West End and Broadway sunset.
spk_0 For Patreon, can we discuss the scuttle butt with maybe happy ending? And
spk_0 and Evina slash ALW slash Jamie Lloyd. Okay. So Patreon listeners, keep on keep on keeping on.
spk_0 Everyone else we will see you in the interview. Okay, Kelsey Watts. Thank you so much for joining us
spk_0 on Sentimental Men. Yeah, I'm so excited to be here. This is going to be awesome.
spk_0 We are so happy to have you here as a non wicked guest. Some context on us is we began our
spk_0 podcasting journey as a very wicked centric podcast and then have branched out. But one thing
spk_0 that we have learned with all of our non wicked guests is that they all have some sort of a
spk_0 touch point with the musical. So we like to start by asking what is your wicked touch point? Are
spk_0 you kidding me? I'm literally like every day. I'm like, paint me green, please. Just any anytime.
spk_0 Just I volunteer like you just you just let me know when you got an opening and I'm gonna be like,
spk_0 all right, paint me green. Okay, that was my question. Yeah, pink or green and would you do it?
spk_0 Yeah, 100%. I mean, I remember whenever wicked was like just becoming massive, you know, like the
spk_0 first time I got to see it on Broadway in 2009. It was actually my very first Broadway show I've
spk_0 ever seen. Wow. That was really yeah. So I would say that could also be like a totally separate.
spk_0 In 2009. I know. Yeah, we'll have to check. It would have been like may or June of 2009. Okay.
spk_0 So like something in that area. Listeners will check our records. Yes. Like an I remember literally
spk_0 in I was in a state of complete shock and like all. I mean, the second that the first half ended,
spk_0 I was like we'd be like, like just like ugly cry, ugly cry. Yeah. Yep. And I feel like I would be
spk_0 I would be green. I love I love Glenda. I think she's amazing. And I would love to sing it and
spk_0 just play the part for like the fun of it, you know, um, but I definitely vocally relate more to
spk_0 Elphaba, but also like character wise, like I would be type cast more as an Elphaba,
spk_0 than I would have Glenda. Okay, so what is your theater history? Yeah, I was gonna say like when
spk_0 you're watching the show, you're already a theater kid, right? Like you're you're growing up,
spk_0 you're musical, you're singing already. Yes. So I mean, like so I was brought up singing,
spk_0 like my whole family is really musical. So I was brought up on gosh, like Celine Mariah Whitney,
spk_0 but then also like Boston, Deaf Leopard and Kiss. And then also, you know, the Lavez 10th anniversary
spk_0 soundtrack. So like, you know, I mean, like there, you know, there's just like a hard podge and then
spk_0 you have like the gospel stuff in it. So it was just a lot. Um, but I did like a some theater in high
spk_0 school, but then I've never done like professional theater, like until now. Um, so it wasn't something
spk_0 that I ever thought was going to be in the cards for me. Like I really was just like wow, this is
spk_0 incredible. But you know, like back in the, I say back in the day of how we were running years ago,
spk_0 like, you know, it wasn't acceptable to have tattoos on Broadway. You had to be a certain size,
spk_0 you had to look a certain way, you know, like it was, so it was just wasn't nearly as accepting
spk_0 of everybody. And as it now is, which I'm so grateful it now is, but I really just kind of like
spk_0 wrote myself off and was like, Oh, that's never going to be a thing. And LOL. Now here I am.
spk_0 Yeah. We were talking before you joined us about how six specifically is just like a show that
spk_0 everybody is right for one of those girls or all of them. Like it's, it is like you're saying,
spk_0 such a show that is like welcoming to anybody that fits into it. Oh, yeah. I love it.
spk_0 And how it's the perfect bridge for pop ladies wanting to cross over into Broadway. Six feels
spk_0 like the perfect middle ground to marry both of those skill sets. Yes, it, it really is. Um,
spk_0 I was very excited. But I was like, Oh, we're using in air sick. My ground's awesome. Band got it
spk_0 on lot. Oh, like this is on stage. Yeah, we have any monitors the whole time. And we're actually in
spk_0 the mic. So like, if you're, yeah, so like if you're not singing into your microphone, like nobody
spk_0 will hear you. Like it is all actually like working like, you know, like, again, they're not props.
spk_0 They're functioning. No, they are functioning microphones. Yep. Yeah, you know, somebody like
spk_0 live mixing the whole show. Yeah. And so I'm over here like super excited and everybody else
spk_0 is in the cast is like, what the heck is this? Yeah. And I'm like, well, everything else will be
spk_0 asking me all questions about, but this I got. So like, I can help you. Okay, you've told this
spk_0 story before, but just tell us how six happened for you because I think it's a longer story
spk_0 than most people would realize. Oh, for sure. I'll give you the, I'll give you the clip notes version.
spk_0 So I was doing a gig on a showboat. And we had, you know, like as a singer, we're just trying
spk_0 to make a living as an artist. You're just like, whatever will pay the bills. Amazing. So I was on
spk_0 a showboat and bartending at the same time. It was great. But anyway, so I did a, I did a gig and
spk_0 this lady come up to me at the meet and greet after the show and it ended up being Roberta Ducet,
spk_0 who's the musical supervisor for six, the musical, who I'm now like such great friends with them
spk_0 obsessed with her. But she gave me her card and was like, Hey, I would love to chat with you.
spk_0 I think you would be a great fit for something that we're working on. And it was right before six
spk_0 had even come to the States. So they were just casting for the very first cast.
spk_0 Okay. Oh, this is pre pandemic. And this is pre pandemic. Oh, yeah, yeah. Most people assume
spk_0 that because I have such a large following that I was just like handed a role. And that's just,
spk_0 that has nothing to do with it. Like, like, I don't think they could care less about.
