Lonely Boy: A Conversation with Brogan Kelby from Blindlove
Photo courtesy of Blindlove’s Facebook page.
With a sharp frankness, Blindlove’s first two singles, “ I Wanna Be Okay” and “Anthem For Broken People,” take on the precarious task of combining confession and solace. While the universal theme of “You are not alone” is nothing new to rock music, it still proves fresh for post-pandemic audiences. The Salt Lake City quartet of Gavin Allien, Brogan Kelby, Collin Drake, and Tom Durrant have created a raw sincerity that built a loyal following despite having yet to release a full-length album. Weekly live streams and free concerts pushed Blindlove’s first single onto alt radio airwaves with enough momentum to propel the band’s second release to follow suit. Both singles address lead singer and primary songwriter Brogan Kelby’s struggles with mental health, a subject we discussed at length when speaking to Kelby this past October. Blindlove maintains an honest, emotional, and open-ended conversation about the difficulties their fans and themselves have experienced. That conversation will undoubtedly continue on their first album when the time comes.
AM: Four guys from Salt Lake. How did you start playing music together?
Brogan Kelby: I was a solo artist for quite a while. Collin, our guitarist, and I have been friends for a long time. We went to middle school together. His band would fill in when I needed them. He and I kept playing together. Over the years, we have had several different members. We finally landed on the four we have now, and that is when we became Blindlove.
AM: Since you started as a solo artist, has playing music professionally always been your goal?
Photo courtesy of Blindlove’s Facebook page.
BK: I know it is a cliche thing to say, but I have been obsessed with music since I can remember. You have to be a little messed up in the head to be a musician. Everything is “Oh, I can turn that into a song, or that would be a good lyric or a cool sound effect.” Growing up, when I saw bands live or in music videos, I would think, “I want to do that.” I do not fit in anywhere else.
AM: Both your first and second singles have gotten a lot of attention from radio stations around the country. How does that feel for you?
BK: It is a weird place to be in. Our first single, “I Wanna be Okay,” I did not intend to share. I had written that for myself. I shared it with the band, we gave it to our management, and they wanted to release it. About a month later, it was on the radio. This was in 2020, so everything was shut down. We were a new band, and this was our debut single, but we could not perform. The idea behind “Anthem for a Broken People” was “I am so sick of feeling awful.” I said, “I am the anthem for broken people.” It was cheesy, but you know what? We are going to turn it into a song. We got told our first single was too much of a ballad, so with our second, we wanted it to punch you in the gut. We even did that with the music video. We went to a rage room. If “I Wanna be Okay” was being stuck in this room, then “Anthem for a Broken People” was going to destroy everything in that room.
AM: Since you did not intend to share “I Wanna be Okay,” how did it feel to have something so personal being heard by thousands of people across the country?
BK: I wrote the song from a dark place where I felt alone and disconnected. I am a very social person. When I could not be around people, that put me in a bad mindset. The sound is a throwback to the early 2000s bands that got me through my childhood. It was very personal, so when it hit the radio so quickly, I braced myself, but there was this outpouring of love from people who had felt the same way. All the messages and emails we received were the most amazing part of the experience. People felt comfortable enough to share what they were going through and how the song had helped them. I was standing on the edge of not knowing if I should put something that brutally honest out into the world. It was really cool to see how it connected with people.
AM: You have said that “Anthem for a Broken People” was written about struggling to come to terms with childhood trauma. Is the subject of mental health an essential throughline in your music?
BK: Yes, big time. We decided on Blindlove because it encompasses everything we want the band to be about - unconditionally loving people’s traumas and everything they have been through. People that feel like outcasts or that they do not belong anywhere. That is the way the other band members and I have felt our entire lives. When people meet us and come to our shows, we want them to feel like they have somewhere to belong. On the flip side, the name also references how love can leave you blinded. People who were supposed to love you hurt you and did horrible things. The name gives us a platform to talk about all of those subjects. Many of our songs are about experiencing childhood abuse and having to deal with how that affects us as adults.
AM: Going back to your first single breaking during the pandemic. When that happened, you could not perform or tour. How do you think that has affected the development of your career?
BK: The past few years have really changed the music industry. When the shutdown happened, social media was the only thing people had. We were so used to playing live. We love to meet fans and have that in-person experience, but that was completely taken away. We had this very personable song, though. We felt stuck. There was still this disconnect while the industry was changing. The band and our team are constantly coming up with new ideas to navigate this era of what is big on Tiktok. We are still trying to figure out how to connect with people authentically. As a new band, it is a weird place to be in.
AM: You are doing weekly live streams. Did that start because of the lack of performances during the lockdown?
BK: We have been writing nonstop for the past few years. There was so much we wanted to share, but we did not have the opportunities for exposure. Our team was hesitant to release another song without being able to put us on stage. Since this thing stopped us from connecting with fans in that traditional way, we decided to do the live stream once a week. We want fans to see what it is like to be with the whole band. Sometimes we hang out answering questions; other times, we will perform songs. We will go over plans for live shows and get feedback. It has been a cool way for us to connect with people again.
Photo courtesy of Blindlove’s Facebook page.
AM: The avenues social media has created are not going away now that live music is back. Has combining those with traditional performances fundamentally changed how you form a relationship with your fans?
BK: Definitely. The introverted side of me has always been scared of social media. But letting fans in and allowing them to get to know us has been a positive experience. When fans come to shows, it feels like we already know them. They have been on the live streams. We have banter and jokes. If you are vulnerable and genuine online, there will be people who attach and make fun of you, but you will also connect with people you normally would not be able to. We have fans around the world interacting with us. It is so cool knowing they are there.
AM: It has been interesting to see artists changing how they interact with fans.
BK: Initially, letting people into our personal space felt creepy, but it turned into a cool thing. Instead of just fans, we are making friends. Every band has branding and plays shows, which is how people used to think of you. Now you are a whole person. That can be scary, but overall it is a really good thing.
AM: As a band, have you collectively set boundaries for things that are not shared?
BK: Yes. The band is very close. We know a lot about each other, but we understand what stays private. As human beings, we deserve that. Everyone should have boundaries in their life.
AM: Have you had any instances of fans crossing the line?
Photo courtesy of Blindlove’s Facebook page.
BK: We have had to block a few people. We are very appreciative when someone feels that connected to us, but it can get to a point where boundaries are crossed, and it is too much.
AM: You have two singles out now. Both have done well. What are the next steps?
BK: We have a whole album ready. But the music industry has changed so much. Bands are putting out singles to see what will stick. If it gets to a point where it makes sense for us to release a whole album, great! In the world that we are in now, a full album in someone’s face is almost overwhelming. Everyone just wants to hear the next song or a little clip. You have to grab someone’s attention in fifteen seconds. So our focus is to keep pushing songs out. Now that things are somewhat normal again, we can perform. We want to show what we can do live. No tours yet. We are still trying to figure out how that will work with only two singles. We will keep releasing songs to see what sticks enough to put us on that ultimate platform.
This article has been edited and condensed.
