All Maria Kelly News

Maria Kelly makes her directing debut in haunting new video!

Posted Thu, 03 May 2018

"...imbued with honesty and enthused with youthful exuberance. We love it."
- Wonderland


"...a powerful exploration of mental health, captured stunningly…"
- GoldenPlec


For Fans of...Daughter, Lucy Rose, Fenne Lily


Maria Kelly has now shared the stunning video for her latest release, Dark Places. Directed by Maria herself, she explains "the song itself is a very literal description of what it feels like to be depressed. I wanted a visual that was as equally to the point. I had this whole timeline in my head, of coming home from a night out and suddenly realising you were alone with your thoughts again. I storyboarded the whole thing and we filmed it over two days in Berlin. The guys at Roughcast took it and ran with it - they were really incredible to work with and understood exactly what I was trying to get across. I hope it resonates."



Lighter places...


• The video for Dark Places premiered exclusively on GoldenPlec .
• The single originally premiered on Nialler9.
• It is part of a AA-side single, along with Small Talk, which premiered on The Line Of Best Fit.
Dark Places / Small Talk is now available to buy on vinyl.

For more information about Maria Kelly or our services please contact info@abadgeoffriendship.com

Immerse yourself in Maria Kelly’s most vulnerable release to date…

Posted Fri, 20 Apr 2018

"......inbued with honesty and enthused with youthful exuberance. We love it." - Wonderland


"......silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales." - Consequence of Sound


For Fans of...Daughter, Lucy Rose, Fenne Lily


Maria Kelly continues to tackle mental health head-on with her latest poignant release, Dark Places. The single is a very literal look at depression, of not recognising yourself, distancing yourself from others and convincing yourself that they don’t really care. “Although its lyrical content is quite dismal, writing Dark Places was incredibly therapeutic for me,” explains Maria. “It was important for me to really look at that side of myself and to not shy away from it. By acknowledging and talking about it, it became a tangible thing that I could attempt to deal with, rather than feeling trapped in my head.”



Not so dark places...


Dark Places premiered exclusively on Nialler9.
• It is part of a AA-side single, along with Small Talk, which premiered on The Line of Best Fit.
• Check out Maria Kelly performing Small Talk live at Dlight Studios.
• Catch Kelly live at her vinyl launch show on 25th April 2018 at The Workman's Club, Dublin - Tickets
• Kelly has previously supported the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, KT Tunstall and Paul Noonan.

For more information about Maria Kelly or our services please contact info@abadgeoffriendship.com

Irish gem Maria Kelly tackles mental health head-on with her brooding new single…

Posted Wed, 04 Apr 2018

"...an immersive experience, inbued with honesty and enthused with youthful exuberance. We love it." - Wonderland


"...she is able to conjure a swell of overwhelming feeling with little more than just her voice and the resonant constant of an accompanying guitar." - The Line of Best Fit


For Fans of... Daughter, Lucy Rose, Fenne Lily


Small Talk is an incredibly honest and vulnerable song that channels the dark, brooding musicality of the likes of Daughter effortlessly. It was written during a storm black out in Maria Kelly’s hometown. The song parallels the nature of a storm with feelings of social anxiety. Maria elaborates “I found it so difficult to make eye contact with anyone and I was painfully aware of myself. Halfway through the writing process, I decided to reach out to my Instagram following for inspiration. The amount of messages I received was overwhelming. It made me realise how effective it can be to actually ask about people’s experiences of these issues.”


More talk...


Small Talk premiered exclusively on The Line of Best Fit. It is part of a AA-side, with Dark Places to be released next month.
•Catch Maria Kelly live at her vinyl launch show on 25th April 2018 at The Workman's Club, Dublin - Tickets.
• Kelly has previously supported the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, KT Tunstall and Paul Noonan.
• Kelly has received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, Earmilk, Wonderland, Mahogany, The Line of Best Fit and Radio X.

For more information about Maria Kelly or our services please contact info@abadgeoffriendship.com

Dream team Maria Kelly and Ailbhe Reddy are about to pull on your heartstrings…

Posted Mon, 19 Feb 2018

"...an immersive experience, inbued with honesty and enthused with youthful exuberance. We love it." - Wonderland


"... stunning..." - The 405


For Fans Of...Daughter, Lucy Rose, Fleurie, Laura Doggett


After a co-headline tour in May 2017 and regularly sharing music between themselves, Maria Kelly and Ailbhe Reddy decided to join forces for their first release of 2018. The captivating and impressively raw single Threads is out now.


