We got the opportunity to catch up with Jetty Bones frontwoman, Kelc Galluzzo, earlier this year. For some reason that interview was deleted, so you get to read this twice. Out of all of the people all the people I've had the privilege to interview, Kelc has the most wholesome, selfless motivation for creating music.
"I just want people to know that they are important. Their story is immaculate. Their worth is substantial. Their struggles make them human. You’re not alone - you’re perfect."
We got the chance to talk about her music, her inspiration, and Fred Flintsone's feet. Check it out!
Rapid-fire Questions
1. Why did Fred Flintstone have to power his car with his feet? Why didn’t that dude just ride a dinosaur or something?
Exercise is key. Stay fit, stay stoked.
2. This weather, huh?
Sorry. I control the weather with my emotions.
3. What did you grow up listening to?
Everything my mother asked me to do. And blink-182.
4. Weirdest thing that has made you cry?
Goodbye, Earl by the Dixie Chicks. Also, pictures of teacup pomeranians.
5. What underrated band do you think everyone should listen to?
Colly
6. My friend Taylor is a traveling comedian and is on the road often. Any advice for him?
Sometimes when people are quiet, it’s just because they’re actually listening to what you have to say. The Whole Foods buffet is by weight and mac n cheese is HEAVY.
7. What band could you beat in a street race?
Heart Attack Man
8. Which Everybody Loves Raymond character do you think is the cutest?
Marie. Obviously.
9. What did you get in trouble for the most as a kid?
Talking during class and playing music too loud.
10. What fictional location would you most like to play at?
Hogwarts, obviously.
Isaac Gutierrez For Born Loser: How did you first get involved in music?
Jetty Bones: Thank you, MySpace. I had a DIY project that I posted little bedroom demos on. From this, my first bandmates found me and we started Delta Delta!. Being 15 was a blast.
BL: Give us some background on Jetty Bones, and how the band got started.
JB: After several years of bouncing around in different projects, I decided it was time to build something sustainable, so I started a solo project to avoid the risk of losing members and having to start over. Luckily, I’ve found an amazing group of friends to help me bring this project to life at the live shows. That family dynamic is so important to me and none of the accomplishments over the past two years would have been possible without them.
BL: Can you tell us where the name Jetty Bones came from? (I know you get asked this all the time, but it’s such a good story!)
JB: This project is named after the most badass woman I’ve ever met, Betty Jones. During a difficult time in my life, she told me a story about how she broke out of her all girls catholic school by hitchhiking away from a beach day in her bikini. I remember telling her that I “felt bad even littering a piece of gum” and I couldn’t believe how brave that was. She responded by saying “If you aren’t happy where you are, you go somewhere else.” I thought this was an amazing lesson about making sure you are always embracing change and the ability that we have to grow. A lot of the project’s material focuses around that idea, so it was a good fit. I’ll never forget her sister chiming in by saying “..and all the girls said that there would be ‘nothing but her jetty bones left’ when the nuns got ahold of her.” To me, that meant that taking the risk to better yourself, fight the expectations and break free from your circumstance to find a better life is always worth it. So, pack your bikini - it might be your escape plan.
BL: Do you remember the exact moment you realized that you wanted to pursue music?
JB: I always enjoyed music, but there was one defining moment where I realized how important it can be to other people. After playing a song that I wrote about one of my close friends committing suicide, someone reached out to me telling me that she was planning to do the same - and seeing us was the last thing on her bucket list. She wrote me a long message and told me that hearing that song was a sign for her and she decided to try again. This was the moment that I realized sharing your art can (and should) be more than self seeking. That’s when I realized that if I can help even one person feel less alone, and therefor the tiniest bit of hope, then that’s what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. That burden never left my heart. I still want to dedicate my life to that kind of outreach. I write songs to help myself process things that I’m struggling with, but I share them in hopes of alleviating the isolating feelings we frequently experience in our emotional and mental struggles. I don’t want anyone to feel alone, because we never are.
BL: Your most recent album is named “-”. Where did the title come from?
JB: A hyphen is used to “join words to indicate that they have a combined meaning or that they are linked” or to “indicate a missing or implied element”. Similarly, the symbol is used on gravestones to represent, well, your entire life in one little dash. If you listen to the album, the first and last song are completely connect. The songs in between tell the story of how I got from one place to the other, and the struggles in the process. I decided to use the symbol instead of the written word because I want people to take their own interpretation and develop their own attachments with the songs. Basically, I hope that it can symbolize something for them that isn't necessarily written out, just like the title.
