When she was in high school, Kelly Lee Owens won two certificates: one was for music lover of the year, the other was for daydreamer of the year. “Even as a kid my mum said I would daydream a lot—she called it ‘Kelly’s World,’” the musician and DJ laughs. These prophecies provided the foundation for her career as a respected name in electronic music for ethereal work that uses the steely nature of the genre to articulate a connection with something greater. Her latest album Dreamstate is a monument to dreaming, and is the hotly anticipated debut release for The 1975’s George Daniel’s new electronic music imprint on Dirty Hit, dh2. Its pop melodies elevate techno beats to tell a story of heartbreak and subsequent recovery and growth through choosing to gaze higher.
Owens grew up in North Wales among breathtaking Celtic landscapes that have always inspired the sonics of her music. “You’re very grounded when you grow up in the countryside and there’s a sense of freedom because you have a lot of space,” she explains.
She initially got into nursing because she wanted to use her natural empathy and desire to connect with others. While working at a cancer hospital, Owens was encouraged by patients to pursue her real dream of making music.