Well I never...


Threads premiered exclusively on acclaimed Irish site Nialler9.
• Maria Kelly has previously supported the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, KT Tunstall and Billie Marten.
• Between them, Kelly and Reddy have received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, Earmilk, Wonderland, Mahogany, The Line of Best Fit and Radio X.

For more information about Maria Kelly or our services please contact info@abadgeoffriendship.com

Maria Kelly ft. Ailbhe Reddy & LAOISE share stunning video for ‘Hollow’!

Posted Fri, 08 Dec 2017


For fans of... Daughter, Lucy Rose, Lisa Hannigan, Billie Marten

"...beautifully mastered and Kelly's

high-calibre artistry is evident in

every note."

- Earmilk


"...Kelly’s art is an immersive experience, imbued with honesty and enthused with youthful exuberance. We love it."
- Wonderland


"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."
- The Line Of Best Fit


"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales." - Consequence of Sound


Following the release of her stunning debut EP, The Things I Should, Irish artist Maria Kelly returns with another poignant yet profound new single, Hollow, out now via Veta Records. It is available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes now.

The live video, featuring Ailbhe Reddy & LAOISE, premiered on RTE and is also available to watch via Maria's YouTube channel.


The single originally premiered on Earmilk and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page.


The single deals with the disappointment that comes with never quite getting through to someone. Maria explains “It came about when I had to be brutally honest with myself about the state of a relationship. It’s so easy to trick yourself into thinking that everything is fine, but this song represents that moment you snap, get angry and want to confront the problem.” Hollow opens with Kelly’s signature delicate vocal, entwined with a subtle whisper track, creating a powerful sense of secrecy and sorrow. Combined with Kelly’s intricate guitar plucking, earnest songwriting abilities and a captivating string arrangement, Hollow is once again a prime example of Kelly’s unique ability to create beautifully melancholic indie-folk.

This release is the first of Maria’s that she has arranged herself; “I never had the confidence before, as I had convinced myself that I just wasn’t very good at arrangement. But after giving myself the chance, being patient and with the incredible strings and electric coming from Matt Harris (HAWK), I’m really proud of how this track turned out and I hope others like it as much as I do.”

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years developing her sound into a delicate blend of atmospheric-alt-folk. First taking influence from the story-telling elements of Irish-trad, as well as artists like Regina Spektor and Lisa Hannigan, her music aims to share deeply personal, humanising and heartbreaking experiences. Maria has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, KT Tunstall and Billie Marten, as well as playing at this year’s Great Escape Festival and Electric Picnic. Maria has previously received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The 405, Wonderland, Mahogany, The Line of Best Fit and Radio X. Maria Kelly also recently won the honour of playing at Ireland's acclaimed Other Voices music festival in Dingle.

Hollow is out now via Veta Records and is available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes now.

If you'd like more information about Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly announces new single ‘Hollow’!

Posted Fri, 17 Nov 2017


For fans of... Daughter, Lucy Rose, Lisa Hannigan, Billie Marten

"...beautifully mastered and Kelly's

high-calibre artistry is evident in

every note."

- Earmilk


"...Kelly’s art is an immersive experience, imbued with honesty and enthused with youthful exuberance. We love it."
- Wonderland


"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."
- The Line Of Best Fit


"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely

relatable tales."
- Consequence of Sound


Following the release of her stunning debut EP, The Things I Should, Irish artist Maria Kelly returns with another poignant yet profound new single, Hollow, out now via Veta Records. It is available to stream on Spotify now.

The single premiered on Earmilk and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page.


The single deals with the disappointment that comes with never quite getting through to someone. Maria explains “It came about when I had to be brutally honest with myself about the state of a relationship. It’s so easy to trick yourself into thinking that everything is fine, but this song represents that moment you snap, get angry and want to confront the problem.” Hollow opens with Kelly’s signature delicate vocal, entwined with a subtle whisper track, creating a powerful sense of secrecy and sorrow. Combined with Kelly’s intricate guitar plucking, earnest songwriting abilities and a captivating string arrangement, Hollow is once again a prime example of Kelly’s unique ability to create beautifully melancholic indie-folk.