spk_0 After COVID, she invited me to come audition and they called me for par. Uh-huh. And I got,
spk_0 I've got to Chicago and then they asked me to come to New York and then they cut me. And I was like,
spk_0 what? Cool, cool, cool. Dang it. Why? I'm sorry. I emailed Peter Bandei, I'm the casting director.
spk_0 And was like, Hey, what can I do to be better? Like, like, what? What was it? And he goes,
spk_0 have you ever acted before? And I said, no, I definitely have not.
spk_0 And I was like, no, I've never touched that in my life. And he was like, if you could work on that,
spk_0 that would be amazing. And I was like, oh, sweet. So like, send me who do I go to? I was like,
spk_0 I can do that. Yeah. And so he gave me a coach, uh, Benji Shaw, who I started working with via Zoom.
spk_0 And then they called me again, the next year, uh, still as par. I think they were casting for the
spk_0 tour. I made it to the finals. Like, it sent myself to the UK for whatever reason wasn't cast.
spk_0 Um, then they call again the next year. By this point, I'm just expecting an annual phone call
spk_0 from them. Just really cool. And then they asked me to come to a boot camp, but they like,
spk_0 flew me in, put me up in a hotel, um, and they called me for Seymour. So I was in New York for about
spk_0 five days with about 30 other girls. And you know, we were doing one-on-ones for acting, music,
spk_0 choreography, all of the things. Were you attached at all to par at that point or didn't care?
spk_0 Yeah. For a while, I really didn't like Seymour. I was like, I was like, hold on. Now I love her.
spk_0 Like, now I'm like, oh, she's freaking fierce. But at the beginning, I was like, I don't even have a
spk_0 kid. Like, I don't like, what? Like, I have a dog. Like, you know, because that's like what she's
spk_0 so geared towards at the beginning. And I'm like, now I'm like, she's so much more than just a child.
spk_0 But, um, but I was like, okay, cool. I knew that vocally Seymour would make a lot of sense too.
spk_0 So they're like, okay, cool. Um, well, the boot camp came and went and I mean, gosh, I didn't hear
spk_0 anything for over a year. By this point, I'm like full blown social media, just releasing music,
spk_0 artist, I'm barred, like I quit all of my other jobs and bartending during the day to pay for my
spk_0 own music. Like, I mean, just so it's all kinds of things. And I was so not expecting this to happen.
spk_0 Like, my husband and I closed on a house three days before I found out that I got this in
spk_0 Nashville. Of course. Yeah. Straight up. Yeah. Same. Same. So we're in Home Depot picking out blinds
spk_0 for this house. And what is your husband? My, my, my, your own to practice in South Africa. He's
spk_0 from, he's from Johannesburg. So he owns a medical practice over there. Um, but he was bar,
spk_0 he was managing the bar that I was bartending at in downtown Nashville. And so my manager calls
spk_0 me and she was like, Kelsey, I need to talk to Jane. And I said, Melinda, who the heck is Jane?
spk_0 She goes, Jane Seymour. I said, what? She goes, you're going Broadway.
spk_0 Out of, no, out of nowhere, out of just simply nowhere. So, um, I looked at the person helping
spk_0 us pick out blinds and I was like, I'm going to need a second. I'm, I'm going to need to recover.
spk_0 I got to call my parents. I, I guess we're moving to New York. I mean, so the whole thing, but yeah,
spk_0 so I mean, it was a, it was a journey, you know, like there were things that I'd started working
spk_0 on on my own outside of the musical because I didn't expect this to happen, you know, like I really
spk_0 didn't and low and behold. Here we are. You talked about needing acting lessons, which is interesting
spk_0 because there is a level of emoting and storytelling in pop solo music as well. How do you differentiate
spk_0 between the two? Yeah. So I think one of the things and I still take acting now. I'm taking, um,
spk_0 Asmaret, who's a great, great friend. She, I take from her like one on one and I'm taking dance one
spk_0 on one and all the things and, uh, one thing that I've really been working on is figuring out,
spk_0 okay, well, how, how do I speak this like Kelsey, but the character, you know, like internally,
spk_0 like, because I believe good acting is good acting. I don't believe there's like musical theater
spk_0 and film. It's like good acting is good acting. So, and that's the look what I really want to be
spk_0 able to do. And so it took me a while to figure out different nuances of how things were received.
spk_0 Like if I'm on stage and I say something in a certain way, I've never take like, I've never been
spk_0 in acting classes. I didn't go to musical theater school. Like I've never had these certain types
spk_0 of experiences. So it was a lot of technical things that they'd be like, this reads this way.
spk_0 And I'm like, oh, I didn't even realize that. So then I would adjust it and be able to move
spk_0 differently. But as far as the storytelling goes, that, that's just, yeah, I'm like, my gosh,
spk_0 I can do that all day. But at the same time, I'm not being Kelsey. I'm being a character,
spk_0 but also in a concert setting. It's six is really weird because you're like,
spk_0 kind of yourself, but you're not really yourself. And you have to still kind of like ride that line
spk_0 of what would this character do? But how do I make it as natural as possible?
spk_0 Right.
spk_0 While still putting on a show, you know?
spk_0 As a singer, songwriter separately from this, it's like you have a stage persona you put on for
spk_0 that too. So it's like separating that from the Jane Seymour stage persona. It's interesting,
spk_0 coming from your background specifically separating your performance style from this character's
spk_0 performance style, as opposed to someone who maybe only performs in a musical theater setting.
spk_0 It's just like, okay, how do I play a pop star?
spk_0 Right.
spk_0 There's almost a secondary challenge for you of separating it from yourself more.
spk_0 It was, yeah, because there are certain things that I would just naturally do like on a stage.
spk_0 Like, I just got off of an arena tour with TSO. And I was like, yeah, it's totally, this is great.
spk_0 And then I'd be like, no, that's too big or that's no, we need it more like this.
spk_0 Or not. I was like, wait, hold on. So yeah, I mean, so it was, it was a challenge.
spk_0 More so just learning how to learn the show and learning how to
spk_0 to be this character that's very similar to me, but also having to, yeah, you're having to like
spk_0 separate multiple layers, which was really interesting.
spk_0 Yeah. So walk us through the process of learning the show.
spk_0 You get the call that you booked it. What happened next?
spk_0 I went on tour with Trans-Abring and Orchestra, two days later.
spk_0 And poor Brandon, my poor husband, moves everything into the house.
spk_0 God bless him. I've just moved him all over everywhere.
spk_0 He moves everything into the house.
spk_0 I'm gone for like two and a half, almost three months.
spk_0 And then we have to move everything out of the house because we had to get a property manager
spk_0 to rent it out. So I get back from tour like January 1st, 3rd, no, the 3rd.
spk_0 I was home for three days and then I moved to New York.
spk_0 And I had an Airbnb with a friend of mine for a month because rehearsal started on the 12th.
spk_0 So yeah, so I mean, it was, yep. And then we had a four weeks of rehearsal.
spk_0 For a lot though, I feel like, yeah, to replace in a show, did you rehearse with your cohort?
spk_0 Yes. So they replaced the whole cast all at the same time.
spk_0 That's nice.
spk_0 Yeah, it will change over.
spk_0 That's fine.
spk_0 So I think, yes, I'm very grateful.
spk_0 And I think I've noticed that the trend that they do in the show,
spk_0 unless people are like leaving sporadically, it seems like they like to take a whole cast
spk_0 and turn the whole cast over because of the dynamic of the show or people wanting to come see it
spk_0 again to see multiple queens, play different people.
spk_0 Right.
spk_0 Yeah, so it was great because all of us, there were three of us that had a Broadway debut,
spk_0 the other three had already been on Broadway.
spk_0 Three of us had moved in, three of them have already been living in New York.
spk_0 So it was a really good combo of like, everything just meshed really nicely.
spk_0 And so the rehearsal process was exhausting.
spk_0 But was great to have that kind of dynamic with everybody.
spk_0 What was surprising to you about the Broadway rehearsal and process?
spk_0 I think the most surprising thing about the rehearsal process was just how intricate it is.
spk_0 And I don't know if it's like this with every show,
spk_0 or if it's just like this with six, I'm sure it has to be.
spk_0 It has to be with everything because there's mass ensembles and most other shows.
spk_0 But the whole time, we don't leave the stage, the entire show.
spk_0 Like, I go get a prop at one point and that's like about it.
spk_0 And so the formations are constantly like a Rubik's cube, like all over the place.
spk_0 And it was just so intricate, so so intricate.
spk_0 You know, I've never been told, stand on this number,
spk_0 or be on the inner gold rim or the outer gold rim,
spk_0 or you're going to be on the pink egg to the blue egg.
spk_0 And so you have everything so locked.
spk_0 Every time.
spk_0 Exactly the same.
spk_0 Yes.
spk_0 And so, you know, because as a pop artist, like I just perform.
spk_0 Like, you know, sure, but I get to play off of the band members, you know, like I'll have,
spk_0 if it's the same show, I mean, generally the same kind of movement motion,
spk_0 but the crowd is different every day.
spk_0 So what I'm going to say could be different, you know,
spk_0 the mood may be different, who you're interacting with, maybe different.
spk_0 So there's a lot of guessing in that, but with this,
spk_0 it was just like, no, same every single time, which makes sense,
spk_0 because somebody could get hurt because it's, you know, you're moving so many, you know,
spk_0 there's so many moving parts.
spk_0 So I would say that was definitely the most surprising part for me,
spk_0 was how incredibly intricate everything is.
spk_0 You know, we talked to a lot of actresses who have done Wicked,
spk_0 which similar to six is kind of this international hit.
spk_0 And they're always a little surprised when they go that there are confines.
spk_0 It's do your own thing, but within the confines of what this character is.
spk_0 I, yes, six is a similar show in its status,
spk_0 but I suspect that it's slightly looser with allowing the different women
spk_0 to have their own interpretations on the tracks.
spk_0 To an extent, I was actually really surprised we didn't have more freedom than we do,
spk_0 because it seems like a show that would be so like free.
spk_0 And it's not most, I mean, even like, I'll just use my song specifically.
spk_0 So the, I'm able to emote specific parts of the song like I want to,
spk_0 like if I want to go into head voice instead of chest voice, I can.
spk_0 You know, if I, like, if I feel like this would make more sense to me artistically,
spk_0 then they would, like, the know that it would have to get everything approved.
spk_0 So like the riffs, like the truth, believe it,
spk_0 had to get that approved.
spk_0 The ending, the end, the big yeah, going into everything on that.
spk_0 Yeah.
spk_0 Also have to get that approved if you ever want to like change it.
spk_0 You have to get that approved and it has to be the same every single time.
spk_0 So it's not like you get up there and just kind of like just do your thing.
spk_0 It's, it's actually really set, but I will say at the beginning, you know,
spk_0 they do give you, hey, how does this fit you?
spk_0 You know, let's find something that fits you.
spk_0 And I came in and was like, hey, I, I feel like this would be great.
spk_0 I feel like this would be great if you hate it.
spk_0 Tell me and we'll fix it.
spk_0 And even halfway through the run,
spk_0 they had wanted me to change an intention in the very last chorus.
spk_0 And I was like, well, the riff that I have doesn't reflect that intention.
spk_0 Come on, reflect that intention.
spk_0 It didn't sound like really.
spk_0 I was like, I'm sitting here going like, man, if I'm going to, like, if you want me to feel like
spk_0 this sad, like, or like, this is like where you want me to go, like, I'm not going to be like,
spk_0 yeah, like, yeah, sad people don't have.
spk_0 Right.
spk_0 No, they just don't.
spk_0 That's a point.
spk_0 Yeah.
spk_0 They just don't like, no, like unless you're for con Jesse J and like, I'm not Jesse J.
