MIXTAPE: Kelly Edgar

Words: Kelly Edgar

Kelly Edgar is a comedian who moved back to Seghill after twenty lost years in bands in London, and quickly emerged as one of the most distinctive new acts in the region in years. She won the Felt Nowt New Act of the Year 2020 and will be one of the acts at Tyne To Stand Up…Again! – the International Women’s Day stand-up gala in aid of Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland, which takes place at Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Wednesday 8^th March.
Here, she talks about some of her favourite tracks…

www.feltnowt.co.uk

Red Fang – Prehistoric Dog

Every time I think I’m over playing in bands I listen to Red Fang and remember why I loved it. Nothing complicated, just fat drums, big riffs and a sense of humour. I didn’t realise until I had to make this list, but there’s quite a lot of overlap with music and comedy for me. I don’t really want to start another band, I just want to be in Red Fang. See also: Clutch.

Björk – Declare Independence

Björk is great, isn’t she? If a Björk could speak human, would we understand what it said? There’s nobody like her, she’s just so unbothered by convention. She’s truly collaborative and has so much respect for everyone she shares a stage or a studio with. In her podcast she talks about how horrified she was at the thought of being introduced as a ‘solo artist’ because there’s really no such thing. I wish more artists had that humility. She wouldn’t want to be, but I think she should be Queen. Can we have her as Queen please?

Thomas Truax – The Butterfly and the Entomologist

I first saw Thomas supporting Bob Log III on tour. I was expecting a hyper night with toast and balloons and this lad comes out with all his beautiful sad songs. Oh God what’s happening? I just wanted to put my tit in someone’s drink and now I’m bawling my eyes out.

Faith No More – The Crab Song

One does not simply choose a single Faith No More song. I don’t know another band that’s had two so different but perfect frontmen. Yes, Mike Patton is made of sex but Chuck Moseley was legendary. What is he even on about? I like to imagine a little crab with a jaunty bow on her head and false eyelashes.

FKA Twigs – Two Weeks

Hnnnnngh.

Rollins Band – Ghostrider

I discovered a lot of bands as a teenager through film soundtrack albums like this banger from The Crow. Singles, Bill & Ted, Judgement Night, Hackers…fuck off, Hackers is GREAT. This song also makes me want to play the drums. And scream.

Venetian Snares – Öngyilkos Vasárnap (Suicide Sunday)

I chose this one as it’s from one of his more listener friendly albums, and the Billie Holliday vocals are sublime. In the original song, Gloomy Sunday, Billie Holliday’s label said it was too morbid and made her add an extra verse explaining the suicide bit was all a dream. Actually that’s not the original song, her version was based on László Jávor’s song Szomorú Vasárnap (Sad Sunday), which was based on something even more miserable about war. This version is gut wrenching and beautiful and in 7/8 and I love it.

Run The Jewels – Lie, Cheat, Steal

These lads are intelligent, eloquent, political, proactive, funny and there’s an alternative universe out there somewhere where Killer Mike is president.