This release is the first of Maria’s that she has arranged herself; “I never had the confidence before, as I had convinced myself that I just wasn’t very good at arrangement. But after giving myself the chance, being patient and with the incredible strings and electric coming from Matt Harris (HAWK), I’m really proud of how this track turned out and I hope others like it as much as I do.”

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years developing her sound into a delicate blend of atmospheric-alt-folk. First taking influence from the story-telling elements of Irish-trad, as well as artists like Regina Spektor and Lisa Hannigan, her music aims to share deeply personal, humanising and heartbreaking experiences. Maria has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, KT Tunstall and Billie Marten, as well as playing at this year’s Great Escape Festival and Electric Picnic. Maria has previously received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The 405, Wonderland, Mahogany, The Line of Best Fit and Radio X.

Maria Kelly recently won the honour of playing at Ireland's acclaimed Other Voices music festival in Dingle. You can also catch Maria live at the following dates, with tickets available here:

15th November - Imro First Cuts, Dublin
16th November - Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge
17th November - Róisín Dubh, Galway
19th November - Servant Jazz Quarters, London
20th November - Sofar Sounds, London
23th November - Spirit Store, Dundalk
24th November - Upstairs Dolans, Limerick
25th November - Connollys of Leap, Cork
26th November - Debarras Folk Club, Clonakilty
2nd December - Other Voices - Dingle, Kerry

Hollow is out now via Veta Records and is available to stream on Spotify now.

If you'd like more information about Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly reveals new video for ‘Torn Into Two’!

Posted Tue, 16 May 2017


For fans of... Lucy Rose, Billie Marten, Daughter, Warpaint

"...Kelly’s art is an immersive

experience, imbued with honesty

and enthused with youthful

exuberance. We love it."


- Wonderland



"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."
- The Line Of Best Fit


"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely

relatable tales."


- Consequence of Sound


Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly's debut EP The Things I Should is out now via Veta Records. It is available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes.

To celebrate the release, the video for Maria's single Torn Into Two premiered on Mahogany and is also available to watch via Maria's YouTube channel now.


The single originally premiered on Wonderland Magazine and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page now.


The Things I should is a stunning collection of emotionally gripping tracks performed with purity and grace. The EP is based around Maria’s struggle with self-expression and how, by always trying to please others, you can lose a part of yourself in the process. Maria explains, “these four songs are written about four different personal experiences, where a lack of honest expression at the outset had created a much bigger problem in the long run”. Opening track Torn Into Two immediately displays Maria’s signature fragile vocal tone as well as her incredibly earnest songwriting abilities akin to the likes of Lucy Rose and Billie Marten. Each track on the EP builds intricately alongside Kelly’s soaring vocal, with a captivating string arrangement throughout adding the final touch.

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and is currently studying at BIMM Dublin where she met her backing band. Maria also regularly works with Matt Harris (HAWK) who produced this EP as well as her critically acclaimed singles Before It Has Begun, Black & Blue and Stitches. Maria has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of James Vincent McMorrow and Orla Gartland. 2017 sees Maria back on the road again co-headlining alongside Ailbhe Reddy as well playing The Great Escape Festival on 18th May 2017.

Maria has previously received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The 405 and The Line of Best Fit to name a few, as well as Radio X. She was also featured in The Irish Times’ ‘Top 50 Songs of 2016’ and ‘Top 50 People To Watch in 2017’. With The Things I Should, Maria hopes to continue to rise as she introduces listeners to her most sincere release yet.

You can catch Maria at the following dates:

18th May - The Great Escape Festival, Brighton
24th May - The Bowery, Dublin - EP Launch - Tickets
26th May - Coughlans, Cork (with Ailbhe Reddy)


The Things I Should by Maria Kelly is out now via Veta Records. It is available to stream on Spotify and buy on iTunes now.

If you'd like more information about Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

A Badge Of Friendship at The Great Escape!

Posted Thu, 11 May 2017

We're extremely proud to announce that we have four fantastic female-fronted artists playing at Brighton's Great Escape Festival from May 18th - 20th 2017.

First up, we have ethereal Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly, who will be performing at The Hope & Ruin on Thursday 18th May at 1.45pm as part of Presented by BIMM.

Maria's single Far Below is available to stream on Soundcloud and Spotify now.


