KELLY HOPPENJANS
Newest Single "Mother Song" Out Now!
“Hoppenjans not only honors her mother but explores the cyclical nature of motherhood itself...The song’s staggering fragility bakes into Hoppenjan’s careful vocal approach, as much as the lilting ebb and flow of the production.”
FULL LENGTH ALBUM OK, I FEEL BETTER NOW
Praise for OK, I Feel Better Now:
“'Band-Aid Girl'... is an exhausted, exquisitely solitary dirge about settling into a romance that doesn't quite work with a partner who isn't quite emotionally available. The torch in Hoppenjans' heart is reduced to a mere wisp, and she conveys its final embers with her lovely, plaintive alto.”
—NPR
"'If I Had You' is a twangy infusion of folk and pop rock. Don’t let the contagiously catchy track fool you though, there is a very meaningful message beneath those layers of sun kissed guitars and synth beats."
PRESS
"A brash collection of songs from a fearless musician."
"Recalling the likes of Tacocat or Field Mouse, the track walks the like between driving indie-rock and polished pop perfection, Kelly’s powerful vocal sat atop a musical backing of pulsating drums and clattering guitars. A sun-drenched wonder of a song, with an important lyrical message hidden underneath, there’s an awful lot to enjoy about Kelly Hoppenjans."
“Nashville’s indie rocker Kelly Hoppenjans utilizes various hairstyles to make a profound statement on womanhood and controlling her own narrative...In deconstructing societal conventions and expectations of women, she, in effect, finds her own warrior cry buried beneath ‘brush and pen,’ as she later spits. It’s a commanding performance if ever you’ve seen one.”
“Hoppenjans creates empowering rock aimed at breaking toxic cycles, cultivating and embracing her own identity, and inspiring those around her to claim their own space in this world.”
"Getting emotional clarity isn’t always pleasant, but it’s ultimately easier to figure out how to go forward when you’re fully aware of where you are. That’s the common thread running through the songs on OK, I Feel Better Now, the alt-rock-tinged new LP from singer, songwriter and standout guitarist Kelly Hoppenjans."
“I like a great musical ride, and this EP [Dreaming Is Easy] is one of the best I've been on in a while. Amazing vocals. Warm lyrics. Rich music. It's a singer-songwriter triumph.”
SING LOUD AND MAKE NOISE
Nashville singer-songwriter Kelly Hoppenjans creates empowering rock, combining the spirit of riot grrrl tinged with folky introspection. Despite being her debut full-length album, music has long been the crux of Hoppenjans’ existence, and OK, I Feel Better Now encapsulates a lifetime of physical and emotional healing, breaking vicious cycles, and the power of femininity.
Coming-of-age stories typically pinpoint a teenager’s transition from awkward, naive highschooler to empowered, capable adult. However, these narratives tend to leave out the fact that, because of societal pressure to be small and delicate, women tend to take longer to feel comfortable taking up space within society. This theme of coming of space threads throughout OK, I Feel Better Now — asserting a need to break the cycle of society’s gendered expectations.
After learning to play the guitar at a young age, Hoppenjans began writing songs around the age of 12. At the same time, the budding musician picked up a copy of a popular music magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists issue and was disappointed to find only two women, Joan Jett and Joni Mitchell, listed among 98 men. Disheartened, she thought this meant women couldn’t be rockstars. Now, with OK, I Feel Better Now, Hoppenjans is making strides to become one of those guitar-wielding role models her younger self regularly sought out — while inspiring young women to ignore toxic stereotypes, embrace their identity, and claim their space in the world.
In addition to making music, Kelly is also a voice teacher dedicated to helping her students find their most authentic, unique, strong voices. She teaches through Belmont University and her own studio, Kellybird. Follow her on Instagram and Youtube for singing tips, including her warm-up series Singing in the Shower, and contact her for more info, availability, and prices!
TEACHING
Singing in the Shower
