Rising Aotearoa / New Zealand-based singer-songwriter Jude Kelly shares her debut EP, The Seven Spirits Of Her, out now via The Orchard. LISTEN HERE.

Crafted over the past two years with producers Josh Fountain (BENEE, Ruel) and Devin Abrams, The Seven Spirits of Her chronicles a journey of love, loss, growth, accomplishment, and resilience – a coming-of-age story that’s only just begun for the burgeoning artist. A refined sonic palette of folk-tinged pop provides the foundation for Jude’s poetic lyricism and inimitable vocals, harnessing an authentic charm akin to the likes of HAIM, Florence + The Machine or Kacey Musgraves.

From a young age, Jude Kelly turned to songwriting as an outlet to process questions of identity and selfhood. Now at 25, her signature narrative-driven world-building reflects Jude’s fierce independence, coming to grips with the world on her own terms. Un-afraid of exposing her own fragility, each song on The Seven Spirits Of Her uncovers a different character within herself, threaded together like chapters of a memoir.

Speaking on the project, Jude shares, “The Seven Spirits of Her has become almost an audio biopic. Each song harnesses a different story that taps into an experience or a part of us – whether it’s love, contentment, being confused with life, or growing up too quickly, one cannot be without the other. In a sweet way, it’s questions I asked when I was 15, answered. These stories have been for me, but I hope when people listen to the EP they too can see the beauty in the ugly.”

Joining recent singles ‘Bonnet Bunny’, ‘Siren Song’, and ‘Clarence’ on the EP are four brand new songs, including today’s focus ‘Lucky’. Jude continues, “Each song on this record is a very honest track but ‘Lucky’ is a very simple bare song of finding contentment with ourselves and, coming from our end of the world in Aotearoa, that we have a choice or, in cliche to the song, lucky to have a dream. We’re all just trying and working towards our own things. No one cares but you so like have fun and catch yourself if you need a moment to recoup.”

Though only first debuting in late 2024, Jude Kelly is equipped with the confidence of an artist who has honed her craft and is undoubtedly making her presence felt. Her breakout single ‘Clarence’ caught the attention of Coldplay’s Chris Martin during his recent trip to New Zealand, and her releases have garnered acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Live Nation’s Ones To Watch, Coup De Main, 10 Magazine and more.

Following last year’s sold-out Auckland debut headline show and Rhythm & Vines Festival set, plus recent support for Sienna Spiro at Pleasure Club in Sydney Jude’s live performance prowess continues later this month with two upcoming headline shows in Auckland and Wellington.