BL: Tell us a bit about the album
JB: This album to me is a lot more personal than previous releases. I used to last EP, Old Women, to communicate how important it is to be vulnerable to really connect with people. This new record, - , encapsulates the struggles I had to overcome while I was learning how to do this. It’s funny how even when you know something is important, it still takes work to cultivate it in your own life.
BL: Are there any songs you’d like to highlight from “-” that really capture the sound or feel you were going for?
JB: I don’t walk into an album, or even a song, with an end goal in mind. What I can say, is that I’m really happy with the overall presentation of this record from start to finish. I worked with Dylan Mattheisen on developing the tracks to record with Brett Romnes. Both of them were very invested in helping me create something that told a whole story as a collective idea and I couldn't be more thankful for that. Picking one track to shine is like picking one chapter out of a novel. They all exist as a whole book to me.
BL: Was there a main inspiration for the album?
JB: Everything I write comes directly from personal experiences. I was really inspired by various conversations I had with people on tour to open up about my past trauma. There were so many people that felt connected to the song Innocent Party from our previous release, but what most of them don’t realize is that by opening up, they gave me the bravery to do the same. I’m not being vague anymore. They taught me that my trauma doesn’t define me and that I am so more than what someone else did to me. Now, I’m going to make sure they know that applies to them too.
BL: How does “-” differ from your previous release “Old Women”?
JB: It definitely implements more synth and pop elements. Honestly, it sounds more like most of what I demo out in my bedroom, the sound I was too nervous to share because I wasn’t sure anyone would listen. To me, it sounds more honest because I worried less about what people would want to hear and placed more care into how I wanted it to sound.
BL: Do you often revisit your old stuff?
JB: Oh, on a weekly basis. I’m always scouring around for old ideas to develop and resurrect when they become relevant to current life situations.
BL: What do you hope your listeners take away from this album?
JB: I don’t want people to leave this record thinking that I’m damaged or that recovery is unreachable. I want them to walk away from this story knowing that they have the ability to breach a better place in their lives and that is what that album is trying to relay. It might get lost in some of the darker themes, but it’s about the journey, and it ends in a much more positive place than it starts.
BL: What is the most important thing for you when it comes to creating?
JB: Being honest and vulnerable. I use those words a lot, but it would be unfair for me to let people attach to something that isn't genuine. We are all humans, just trying to figure it out together.
BL: What are your ideal conditions for creating? Do you have a place or time?
JB: It hits me when it hits me, but I can’t write around other people. My house, in my little studio cove, when the sun is down - that’s when the darkness comes out. That’s when I feel safe and let my demons claw their way out.
BL: Do you ever get nervous before shows?
JB: Every. Single. Show. Nervousness and excitement go hand in hand for me.
BL: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
JB: I put Tiger Balm all over my neck so that I can move it the next day. I warm up, pray, sing a song with Aubree to get the vibes right, and then take a few minutes to listen to whatever is currently putting my head in the right place. Pop a honey drop into my water bottle and do some jumping jacks. Remind myself that this is not about me at all, and then go.
BL: What has been your favorite onstage moment?
JB: I remember at one show in Boston, there was a very specific group of girls singing along to the end of Innocent Party. Their story isn’t mine to tell, but I think about it often. Oh, and wearing a hot dog suit at Bled Fest. Maybe you had to be there.
BL: What do you want to accomplish with or through your music?
JB: I just want people to know that they are important. Their story is immaculate. Their worth is substantial. Their struggles make them human. You’re not alone - you’re perfect.
BL: What are you currently working on, and what can we expect to see from Jetty Bones in the near future?
JB: I’m constantly writing and constantly creating. Honestly? Right now I’m working on growing personal relationships and my mental health in general. I’m sure that will find a way to manifest into whatever the next step on this journey is. I promise you this - no matter what, I’m here to stay.
BL: To wrap things up, do you want our readers to know about Jetty Bones or your upcoming album?
JB: I am not in this for me. Please talk to me at a show. I hope you can utilize our shows as a safe place to be exactly who you are. If you’re in the middle of a struggle, if you’re on the other side of a bad time, or even if you’re just proud of how far you’ve come, we want to meet you wherever you are (physically and mentally). I want to hear your stories because they are never a burden, but always a blessing.
