PLAYLIST: CURATED BY JUDE KELLY

The Seven Spirits Of Her is out now!

Image: Matt Hurley.

Rising Aotearoa / New Zealand-based singer-songwriter, Jude Kelly has unveiled her debut EP, The Seven Spirits Of Her. To celebrate, the singer has curated an exclusive playlist for MILKY full of tracks she was listening to when recording the collection of songs.

"The Seven Spirits of Her has become almost an audio biopic," Kelly says of the EP. "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."

Writing and recording can be heavily influenced by what you listen to…or it cannot, everything is subjective…mostly. In my case, while I write and record, I don't listen to much music or if I do, it's very different to what I make. My list below  is what I listened to throughout the creation of the record. For the purpose of themes, this is also a ‘which song belongs where’ and next to the songs I listened to, will be a song off my record I think matches the energy.

ST VINCENT - FLEA

Jude’s pick: Siren Song

“I'm just like a hungry little flea” St Vincent's voice comes in, it curls my toes and then the bass line goes and I’m moving my shoulders in a march-like manner. So inspired by St Vincent. Feels like doing the dance at the end of Saltburn through the house naked. 

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS - GALLEON SHIP

During a 2-week recording trip in Hawkes Bay Feb 2024, my accommodation was a 40 minute trip from the studio. I’d queue up an album to listen through on the drive. Ghosteen was the album I chose on a particularly heavy day - I think I just weeped to this for 40 minutes. It’s so beautiful and it was a great ‘I love music’ moment. 

TYLER, THE CREATOR - LUMBERJACK

Jude’s pick: Monster Truck

Another record that was listened to on that 40 min drive home. I tend to stray away from listening to any music remotely similar to mine when writing and recording. 

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE - FREE

Jude’s pick: Clarence

In hindsight, I think this song inspired me a lot with the record. The rush, the lure, the freedom, the dance.  I saw Florence live in 2023 just before locking in on my EP, I think this influence can be heard in my song Clarence. 

OKAY KAYA - THE WANNABE

Jude’s pick: Married to Her Death

Like a massage for your ears - great for the end of the day after 8 hours of recording. 

SUPERVIOLET - BIG SONGBIRDS DON’T CRY

Jude’s pick: Lucky

Super cool artist I found during that period of keeping the music I listen to far from what I am making. 

MGMT - BUBBLEGUM DOG

This was an album that came out mid my recording and I think this was just so great - one of my top albums of the year, and while I made the record. 

BRIGHT EYES - BELLS AND WHISTLES

New album from a favourite band deserved its repeats - this one is particularly bedazzled. 

THE DARE - GIRLS

Jude’s pick: Bonnet Bunny

Like awesome - I’d call this the ’switch off’ track. 

THE BREEDERS - DO YOU LOVE ME NOW?

Jude’s pick: Like You

At the end of making an EP or Album, once everything is mostly recorded, you are working on the mixes, and the date of release is set - it feels transitional… well it certainly did for me and this song was one of the songs I clung to and still haven’t let go. 

The Seven Spirits Of Her is out now!