Kelsy Karter & The Heroines is made up of four British boys and an Aussie front woman. They’ve been touring the world for the past few years and are getting ready to release their new album, Love Made Me Do It, on January 31st, which is highly influenced by 80s glam rock, punk, and soul. The band is known for its live experience, bringing true rock ’n’ roll spirit, theatrics, and authenticity to the stage.
INFLUENCES
Oasis: “Rock n’ Roll Star”
(KELSY) This song has been the soundtrack to the last few years of my life. I get to wake up everyday and tour the world with my best mates. I have it all, and this song represents that for me. Tonight I’m a rock ’n’ roll star!
Aerosmith: “Cryin’”
(KELSY) This was one of the songs that made me find my own voice. It’s a rock song, it’s a soul song, it’s a ballad, it’s a love song. It’s 6/8. It’s all the things that make up my favorite type of song, and I wouldn’t be the singer I am today without influences like this one.
The Four Tops: “I Can’t Help Myself”
(TOMMY) This embodies the Motown sound, which has had a massive influence on my life and musical taste growing up.
Descendants: “Cool to Be You”
(SEBASTIAN) And most songs on that album, hearing it was the first time I realized that punk rock could be fun and fast, but could also have harmony and melody with pop song structures. I was 11 when I first heard it. The whole record was a big influence on me.
Mike Peters/The Alarm: “Breathe”
(PEACH) It’s this incredible uptempo, stoic, love song. But whether it’s an ode to rock ’n’ roll, a significant other, or the very essence of life itself is up to the listener, making for an absolute crowd rousing belter of relatability.
HONORABLE MENTIONS (ENTIRE BAND):
David Bowie: “Life on Mars?”
The most emotive and genius chord progression ever.
Bon Jovi: “Always” (Live at Wembley 1995)
Richie’s second guitar solo, with Jon riffing lines and the whole band jamming out at 1000% is just utter perfection.
ESSENTIAL SONGS BY KELSY KARTER & THE HEROINES:
“Laser to the Heart” from Love Made Me Do It
This was the first song written for the new album and arguably the catalyst for the whole record. It’s a big, electric, 80s inspired stadium rock song about the intensity of obsession and love—a perfect representation of this era we’re in and The Heroines live experience. It’s theatre, it’s romance, it’s rock ’n’ roll.
“God Knows I’ve Tried” from Missing Person
I (Kelsy) wrote this song in about 45 minutes 6 years ago when I was in a really dark place, and it’s still one of our most popular songs to play. If we’re playing to a new audience, this is the song that wins them over. It’s one of our more soul and blues influenced tunes, which is the music that built me.
“Devil on My Shoulder” from Missing Person
This song will never not be in our set. It’s our most streamed song on Spotify and for sure one of our faves. We even have a couple of different versions of it. The music video is directed by our loveliest frontwoman, Kelsy Karter.
“Liquor Store on Mars” from Missing Person
This song encapsulates all the things that The Heroines do best. There’s a poem to start that goes into a heartbreaking story, with multiple guitar solos and musical moments. We end all our shows with this song and have an additional instrumental that we do live. The only shitty part of performing this song is that it means the gig is over, and that’s always a damn shame. If we’re doing a festival and have to cut our set, this song is never tampered with.
“Alone” (a cover by Heart)
It’s no secret that this song is permanently associated with our band now. After going viral for our cover of it online and then landing the Billy Idol tour from it, we continue to play it all over the world.
Kelsy Karter: vocals
Tommy Gent: bass
Matt Peach: guitar
Sebastian Boyse: drums
KELSY KARTER & THE HEROINES ON TOUR:
1/30 — Los Angeles, CA — The Roxy
2/4 — Phoenix, AZ — Rebel Lounge
2/6 — San Antonio, TX — Paper Tiger
2/8 — Austin, TX — Parish
2/9 — Dallas, TX — Dadas
2/11 — Nashville, TN — The Exit/In
2/13 — Philadelphia, PA — The Foundry
2/14 — Washington, DC — Pearl Street
2/16 — Boston, MA — Middle East
2/18 — New York, NY — Gramercy
2/20 — Detroit, MI — Lager House
2/21 — Chicago, IL — Cobra Lounge
2/22 — Milwaukee, WI — Cactus Club
2/23 — Minneapolis, MN — 7th St Entry
2/26 — Denver, CO — The Marquee Theatre
2/27 — Salt Lake City, UT — Kilby Court
3/1 — Seattle, WA — Funhouse
3/4 — San Francisco, CA — Cafe Du Nord
