Kelly McMichael is an artist and producer known for her buttery vocals, genre-bending arrangements and commanding stage presence. Kelly’s blend of retro pop/rock flirts with psychedelia and jazz to help provide rich packaging for her ‘instant-classic’ songwriting.

Based in Newfoundland, originally from Peterborough, Ontario, Kelly’s career kicked off while she was studying Art at The University of Guelph with her DIY feminist synth band ‘Rouge’. She was recruited to perform with Gentleman Reg, The Hidden Cameras, Tim Baker, Sarah Harmer, and The Burning Hell across North America and Europe. After a decade as a side player and producing solo bedroom recordings under the moniker RENDERS, Kelly had a breakthrough with her debut, independently-released album, ‘Waves’ (2021), earning a spot on the Polaris Prize shortlist, three Music NL Awards, and the ECMA for ‘Best Rock Recording’.

Kelly McMichael’s sophomore album, ‘After The Sting Of It’ (September 2024) is a fearless expansion of the classic sound of her first. With an adventurous and broad sonic landscape, the album sits in the comfort of its core ideas – tear down and rebirth. Kelly’s voice is rich with resilience and empathy on record, and “sounds even better live” (Michael Barclay). The single ‘Bomb’ charted on The Verge (satelite), campus radio, and CBC, making the CBC Top 20 along with a second single, ‘Open (Hurts to Have a Heart)’. McMichael tours Eastern Canada and Ontario regularly, delivering both fire and sensitivity.

“I write and record in a way that you’re just giving the song what it needs. “Why limit the creativity?”, Kelly says. “ I don’t want limitations.”