20-year old Jake Kelly is an English-born Irish singer, songwriter and musician who has packed a lifetime of experiences into his very young 20 years of age, having lived in England, Ireland, China, Vietnam, and now currently residing in Germany, and his new EP The Mandolin Tapes is a culmination of the diverse cultures and world views he has amassed from his travels.
Jake recorded the EP mostly on the mandolin hence the name ‘The Mandolin Tapes’, and wrote the songs to chronicle a long period of self-reflection for him, after big changes in his life, and according to the Irishman, “writing and recording this record served as a way to dive into my mind, navigating cloudy thoughts to find some clarity”. Whether its about coming to terms with things he can’t control, or finding and losing love, or looking for direction in his life, Jake wears his heart on his sleeves throughout the record.
Speaking about how The Mandolin Tapes EP came together, and his inspiration for the project, Jake Kelly says, “This EP was written and recorded after I moved to Germany, from Ireland, which was a devastating transition that took some time to move past. I fell into a bout of depression and began drinking a lot. In order to try and understand and eventually overcome my hopelessness, regret and longing, I wrote ‘The Mandolin Tapes’.
By focusing my time and energy on these songs, in close to isolation, I was able to get over some of these issues and find more passion in life. It took me quite some time to get out of a seemingly life-long rut. Music has always played an important role in that journey, and I think it will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I can only hope”.
Listen to The Mandolin Tapes EP below:
