Kelsey Blackstone’s relationship with music has spanned her entire life. From early piano lessons and cello rehearsals to a cross-country move from Boston, Massachusetts, to Nashville, Tennessee, music has remained both her anchor and her ambition.
“I started classical piano when I was 5 years old,” she says. “I always loved performing—I always loved being on stage and making the music. Those things were always very important to me growing up.”
That pull toward performance quickly expanded beyond a single instrument. Alongside her classical training, Blackstone immersed herself in singing, theater, and any musical opportunity she could find, gravitating toward the stage as both a creative outlet and a sense of refuge. For a self-described sensitive child, music became more than practice or performance; it became her life.
In Blackstone’s current career, she is embracing a mix of soul-pop and groovy rock. Although it is far away from her classical upbringing, the lessons that genre taught her still stick with her. “[Classical music] taught me about the discipline and dedication that are very important if you are trying to pursue a career as an independent artist,” Blackstone said. “It’s not the same necessarily as sitting down for hours and practicing scales, but it’s still about those small steps and putting the hours in.”
She continued, “I perform as a solo artist for some time, but for most of the time and for all of mt music that is released, I perform with my band.”
Blackstone’s now 4-piece band started as a 7-piece when Blackstone resided in Boston, Massachusetts. “[Having seven members] was super fun, but was obviously a lot to manage,” she admits.
Blackstone and her three other band members all went to the Berkeley School of Music. Although they were not close in college, they all eventually moved to Nashville on their own and reconnected after their moves. “We (the band) just became such close friends, and we started the band after establishing that,” she says.
The move to Nashville proved beneficial for Blackstone not only musically but personally. While she looks back on her time in Boston with gratitude, the shift in creative environment ultimately reignited her sense of inspiration.
“I think in Boston I sometimes felt uninspired,” she explains. “I had really great support there and memories I’m very grateful for, but the scene could feel cliquey and cutthroat. In Nashville, I’ve experienced a completely different mentality. People are welcoming; they want you to succeed. Of course, there are people everywhere who want something from you, but here I’ve found that many people are willing to help even when there’s nothing in it for them. Everyone understands that one person’s success doesn’t limit anyone else’s.”
Nashville has also played a key role in Blackstone’s growth as a co-writer, a practice she has devoted significant time to over the past year. Many of her releases share the spotlight with another artist, reflecting a collaborative approach that has become central to her creative process. “At the start of 2025, I set out to do as many co-writes as possible,” she says. “I was doing three to five a week for about four months. It was very intense as I was extremely booked and busy, but I felt like I needed to put myself through that experience to really hone my skills as a songwriter and define my creative voice.”
Despite her love for co-writing, Blackstone’s latest release places her squarely at the center. “See You Never” is a powerful friendship-breakup anthem that captures the emotional fallout of growing apart from someone once deeply close. Written with Curtis Heimburger, the guitarist in her band, the track contains a louder, guitar-driven sound, one that is a heavier shift from the rest of Blackstone’s catalog.
“We wrote this song very quickly—maybe in 30 or 40 minutes,” Blackstone says. “We had both recently gone through pretty traumatic friendship breakups, and we were just exchanging stories. It was really cathartic to write.” Originally a longer track, “See You Never” was later refined in the studio. “Once we started playing it with the band, we realized it was stronger when it was shorter. It packed more of a punch that way.”
Even as Blackstone continues to prioritize original releases, she has also found unexpected success through releasing covers. While some artists might shy away from covers, Blackstone instead embraces them as a creative and strategic tool.
“I think if you put a creative spin on a cover, reinvent it, and really make it your own, it’s a great way to show off your creativity. It’s also a really viable way to get listeners to hear about you and your music, especially in the era of social media and streaming,” she says.
She continues, “Another part of that is the idea that you should be putting out music as often as possible. For a lot of independent artists who also have to work day jobs, sometimes it’s easier, and honestly smarter, to put out a cover if you know your next original release isn’t going to be ready for a few months. It helps keep the algorithm fed and happy.”
Blackstones most streamed song is currently her cover of Harry Styles’s “As It Was.” “I didn’t put it out thinking it would do badly, but I had no expectation of it doing as well as it has,” she says with a laugh. “I kinda wish, of course, it was one of my original songs that was my most-streamed song on Spotify, and we will work towards that for 2026.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Blackstone hopes to release her first EP. “I’ve never put out a full collection of songs—it’s only ever been singles,” she confesses. “To be honest, that’s all I’ve been able to afford. Releasing music is expensive, and marketing it afterward is expensive too.”
Still, whatever comes next, Blackstone knows it will stay true to the approach that has guided her throughout the year: to “make music with my friends, for my friends.”
Photo taken by Sammie Gaynor | Interviewed on December 3, 2025
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