spk_0 You know, so I was like, no, so it was like, it doesn't, that doesn't make sense.
spk_0 It was like, so let's set up a session.
spk_0 So I can alter this riff.
spk_0 So it would be a more genuine like,
spk_0 riff that would like make it like the emotion would come out of.
spk_0
spk_0 You know, because my goal is like throughout the entire song, at least for me personally,
spk_0 throughout the entire song, a part of Stone.
spk_0 I want people to know how I'm feeling even if I were saying words.
spk_0 Like, even if I'm not saying words, I want them to know exactly how they're going to feel
spk_0 by the way that I'm singing it and delivering it.
spk_0 You know, yeah.
spk_0 And so like, if nine times out of ten, a riff doesn't serve that.
spk_0 So like, why do it?
spk_0 Like it's pointless.
spk_0 Like everybody can sing their face off.
spk_0 You know, like, that's not what people are coming to see all the time.
spk_0 They want to, they want to feel something, you know?
spk_0 Right.
spk_0 Before we get too far away from it, you kind of just talked about, you know,
spk_0 taking something and finding the ways to make it fit for yourself or fit to you.
spk_0 And I know you do a lot of covers and I think very appropriately,
spk_0 you were Team Kelly on the voice.
spk_0 And something that you and she have in common is, I think, this ability to make everything you
spk_0 sing sound like it's yours.
spk_0 Like when you sing covers, they don't sound like karaoke.
spk_0 They sound like, like, you made this song.
spk_0 You know what I mean?
spk_0 Which is like an emotional compliment ever.
spk_0 And it's like, yeah, and it's like not even shade, but it's like, that's like a special skill,
spk_0 I think, to like really do that.
spk_0 So when you're taking something that you didn't write or that you weren't part of writing,
spk_0 what are the things that you look for that you're like, oh, this is how I can like put the
spk_0 Kelsey spin on this or this is how I can adapt it to myself?
spk_0 Yeah, I mean, you know, there's small things that I'll be like, for example,
spk_0 I think I posted Halo on TikTok yesterday before something like that.
spk_0 And in Halo by Beyoncé, there's like a very iconic down riff, I think she says,
spk_0 I can barely do that because me and down riffs are not friends.
spk_0 So I really have to think about it.
spk_0 And so, but so what I do is I swap it.
spk_0 Yes, yes, yes, I'll just like go up because because that works better for me.
spk_0 So, you know, so there's like technical things like that.
spk_0 But then also, I've worked really hard with my vocal coach, Mama Jansmith.
spk_0 She's freaking amazing.
spk_0 We've worked really hard on my vocal thumbprint.
spk_0 Because when I first started working with her, she goes, Kelsey, I was blonde at the time.
spk_0 But she was like, Kelsey, what makes you different from every other blonde singer out there?
spk_0 What is it? And I was like, dang, that's okay.
spk_0 That's a great question.
spk_0 And it doesn't have to be like a technical answer.
spk_0 But she was like, people need to know when you're singing a song that it's you.
spk_0 And so, I think if I like go through songs for TikTok and Instagram,
spk_0 it's always just kind of like what's going to pop off best.
spk_0 And so, nine times out of 10, because you're just like working to continue to build a fan base.
spk_0 Nine times out of 10, it's just picking a song that I know is going to do well.
spk_0 Like if I sing Alicia Keys, it's going to do really well every time.
spk_0 The aunt is going to do well every single time.
spk_0 Like I can give you a list of songs that I'm like, that will pop off just because it's that song.
spk_0 But it's also because I think I'm very intentional about not overseeing.
spk_0 And there are moments, especially whenever you're doing something like with a karaoke track
spk_0 for you know, social media.
spk_0 Like you want people to still be able to feel something and not just be like,
spk_0 look, I'm singing for you to see that I can sing.
spk_0 And so I think it's it really is the intention behind that that I think that's kind of what
spk_0 grasps people. And I would say Kelly Clarkson does the same thing.
spk_0 You can feel like you can feel that she's she means what she's singing, even if it's on her song.
spk_0 And that that aspect of keeping the lid on it, like you're saying, is it's like the big the biggest
spk_0 of your big is there, but it can't be that the whole time. It's about picking the moments to go
spk_0 there and then keeping that lid on until then for sure.
spk_0 I think that'd be exhausting. I don't even want to hear myself do that all day.
spk_0 Like how awful.
spk_0 Feel like a new stop.
spk_0 You've toured before plenty, but is there anything especially different or difficult about doing
spk_0 the H was a week on Broadway that you weren't prepared for?
spk_0 Oh my gosh, it's the hardest thing ever. Yes. Oh my gosh.
spk_0 Okay, let me tell you touring is easy. Man, I mean like,
spk_0 bra. I mean, not great. I was treated like a princess on these tours. So I mean, like,
spk_0 like I was I was very blessed to tour, you know, someone like TSO who has like millions and millions
spk_0 and millions of dollars in their budget. Like, yeah, I was like, this is the best thing ever.
spk_0 He wanted me to go be on Broadway and take how much would we?
spk_0 Work. What? What? It's crazy.
spk_0 Rehearsal. Oh my word. So let me tell you, it is it's a lot. Like, it is a lot. And I will say,
spk_0 on top of that, it's the eight shows a week on top of rehearsals because they still have us in
spk_0 brush up rehearsals often. Like, which I mean, I get it. I think the type of show it is you have to.
spk_0 But then I also have my own music and I'm still writing and recording and doing press,
spk_0 doing my own shows, trying to stay healthy, going to physical therapy, the gym, make sure I'm like
spk_0 getting enough sleep. I mean, the like, I always joke with people when they ask me to go get a coffee,
spk_0 I'm like, if you can find a spot in my calendar, I go for it. And I show them. I literally showed
spk_0 a friend today. I was like, let me just like, let me show you. Yeah, I'm like, I'm not being dramatic.
