Meet Libba Kelly | Singer-Songwriter & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Libba Kelly and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Libba, why did you pursue a creative career?
Music has always been my passion. Ever since I was a young girl I loved how the melody of ballad to the bass drum of a rock song made me feel. Not only for myself, but for others as well. Music is universal and I wanted to be apart of that. Music touches people in so many different ways and at the end of it all is healing for everyone. I wanted my music and my voice to represent that feeling. I know that it is a tough industry to be in, but the overall goal for my career is that my music touches those who need it most.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always had a love affair with musical theater. Having a story that is driven though acting and song is really special. There’s a lot of drama to it and it’s a lot of fun to perform. I credit musical theater for awakening a love for music – the memorable melodies and sharp, emotional lyrics that transport you. I chose to study music and really invest in learning about different genres. It’s truly a passion for me and I can’t imagine doing anything else. I had just moved back from Nashville as we were emerging from the doom and gloom of COVID, and live music was starting to come back. Initially I was thinking I would find a keyboardist and go from there. But I stumbled onto a Facebook group of musicians and posted there and ended up with a bass player. He talked me into forming a band — and together we did! It all started on Facebook, and it’s been a great resource for us. We all met and played for a while. But through schedules and other commitments, changes were made along the way. But we’ve got a great group now. We are all very passionate about our music and really enjoy collaborating on building songs, tinkering with sounds and creating
something new. We enjoy each other and share a deep love for the indie music culture. The road we’ve chosen isn’t easy, but we are fulfilled by the work and are having a great time sharing it. I think the biggest challenge is managing my own negative thoughts and doubts. Even after enjoying
external positive feedback, I find that I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to self-talk. But I know that this negativity is manufactured. I push through it to perform and truly love what I do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
San Francisco is an unforgettable city full of possibilities and beautiful landscapes. Of course for any first time visitors I would suggest at least 3-4 days of a visit to bask in as much of this amazing city as they can! I would drive them up and down the crazy hills to the famous sites, of course, such as Palace of the Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, etc. After we see all of the monumental structures the city is known for, then I would take them to the local sites. There are too many special spots in the city, but one of my favorites in the Mission District – especially Valencia street. Delicious foods, great drinks, authentic art, and adorable stores all in a few block radius from one another. No matter rain or shine, that district always is filled with people and memories!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m so thankful for my family. They support me unconditionally and are on the journey with me. When it came time to apply to college, I saw many friends give up on their creative dreams to study something their parents thought would provide for a more stable future. But my family understood my passion for music and encouraged me to major in it. And it was a wonderful music education, it really opened my eyes to many aspects of creating, performing and production. My family are my biggest fans, and their encouragement means the world to me.

Website: http://www.heyitslibba.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyitslibba/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heyitslibba

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyitslibba/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfzscXLPUqsHVtdoaNzP5FA

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heyitslibba

Image Credits
Prismic Photography: @prismicphotography Jarrod Hoyer: @jarrodhoyer