As a part of Showcasing Scotland at The Great Escape with Creative Scotland, both The Van T's and Be Charlotte will be performing at the Brighthelm Centre on Thursday 18th May at 2.30pm and 3.30pm respectively.

You can also catch The Van T's later that day at Sticky Mike's Frog Bar at 7.30pm and Be Charlotte at The Hope & Ruin at 9.30pm and at Komedia Studio on Saturday 20th May at 1.15pm.

The Van T's' latest single Fun Garçon is available now on Soundcloud and Spotify.


Be Charlotte's single One Drop can be streamed via Be Charlotte's Soundcloud and Spotify now.


Last but certainly not least we have Amsterdam's Pip Blom who will be performing as part of The Dutch Impact Party. She will be playing at Komedia on Friday 19th May at 2.30pm and again at the Brighthelm Centre at 8.30pm.

Pip's single I Think I'm In Love is available via Pip's Soundcloud and Spotify now.



If you'd like to find out more about any of the above artists or A Badge of Friendship's PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly announces new single ‘Torn Into Two’!

Posted Wed, 26 Apr 2017


For fans of... Lucy Rose, Wildes, Billie Marten, Daughter

"...Kelly’s art is an immersive experience, imbued with honesty and enthused with youthful exuberance. We love it."
- Wonderland


"...stunning..." - The 405



"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales."
- Consequence of Sound


"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."

- The Line Of Best Fit


Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly has revealed the second single to be taken from her debut EP The Things I Should, will be the beautifully poignant Torn Into Two.

The single premiered on Wonderland Magazine and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page now.


The Things I should is a stunning collection of emotionally gripping tracks performed with purity and grace. The EP is based around Maria’s struggle with self-expression and how, by always trying to please others, you can lose a part of yourself in the process. Maria explains, “these four songs are written about four different personal experiences, where a lack of honest expression at the outset had created a much bigger problem in the long run”. Opening track Torn Into Two immediately displays Maria’s signature fragile vocal tone as well as her incredibly earnest songwriting abilities akin to the likes of Lucy Rose and Billie Marten. Each track on the EP builds intricately alongside Kelly’s soaring vocal, with a captivating string arrangement throughout adding the final touch.

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and is currently studying at BIMM Dublin where she met her backing band. Maria also regularly works with Matt Harris (HAWK) who produced this EP as well as her critically acclaimed singles Before It Has Begun, Black & Blue and Stitches. Maria has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of James Vincent McMorrow and Orla Gartland. 2017 sees Maria back on the road again co-headlining alongside Ailbhe Reddy as well playing The Great Escape Festival on 18th May 2017.

Maria has previously received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The 405 and The Line of Best Fit to name a few, as well as Radio X. She was also featured in The Irish Times’ ‘Top 50 Songs of 2016’ and ‘Top 50 People To Watch in 2017’. With The Things I Should, Maria hopes to continue to rise as she introduces listeners to her most sincere release yet.

You can catch Maria perform on her Far At Sea tour with Ailbhe Reddy at the following dates:

29th April - Spraoi Studios, Waterford
3rd May - Róisín Dubh, Galway
5th May - Connollys, Leap, Cork
6th May - Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Cork
10th May - Spirit Store, Dundalk
12th May - The Mac, Belfast
13th May - The Clock Tavern, Westport
18th May - The Great Escape Festival, Brighton (Maria only)
24th May - The Bowery, Dublin - EP Launch (Maria only)
26th May - Coughlans, Cork

The Things I Should by Maria Kelly is due for release on 19th May 2017 via Veta Records.
If you'd like more information about Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly returns with new single ‘Far Below’!

Posted Wed, 22 Mar 2017


For fans of... Lucy Rose, Wildes, Billie Marten, Daughter

"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."
- The Line Of Best Fit


"...a song which pinpoints the Co Mayo native’s songcraft when it comes to tapping emotion and poignancy."
- The Irish Times


"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales."
- Consequence of Sound


Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly returns with her most poignant and honest release to date. Her debut EP The Things I Should, out on 19th May 2017 via Veta Records, is a stunning collection of emotionally gripping tracks performed with purity and grace.

The first single to be taken from the EP Far Below premiered on The Irish Times and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page now.