spk_0 Like, let me just show you. Yeah, another club, another club, another club. Another club.
spk_0 Another club. I was like, yo, I really, you can come hang out between shows, but then typically,
spk_0 I have a podcast between shows. Yeah. I mean, I'm so serious. It's crazy. So like, you know, so I'm really.
spk_0 I always tell people I'm like Broadway is like the freaking Olympics of performing. Like,
spk_0 it's because you are, it's also like you have people that are buying tickets that are excited to come see you.
spk_0 But not always, you know, like, you know, it's not like your Taylor Swift and you're touring internationally
spk_0 and you know, everyone's going to be insanely excited every single time and you're like, yeah,
spk_0 this is awesome. And granted, I'm sure her tours are very hard to, you know, they're very long.
spk_0 Right. But you also being on Broadway, you, you do have an audience, like a theater audience perspective
spk_0 where like people typically aren't really rowdy. Like, it depends on the crowd, you know,
spk_0 it's different types of people from all of it's, it's just different. So on top of, you know,
spk_0 working like crazy, you're also like, hoping like, I think it's going to pay off. I think they're
spk_0 going to like it. I hope, I hope they're going to like it. You know, so I think it takes a lot
spk_0 like on you mentally as well. You know, so it's, it's a mental game, just as much as it is a physical
spk_0 game for sure. And it's hard. Like I love it. I'm obsessed with it. And I'm so, so insanely
spk_0 blessed to be where I am. But yeah, whenever you're singing a ballad and you know, everybody gets
spk_0 up in the middle of your song because it's the slowest song, so they can go to the bathroom or like,
spk_0 get a snack, you know, you're just like, you know, I know. But I mean, you know, it's just like,
spk_0 you have to work really hard like not to get distracted or by the people like, you know,
spk_0 that are like falling asleep like in the middle. It's a, it's, it's just a different dynamic
spk_0 sometimes. So it's, it's, it's, it's crazy. But I mean, I have such mad respect for people
spk_0 that are doing this for years and years. Like it's like day in and day out. Like,
spk_0 ensembles, swings, alternates, I'm just, it's, it's incredible. Something that a lot of,
spk_0 um, like our, our wicked guests have talked about is like the sisterhood that comes with being
spk_0 in that show. Like with actresses play Elphaba, they, they all kind of stick together, same with
spk_0 Glinda. And especially coming into the show and rehearsing with your other five queens. And I
spk_0 would imagine your swings and standbys as well. Like, what kind of sisterhood comes from that?
spk_0 Like what is the group dynamic? Like dealing with a show like this where it's like your fight,
spk_0 fighting for the audience is attention the whole time and everything.
spk_0 I don't take you under the wing and be like, Hey, this is Broadway kid.
spk_0 I know it's crazy. I mean, you know, I was, um, man, I was really, really excited
spk_0 when I found out everybody was actually cool. You know, like, because I'm coming in. The hang will
spk_0 be good. That's great because you're not living with these people, you know, like, right six days
spk_0 a week, minimally. So, um, I will say going into the, to the rehearsal process, you,
spk_0 everybody's kind of figuring out personalities. Um, but I will say nobody has ever had, we've
spk_0 never had an e-drama. Everybody gets along. There's no divas. Like, there's no egos. Like, everyone is
spk_0 just actually really awesome together, which is great. And now like we even took a trip together,
spk_0 a couple of weeks ago, we let, we left on a Saturday night after a double went upstate to a cabin,
spk_0 all day Sunday and came back Monday before the show on Monday night. And uh, yeah, I mean,
spk_0 and it's like, and we all just like hung out and took funny pictures and like watched the finale
spk_0 of Love Island. And, you know, I mean, just like, it was great. I mean, we even had like themes,
spk_0 like in our dressing rooms, like down, like downstairs, there's, oh my gosh, there were like
spk_0 questions that we voted on every day for like, it was, yeah, it was a whole thing, it was a whole thing.
spk_0 But I mean, it's really awesome to have like such a supportive group of people, like to where,
spk_0 if you're not feeling great, you can be like, hey, like I'm just kind of off today. And then like,
spk_0 we got you, yeah, no, give you a little extra. You know, yeah, yeah, because people will ask
spk_0 off and they're like, do you actually get along? I'm like, yeah, we actually do. It's great.
spk_0 And it's kind of impossible to do the show without that relationship. Like it's six women on stage
spk_0 who can't stand each other would, it would read. It would be unwatchable. Or any six people,
spk_0 I mean, to say like six women specifically, but like any six people. Oh, no, no, but still, yeah,
spk_0 like it's such a small group of people. So if something's off, like you would, there's no
spk_0 set to hide behind. There's no nothing. It's, no, it's just you guys in your chemistry out there.
spk_0 And what has it been like entering the larger Broadway community and how does it compare to
spk_0 the music industry? You know, I don't even, I don't even feel like I'm like a part of the larger
spk_0 community yet. Like I, I mean, I'm so honest. So like I'm just like, I, yeah, I have spoken to like
spk_0 a few people on Instagram. Like so like I'm, I follow like, I mutually follow a lot of people.
spk_0 Or I'm followed by like other people in the industry that I'll follow back and connect with.
spk_0 And we'll have like small conversations and, um, you know, but as far as
spk_0 really like feeling like I'm a part of the community of Broadway outside of my show, like I don't,
spk_0 I don't think I have that. Um, and I don't think that's anybody's fault. No, it's interesting
spk_0 because joining a long runner or two, I feel like the new musicals are the ones that are kind of like
spk_0 at all of the industry events. So to be, it's an interesting perspective from a long running show.
spk_0 Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I couldn't even tell you what events you're happening.
spk_0 Like I genuinely, I genuinely wouldn't know. I didn't even know the Broadway bowling was a thing
spk_0 until it was over. Like, like, like that's how much I'm like, I have no idea. So, you know, I mean,
spk_0 it's, it's different, but I would say it's kind of the same thing in the pop world, like pop rock music.
