Jan. 1, 2026

39. Using Music to Process Trauma, Faith, and Identity with Bright Kelly

Show Notes

Ep.39: Every now and then, a guest takes the conversation somewhere unexpected. In this episode, I sit down with Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Bright Kelly for a wide-ranging and deeply human conversation about art, trauma, faith, fatherhood, and the responsibility that comes with telling the truth through music. Bright’s work resists easy categorization, and so does his story. We talk about his path through touring, his transition into releasing music under his own name, and the emotional excavation behind Funeral Tickets. Along the way, we unpack how personal history, belief systems, and lived experience shape the way he writes, and why he refuses to soften difficult ideas for the sake of comfort. This conversation moves beyond career milestones and into what it actually means to live a creative life with intention.

We Chat About:

Growing up in Philadelphia and building a life rooted in music
Touring with major artists while still loving small, local rooms
The personal history and emotional excavation behind Funeral Tickets
Writing songs that challenge ignorance, faith, and cultural myths
Turning trauma into clarity without softening the message
Why he considers himself a writer before a songwriter
Concept albums, dystopia, and his upcoming Beggartown project
Fatherhood, partnership, and balancing art with real life
Creative stamina, obsession, and learning when to push (and when to pause)
Why flawed, human-made music matters more than ever

About Bright Kelly:

Bright Kelly is a Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter whose voice lands somewhere between gravel and velvet: soulful, cinematic, and impossible to ignore. Fronting the alt-soul outfit The Great Enough and carving out a striking solo catalog, he’s shared stages with bands as varied as Imagine Dragons and Judah & the Lion, earning a reputation for raw, articulate songwriting that cuts close to the bone. From the hushed confessional of The Quiet Ones to the emotional megaphone of Funeral Tickets, Kelly blurs the lines between folk, soul, and rock with an instinct for melody and truth that feels both bruised and luminous.

Connect with Bright Kelly:

Listen on Spotify: Bright Kelly on Spotify

Support on Bandcamp: brightkelly.bandcamp.com

Follow on TikTok: @brightkelly19

Follow on Instagram: @brightkelly19

Follow on Threads: @brightkelly19

Other Resources:

Follow the OFFICIAL “loves music” playlist on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/library/playlist/p.4Y0J406i03DQrX

“loves music” playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0qE3kq89oyg3tFNbmRfHEO?si=vopaKQnNS8OHn0r2fFTVBg

Check out the “loves music” podcast website: https://www.podpage.com/loves-music/

Julian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julian.jones.9484

Julian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianjones417/