The EP is based around Maria’s struggle with self-expression and how, by always trying to please others, you can lose a part of yourself in the process. Maria explains, “these four songs are written about four different personal experiences, where a lack of honest expression at the outset had created a much bigger problem in the long run”. Opening track Torn Into Two immediately displays Maria’s signature fragile vocal tone as well as her incredibly earnest songwriting abilities akin to the likes of Lucy Rose and Billie Marten. Each track on the EP builds intricately alongside Kelly’s soaring vocal, with a captivating string arrangement throughout adding the final touch.

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and is currently studying at BIMM Dublin where she met her backing band. Maria also regularly works with Matt Harris (HAWK) who produced this EP as well as her critically acclaimed singles Before It Has Begun, Black & Blue and Stitches. Maria has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of James Vincent McMorrow and Orla Gartland. 2017 sees Maria back on the road again co-headlining alongside Ailbhe Reddy as well playing The Great Escape Festival on 18th May 2017.

Maria has previously received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The 405 and The Line of Best Fit to name a few, as well as Radio X. She was also featured in The Irish Times’ ‘Top 50 Songs of 2016’ and ‘Top 50 People To Watch in 2017’. With The Things I Should, Maria hopes to continue to rise as she introduces listeners to her most sincere release yet.

You can catch Maria perform on her Far At Sea tour with Ailbhe Reddy at the following dates:

29th April - Spraoi Studios, Waterford
3rd May - Róisín Dubh, Galway
5th May - Connollys, Leap, Cork
6th May - Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Cork
11th May - Spirit Store, Dundalk
12th May - The Mac, Belfast
13th May - The Clock Tavern, Westport
26th May - Coughlans, Cork

The Things I Should by Maria Kelly is due for release on 19th May 2017 via Veta Records.

If you'd like more information about Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly’s single ‘Stitches’ is out now!

Posted Mon, 10 Oct 2016



"...stunning..." - The 405



"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."
- The Line Of Best Fit



"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales." - Consequence of Sound



For fans of... Lucy Rose, Lisa Hannigan, Kina Grannis


Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly has released her stunningly emotive single Stitches, out now via Veta Records and is available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.

The video for Stitches premiered on The 405 and is also available to watch via Maria's Youtube channel now.



The single originally premiered on The Line Of Best Fit and you can also stream Stitches via Maria's Soundcloud page.



Stitches displays Maria’s fragile vocal ability, as well as her capacity for bittersweet storytelling, as she effortlessly creates a sound the likes of Lucy Rose and Lisa Hannigan would be proud of. The single is an honest, plaintive track exploring themes of self-preservation and coming to terms with the inability to open up to your partner as a result of self- doubt and past experiences. Maria has always managed to absorb her listeners into her music due to her beautiful lyricism, evident once again on Stitches, which she has delightfully paired with an affective string arrangement throughout the track.

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Orla Gartland and Wyvern Lingo.

Maria has received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The Irish Times, Nialler9 and Radio X to name a few, and is currently working on new tracks for her next EP as well as developing her live sound in preparation for a hectic 2017.

Stitches by Maria Kelly is out now via Veta Records and is available to buy on iTunes and stream on Spotify.

If you'd like more information about Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly releases new cinematic video for ‘Stitches’!

Posted Tue, 27 Sep 2016


"...stunning..." - The 405


"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."
- The Line Of Best Fit


"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales." - Consequence of Sound


For fans of... Lucy Rose, Lisa Hannigan, Kina Grannis

Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly has released the emotionally fragile video for her new single Stitches, out on 7th October 2016 via Veta Records.

The video premiered on The 405 and is also available to watch via Maria's Youtube channel now.


The single originally premiered on The Line Of Best Fit and you can also stream Stitches via Maria's Soundcloud page.


Stitches displays Maria’s fragile vocal ability, as well as her capacity for bittersweet storytelling, as she effortlessly creates a sound the likes of Lucy Rose and Lisa Hannigan would be proud of. The single is an honest, plaintive track exploring themes of self-preservation and coming to terms with the inability to open up to your partner as a result of self- doubt and past experiences. Maria has always managed to absorb her listeners into her music due to her beautiful lyricism, evident once again on Stitches, which she has delightfully paired with an affective string arrangement throughout the track.

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Orla Gartland and Wyvern Lingo.

Maria has received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The Irish Times, Nialler9 and Radio X to name a few, and is currently working on new tracks for her next EP as well as developing her live sound in preparation for a hectic 2017.