spk_0 Like you're, it's the same. You know, I mean, you, you're able to connect on things,
spk_0 but you're in your, you're working on your artistry and your show and like, you're super supportive
spk_0 of everyone. Like I'll always go to everybody's shows. I'll go support. Like I'll presave your song.
spk_0 I'll share your music. Like I'm right. It's the same thing as on Broadway. Just I think it's a
spk_0 completely different everybody on Broadway is right here. You know, like I'm literally a couple
spk_0 streets away. I mean, I think, yeah, yes, yes, more physical. But again, we're all in the same
spk_0 time schedule. So like, you know, a couple of us are dark on Tuesdays and set of Mondays,
spk_0 but I mean, at the same time, it's kind of, you know, everybody's so exhausted from doing their show.
spk_0 The last thing you want to do is, hey, you want to get a coffee?
spk_0 Right.
spk_0 Before the show.
spk_0 No, I want to get there 31 minutes before I know before start time.
spk_0 I know. I know. So like, I really would love, I would love to be a part more of a part of the
spk_0 community, like, like, honest to God that is like a goal of mine and something I would really love
spk_0 to have. I think it's probably going to take me being in another show for me to just get to meet
spk_0 more people.
spk_0 And do you have, I was talking to Gracie Lawrence, who has a band, but is also in just in time on
spk_0 Broadway. And she was kind of like, I want to do it all. I don't want to like stick to just
spk_0 theater or stick to just music. I want to be able to do it all. Where are you falling on this spectrum
spk_0 currently?
spk_0 I am the type of person where I will pursue everything as hard as I can until something gives.
spk_0 So my thought is like, I'm an artist. I love writing music. I love touring. I love releasing
spk_0 music. But I also, I love musical theater. I love Broadway. Like, I would love to go, man,
spk_0 go put me in the little on Rouge. Like, it's great to show them. I'm like, I'm there. You know,
spk_0 like, oh my god, Kelsey.
spk_0 You can I can I can I'm manifesting here? Okay. I'm totally manifesting the campaign starts now.
spk_0 I know. Okay. So campaign. We're campaigning for Kelsey as a teen and then Kelsey is never enough.
spk_0 Oh my god.
spk_0 The campaign.
spk_0 We can make it happen.
spk_0 Okay. Great. And then if one day I get to be paying a green, I was lit up. That's what I was
spk_0 like. And if I get to be paying a green one day, I will actually pass away. I will literally
spk_0 pass away and then come back so that I can do the role. If you use an example, like the greatest
spk_0 showman, like, that's film. So and there's so much music coming into film now that I would love,
spk_0 love to be able to get into that as well. So now that I'm in New York, I'm being really intentional
spk_0 about. Dan Flessons, acting lessons. Like, I'm looking for an agent right now because I'm still,
spk_0 I mean, I have a manager. Which is amazing. And wonderful. But I don't have an agent. So things like,
spk_0 they just work. They're two different things. They work differently. So, you know, so I'm
spk_0 trying to pursue everything as hard as I can until until something gets, you know, I'll keep
spk_0 writing music. I'll keep releasing and singing on showboats. Yeah. Oh gosh. I really don't want to
spk_0 go back to that. But it's that same mentality of it. Just like I'm going to keep doing what I
spk_0 got to do. Yeah. Yeah. And it really is like a I totally believe that what's meant for me
spk_0 is going to come. So as long as I just keep working. Yes, it's not going to pass me right. So as long
spk_0 as I keep working my butt off to actually be the best version of me. So that way, like in my off
spk_0 season, I'm still working really hard. So that way, whatever my numbers call them, like, yep,
spk_0 put me on coach and ready. Okay. This is my formal request for a TikTok series of Calcies,
spk_0 Broadway Dream Roles, where you just cover. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yes. Can I tell you? Okay.
spk_0 Define gravity has been posted every time I post it. Like, Kristen Chenoweth follows me now. Right.
spk_0 And I almost I almost died. I was like, she's, you know, like royalty. And I was like, oh my gosh.
spk_0 This is a sign. It's going to happen one day. But because every time I post defying gravity,
spk_0 it's just like shoots off. But it's also because I'm just being stupid in my kitchen, like singing it.
spk_0 I'm not like, you know, I mean, like I'm just being ridiculous. So it's so fun. But yeah,
spk_0 that's a great TikTok series. Broadway Dream Roles. Okay. You kind of have talked about your business
spk_0 acumen throughout this conversation. But Kevin and I found it both very interesting that you studied
spk_0 commercial music in school. Yeah. And what does that mean? Yeah. Like, yeah, like, what is it?
spk_0 Exactly. I also like, so I studied vocal performance like, I did opera at Texas Tech for the first
spk_0 two years of school and then I transferred in the Belmont. So commercial music really just means
spk_0 not classical for them. So, you know, you can study pop, broad jazz, hip hop, like, I mean, whatever
spk_0 you want to. And then I also did a minor in music business. So for me, commercial music was more so
spk_0 like, okay, you know, we had the normal classes of, you know, the basics that you have to cover.
spk_0 But then, you know, theory, oral skills, I mean, stuff like that. But then also we had talent skills.
spk_0 Yes, technical. But then we also had classes like writing charts. Like, I can speak drummer.
spk_0 You know, I can speak guitarist and I can speak producer. Like, you know, if you,
spk_0 I was talking to my manager about this today because I had the gig coming up in November and I was
spk_0 like, if they don't have like my kind of sound guy, like, I can go do it. I know how to run a
spk_0 board. Like, I know, you know, I can tell you what the lights are supposed to look like. Like, I can
spk_0 write all my own stuff. You know, I understand what it looks like to, you know, have my own LLC and
spk_0 understand how I have to run things through and invoices and because this business is a business.
