Kelly Sloan

It’s very hard to slap a label on Kelly Sloan’s music. It’s folk, it’s rock, it’s pop, it’s a bit country. Another fine example of an Ottawa artist who’s influences are vast and varied.

Kelly grew up in the Ottawa area, but also spent several years in the musical melting pot of Halifax, so you can hear a distinct Eastern influence in her music as well. If you’re looking for some real Canadian street cred, not only was she popular in the Halifax scene, but she played at a launch for Anne Murray’s book. Say what you will, if Anne Murray likes you, you’ve got it going on. - Ottawa Citizen

I didn't go looking for it. I didn't even know it was there. Sometimes, things just happen, and happen it did. The subject of discussion, my fate's destination for the evening, was http://www.kellysloan.ca/. This inviting port is one of those welcome stops you happen upon during a venture through the dotcom ocean of deadwood. In the era of electronic disconnection, this artist has the ability to make her personality pop off the page through her words. This made me stay long enough to listen to the music.

The first song I randomly chose to listen to is called "Sometimes", off the self-titled 2010 release. I really appreciate the authority in the voice, and I like the raw sound of the recording. I can imagine that this is exactly what it would sound like live. I followed this with "Hard Times", a slower paced, yet no less emphatic vocal statement. Again, utilizing the raw, edgy, unpolished quality of the instrumentation. I decided to turn my attention to the 2008 offering Always Changes, to see if there might be some truth to that. I started this one at the start as the artist probably intended, with "Hurricane". This track actually sounds cleaner than the more recent record, but it contains the same feeling. I was again impressed with the noticeable, demanding presence of the vocals, even though they are quiet in relation to the lead guitar. It reminds me very much of how the unassuming Jeff Tweedy of Wilco commands control of the song without effort. After experiencing the imagery brought upon by the lyrics of "Sophia", I was sold.

I was pleased to read that the 2010 album Kelly Sloan was co-produced by herself along with Brian and Dale Murray, formerly of The Guthries, where Matt Mays got his start. Do yourself a favor and pay http://www.kellysloan.ca/ a visit. - Anything But Nickleback

Pugwash’s Chatterbox Café was packed from wall to wall the evening of Saturday, Sept. 13. Even the patio and parking lot were full of people enjoying their drinks and each other’s company while they waited for musicians Ruth Minnikin and Kelly Sloan to return to the stage. It’s easy to understand why. Their dynamic folk-rock sound grabs your attention and immediately pulls you in. The crowd sat still and attentive. Minnikin and Sloan’s smooth, sultry singing was captivating, especially in harmony. They played their own music, old and new, as well as covers by musicians who have influenced them, including Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Dylan.
It didn’t matter what they played. The audience was enthralled. The two told stories in between songs, many leaving the crowd in stitches.
Their talents as musicians, coupled with their commanding stage presence, made for an unforgettable show.
Sloan recently released her well-received debut album, Always
Changes. She can be found playing with Adam Baldwin and His
Band at The Carleton in Halifax on Sept. 17 and 24.
Minnikin will soon be releasing a new Ruth Minnikin and Her
Bandwagon album, Depend On This. The band is set to play in Yarmouth as part of Nova Scotia Music Week on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. - Tatamagouche Light

As soon as Kelly starts singing, you realize her songs aren’t what you’d expect to find on a debut release. The eleven songs she offers up on Always Changes aren’t run-of-the-mill coffee shop ditties, as a maturity swirls around each and every song. With some guidance from the Murrays, Sloan shows a solid understanding of when to add layers to her acoustic (like the horns and electric work on the closing number, Way Back Home) and when to let a simple arrangement carry her voice.” - Herohill - Hero Hill