Stitches by Maria Kelly is due for release on 7th October 2016 via Veta Records.

If you'd like more information about Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly returns with new single ‘Stitches’!

Posted Tue, 13 Sep 2016


"...a glorious concoction full of ear-pleasing tones and immense emotion...."
- The Line Of Best Fit


"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales." - Consequence of Sound


For fans of... Lucy Rose, Lisa Hannigan, Kina Grannis

Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly continues to soar as she exhibits her raw and intimate style through the release of Stitches, out on 7th October 2016 via Veta Records.

The track premiered on The Line Of Best Fit and you can also stream it via Maria's Soundcloud page now.


Stitches again displays Maria’s fragile vocal ability, as well as her capacity for bittersweet storytelling, as she effortlessly creates a sound the likes of Lucy Rose and Lisa Hannigan would be proud of. The single is an honest, plaintive track exploring themes of self-preservation and coming to terms with the inability to open up to your partner as a result of self- doubt and past experiences. Maria has always managed to absorb her listeners into her music due to her beautiful lyricism, evident once again on Stitches, which she has delightfully paired with an affective string arrangement throughout the track.

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Orla Gartland and Wyvern Lingo.

Maria has received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The Irish Times, Nialler9 and Radio X to name a few, and is currently working on new tracks for her next EP as well as developing her live sound in preparation for a hectic 2017.

Stitches by Maria Kelly is due for release on 7th October 2016 via Veta Records.

If you'd like more information about Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly shares acoustic version of single ‘Black & Blue’!

Posted Mon, 18 Jul 2016


For fans of: Lucy Rose, She & Him, Daughter, Natalie Prass

"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales."
- Consequence of Sound


"Maria Kelly has really begun to become a more multifaceted artist whose music and visual work go hand in hand."
- The Last Mixed Tape


To celebrate the success of her latest single Black & Blue, Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly has released a stunning acoustic version of the track, which is out now via Veta Records and available to buy on iTunes.

You can stream the delicate acoustic re-make now via Maria's Soundcloud page.


The charming video for Black & Blue premiered on Nialler9 and you can also watch it via Maria's YouTube channel now.


The audio for Black & Blue premiered on Consequence of Sound and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page now.

Maria left quite an impression last year with debut single Before It Has Begun - a mournful finger-picked song that shows off Kelly’s pin-drop vocals and beautiful lyricism. Her latest single Black & Blue still feels vulnerable, with a hint of foolish optimism, managing to effectively captivate her talent for bittersweet storytelling - fans of Regina Spektor and She & Him will feel at home here.

"Black and Blue is about foolish optimism; waiting around for something that’s never going to come,” Maria Kelly explains. “I wrote it as a kind of ‘see ya later!’ to a certain time in my teenage years. I spent so long waiting for something that was clearly not on the way and this song attempts to look at that situation, accept it, laugh at it and move on.”

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Orla Gartland and Wyvern Lingo. Maria has also received praise from various online publications including Consequence of Sound, The Irish Times, Nialler9 and For Folk's Sake to name a few. Maria is working in the studio on new tracks for her next EP and developing her live sound in preparation for a busy 2016.

Black & Blue is out now via Veta Records and available to buy on iTunes.

If you'd like more information on Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly’s new single ‘Black & Blue’ out now!

Posted Wed, 06 Jul 2016


For fans of: Regina Spektor, Feist, Lucy Rose, She & Him, Daughter

"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales."
- Consequence of Sound


"Maria Kelly has really begun to become a more multifaceted artist whose music and visual work go hand in hand."
- The Last Mixed Tape


Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly has released her wonderful new single Black & Blue, out now via Veta Records and available to buy via iTunes.

The video for the single premiered on Nialler9 and you can also watch it via Maria's YouTube channel now.



The audio for Black & Blue premiered on Consequence of Sound and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page now.


Maria left quite an impression last year with debut single Before It Has Begun - a mournful finger-picked song that shows off Kelly’s pin-drop vocals and beautiful lyricism. Her latest single Black & Blue still feels vulnerable, with a hint of foolish optimism, managing to effectively captivate her talent for bittersweet storytelling - fans of Regina Spektor and She & Him will feel at home here.

"Black and Blue is about foolish optimism; waiting around for something that’s never going to come,” Maria Kelly explains. “I wrote it as a kind of ‘see ya later!’ to a certain time in my teenage years. I spent so long waiting for something that was clearly not on the way and this song attempts to look at that situation, accept it, laugh at it and move on.”