spk_0 You're an entrepreneur if you're in this business. You are. Yeah, it's exactly right. Yeah,
spk_0 and that's like, you know, things like updating my one sheet social media. That's a job. That's not
spk_0 a luxury. That's, that's a job. And, you know, making sure that your resume is like really solid,
spk_0 like good to go, which is hilarious because I had to make one the other day. I was like, what the heck do I
spk_0 do with this? Like, but it's things like that. Like, but it's a new industry for me. So I was like,
spk_0 okay, let's figure this out. You know, I just haven't had to do it. So like, you know, there's stuff
spk_0 like that. But as far as commercial music goes, it was really helpful. You know, we had songwriting
spk_0 classes, contract classes so that we understand, you know, what a contract looks like. You know,
spk_0 I mean, I'm not an attorney and I have a great one. But I can, I can understand it enough.
spk_0 You know, if that makes sense. So yeah, but I mean, I'm very, very business minded when it comes
spk_0 to this industry. Yeah, I was going to say that's a very like industry forward field of study.
spk_0 Like with musical theater schools, like, there are some where you go and you really focus on like
spk_0 the performative parts of it. And then there are some where it's like, okay, and this is how you
spk_0 like get an agent. This is how you make a resume. This is the business side of things. And I think
spk_0 it's like a missing link for theater performers. A lot of them. It's a big missing link on Broadway.
spk_0 Have a hard time recognizing that it's a business first and foremost. And I understand the
spk_0 inclination to be like, but we are artists. And this is capital A art, but it's also art at the
spk_0 most commercial level. But also you got to sing on some showboats, you know, like, yeah.
spk_0 You do. You gotta sing on some show. I'm telling you. And it's, yeah, I mean, well, and it's been like,
spk_0 I mean, especially like understanding how to advocate for yourself as well, like from a business
spk_0 perspective, you know, like, I didn't always have a manager. And I had to be able to be the person to say,
spk_0 that doesn't sound right. Let me get the double checked. Or like, actually, this, no,
spk_0 I think this is actually the minimum. And I'm doing this. Therefore, I should like, like, you have to
spk_0 learn. And it's not fun to learn. Like, honest to God, it's not fun to learn how to do because they're
spk_0 uncomfortable conversations. But you have to learn how to appropriately advocate for yourself
spk_0 from a business-minded perspective, a non-emotional perspective to then be respected by the people
spk_0 that are giving you the job. You know, and I think that's, and I totally agree, I think that's
spk_0 something that's not often talked. And it's not fun to learn in real time. As someone in the cast
spk_0 with a large following, do you feel pressure from the outside forces to help sell six the musical
spk_0 while you're in it? Yeah. I mean, now they are using my platform to run ads. I was like,
spk_0 sure. I was like, I was like, go for it. I was like, I'm there. I want to play to four. I was like,
spk_0 I was like, cool, awesome. And I will say, like, I'm very, I'm very, very grateful, you know,
spk_0 that people will come from people come from all over and they're like, oh my gosh, I'm falling,
spk_0 I take the bucket. I'm so excited to read this. I'm like, this is crazy. This is so cool. But I,
spk_0 I do my best on social media to stay as transparent as possible. Like, and to stay like just me.
spk_0 Like, yes, throughout the years, like, I've elevated because I, that's just what it's what I'm
spk_0 trying to do as an artist is elevate myself, you know? But like, I want to be the same person that
spk_0 people see in real time that they do on my pages. And so I think if I went over the top on trying
spk_0 to advertise six, people would be like, what's, it can tell us what to do, you know? Yeah. Like,
spk_0 they'd be like, why? You know, but I mean, I mean, but I like to talk about it all the time,
spk_0 you know, like, I'll do random wig prep stuff and, you know, I'll do like some makeup looks and
spk_0 things like that. But one thing that I really love about the show, like, they're actual, like,
spk_0 the management of the show is they're so insanely supportive of what I do outside of the show.
spk_0 And they, they really work well together. And they don't fight against each other. I'm really
spk_0 grateful for that. Okay, so talk to us about your solo music. You have the new single. Yeah.
spk_0 Yes, song of the summer. I mean, no, but I feel like, you know what I feel side note, you know,
spk_0 what I feel like the song of the summer actually is? Jet to holiday. No, no, but close. Do you have any
spk_0 kids? Yes, I have one daughter. How about you? How many baby?
spk_0 Ellipsies. It's my favorite. That's the song of the summer.
spk_0 For sure. No, yeah, yeah. So I released fit in, I think about a month ago. And I'm obsessed with it.
spk_0 I love it. I'm about to release an acoustic version of fit in as well. Yeah, yeah, yes, it's
spk_0 I'm really excited. But I mean, I, I was really passionate while I was writing it, um,
spk_0 about the message, like I was writing with a guy named EQ, who's a producer out of Nashville.
spk_0 And it was our first time writing together. And we were talking about, you know, what has Kelsey
spk_0 walks in sound? Because prior to this single, I've been pushed in multiple directions. Oh,
spk_0 we should sing ballads or oh, you should go straight pop them do this or do this. And like,
spk_0 nothing just didn't work. And so I was like, I'm going to figure it out and fit in as really,
spk_0 I think the first song I've released that like, I'm like, oh no, this is, this is, this is,
spk_0 this is going in the right direction. And while we were talking about that, he was like, whoa,
spk_0 so you feel like you had to like fit. And I was like, yeah. And then we started talking about school,
spk_0 like growing up. And like, I was never the cool kid. I never had a date to prom. Like, I wasn't invited
spk_0 to the parties. Like, I, like, people would kind of talk to me, but I wasn't accepted. I wasn't a part,
spk_0 you know, I didn't fit. I was the weird girl that just wanted to sing all the time. Or like, you
spk_0 know, was in theater, but wasn't really a theater kid. So like, I really didn't fit there either. Like,
spk_0 you know, I just, I just didn't fit. And for so long, I spent, I mean, even well into college,
spk_0 like, spent so much of my life trying to look a certain way, lose a certain amount of weight,
spk_0 do my hair a certain way. Like, how do I need to do my makeup? What should I wear to like make
spk_0 myself look like these people or to be invited to the party, joining to drink more, joining to drink
spk_0 less? Like, you know, I mean, you can take it super deep if you want. And, um, and it finally dawned
spk_0 on me one day. I was like, this is stupid. Like, like, this is just stupid. Like, even the cool
spk_0 kids aren't cool. Like, like, they're constantly trying to fit into something too. And so last
spk_0 we were writing it, like, that's kind of like what inspired us. And we were like, okay, well,
spk_0 what are some things that people would say to you? And I was like, okay, okay. So the very first
spk_0 line of the song is, I know that you think that you're a lot, because people are like, Kelsey,
spk_0 you're just a lot. Like, you're just, you're just a lot, you know, and you're like, why did that
spk_0 hurt my feelings? Why? Why? Why? Why did that make me sad? You know, and it's, so I started writing
spk_0 and I was like, I know that you think that you're a lot. You love until it costs you all you've got.
spk_0 You water until you're dry with everything you do. And then you say you're going to change
spk_0 for real this time. But then you follow off and fall in line. And when you look up, you find the
spk_0 dirty truth that you're standing in your own way, caring what people say. So I just let it all
spk_0 burst into flames and watch it burn. And that's the, and that was just this whole premise of like,
spk_0 I want anybody that listens to my music, whether they like my voice or not, I want them to listen
spk_0 to it and know that they belong. Like they belong with me. There's no way that you have to be, you don't
spk_0 have to be from a certain place or believe a certain thing or not believe a certain thing or,
spk_0 I want you to know that like with me, you fit. You fit because you're human.
spk_0 And that message is so theater kid core too. Yes. I know. I literally just did, I just did a
spk_0 charity event at HMI. It's a, it's a non-profit for LGBTQ youth. So that way they have resources
spk_0 for counseling, mental health, food, shelter. Like, you know, like it's all these things. We raised
spk_0 almost a million dollars in an afternoon. It was crazy. But that was, yeah. So that was one of the
spk_0 songs that I sang and the response to it was like, I think more encouraging than anything because
spk_0 it was like, yeah, you get it. Like, yeah, like you belong. Like, you do fit. Like, you really do fit.
spk_0 You know, and so I get really excited to share it with people.
spk_0 And it's just the first of many, you know, like the acoustic version will come out. I have another
spk_0 song that's going to drop in October and we're trying to do some Christmas stuff if I can find
spk_0 the time God willing. I mean, but February. A year. Yeah, I know. It's a year. My gosh, my knees are
spk_0 going to be dying. Yeah. It's like once. Gully dancing in those heels is brutal. Yeah. Yeah.
spk_0 That's amazing. Yeah. Well, let me finish this interview by saying you certainly fit in in this
spk_0 Broadway community. And I cannot wait to see you do next. So teen swing, then alpha but cherry
spk_0 picker. Yes. We're leaving the stage. Yeah. Literally. I'm like, okay, I'll think firework for you
spk_0 right now. Like, just it does. Just like put me in. I got you. Yeah. I know that'd be so,
spk_0 my gosh. So so much fun. So I mean, yeah, I know I really hope I really, really hope that I get to do
spk_0 another show like following this show and because I love it. It's so fun. It's just so fun. It's
spk_0 hard work, but it's so fun. Well, thank you so much for joining us Kelsey. Thank you so
spk_0 amazing. Oh, my god. Thanks for having me. This is a blast. And what a great way to spend a
spk_0 Sunday night. Awesome. You've been listening to sentimental men. If you enjoyed this episode,
spk_0 let us know by leaving a rating and a review on whatever platform you're using to listen.
spk_0 And to be sure you never miss a new episode, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever
spk_0 else you get your podcasts. If you're looking for a way to support the pod, you should join us on
spk_0 Patreon at patreon.com slash sent men pod. Patreon members get early releases, extended episodes,
spk_0 and more exclusive content. Special thanks to Julia de Marzo and Michaela Reynolds for our logo
spk_0 design and key art photography. To get in touch, find us on TikTok, Instagram, or X at sent men pod,
spk_0 or shoot us an email at sentmenpod at gmail.com. Till next time, I'm Quincy and I'm Kevin.
spk_0 Hello and welcome to the Cheese Wheel Podcast. Your new favorite podcast about hyper fixations
spk_0 gambled on a wheel. In this podcast, we are covering anything that we want to talk about,
spk_0 but the problem is we don't know what we're covering every week and it's something new every time.
spk_0 And I am joined by two of my co-hosts, Andrew de Wolfe. Hello, hello, I'm happy to be here.
spk_0 And Liz Eston. Hello, also very happy to be here. And this show is weekly and every time someone
spk_0 else brings something to the table, that's a little bent. We're going to be covering anything and
spk_0 everything, including ChapelRones new album, Spy Kids, and the film version of Waitress. We're
spk_0 today and you're going to see the vast arrays of interests we might have. Andrew, what might be one of your choices?
spk_0 Oh, I mean, I could pick something like, I don't know, famously bad movie Miami connection.
spk_0 And we could have a good time watching something that I love that's kind of terrible.
spk_0 Or I could pick something incredibly good like like Jacob's Ladder, which is my favorite movie of all time.
spk_0 Incredible. And Liz, what about you?
spk_0 Oh, no, I could go something like a walk hard, the Deweycock story,
spk_0 which I can talk about my favorite comedy, since Justin let me do it on the old podcast.
spk_0 Well, funny to bring that up. In case you're wondering what happened to me as a little
spk_0 cheese, we ended that show, but the show's still here and living on in season one. So if you want
spk_0 to go back and listen to our backlog, that's still here. But right now, we're just the cheese wheel.
spk_0 Please keep on listening. We got a lot of fun stuff to come and we hope that you like what we're doing.