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Orla Gartland and Wyvern Lingo. Maria has also received praise from various online publications including The Irish Times, Nialler9 and Beat Surrender to name a few. Maria is working in the studio on new tracks for her next EP and developing her live sound in preparation for a busy 2016.

Black & Blue is out now via Veta Records and available to buy via iTunes.

If you'd like more information on Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly shares stunning new video for ‘Black & Blue’!

Posted Tue, 14 Jun 2016


For fans of: Regina Spektor, Feist, Lucy Rose, She & Him, Daughter

"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales."
- Consequence of Sound


"Maria Kelly has really begun to become a more multifaceted artist whose music and visual work go hand in hand."
- The Last Mixed Tape


Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly has shared her inventive new video for latest single Black & Blue, out on 1st July 2016 via Veta Records.

The video premiered on Nialler9 and you can also watch it via Maria's YouTube channel now.


The audio for Black & Blue premiered on Consequence of Sound and is also available to stream via Maria's Soundcloud page now.


Maria left quite an impression last year with debut single Before It Has Begun - a mournful finger-picked song that shows off Kelly’s pin-drop vocals and beautiful lyricism. Her latest single Black & Blue still feels vulnerable, with a hint of foolish optimism, managing to effectively captivate her talent for bittersweet storytelling - fans of Regina Spektor and She & Him will feel at home here.

"Black and Blue is about foolish optimism; waiting around for something that’s never going to come,” Maria Kelly explains. “I wrote it as a kind of ‘see ya later!’ to a certain time in my teenage years. I spent so long waiting for something that was clearly not on the way and this song attempts to look at that situation, accept it, laugh at it and move on.”

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Orla Gartland and Wyvern Lingo. Maria has also received praise from various online publications including The Irish Times, Nialler9 and Beat Surrender to name a few. Maria is working in the studio on new tracks for her next EP and developing her live sound in preparation for a busy 2016.

Catch Maria Kelly supporting HAWK live at the following dates:

June 15th - Roisin Dubh - Galway
June 16th - Cyprus Avenue - Cork - Tickets
June 17th - Carlow Arts Festival - Tickets

Black & Blue is out on 1st July 2016 via Veta Records.

If you'd like more information on Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Maria Kelly announces single Black & Blue!

Posted Thu, 19 May 2016


For fans of: Regina Spektor, Feist, Lucy Rose, She & Him


"...silky smooth vocals that spin widely relatable tales." - Consequence of Sound



Irish singer-songwriter Maria Kelly is back with her latest single Black & Blue, out on 1st July 2016 via Veta Records.

The single premiered on Consequence of Sound and is also available to stream on Maria's Soundcloud page now.



Maria left quite an impression last year with debut single Before It Has Begun - a mournful finger-picked song that shows off Kelly’s pin-drop vocals and beautiful lyricism. Her latest single Black & Blue still feels vulnerable, with a hint of foolish optimism, managing to effectively captivate her talent for bittersweet storytelling - fans of Regina Spektor and She & Him will feel at home here.

Growing up in Mayo, Ireland, Maria spent many years crafting and developing her sound into a stunning combination of delicate indie-folk. She has been writing music since the age of 10 and has already played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Orla Gartland and Wyvern Lingo. Maria has also received praise from various online publications including The Irish Times, Nialler9 and Beat Surrender to name a few. Maria is working in the studio on new tracks for her next EP and developing her live sound in preparation for a busy 2016.

Catch Maria Kelly supporting HAWK live at the following dates:

June 8th - Old Blue Last - London
June 10th - Avenue - Dublin - Tickets
June 11th - Kasbah Club - Limerick - Tickets
June 15th - Roisin Dubh - Galway
June 16th - Cyprus Avenue - Cork - Tickets
June 17th - Carlow Arts Festival - Tickets

Black & Blue is out on 1st July 2016 via Veta Records.

If you'd like more information on Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.

Introducing… Maria Kelly!

Posted Thu, 03 Dec 2015


For fans of... Lucy Rose, SOAK, Daughter

Maria Kelly has been writing music since she was 10. Growing up in Mayo, Ireland she has spent years crafting and developing her sound into the pin-drop vocals and beautiful lyrics we can hear on her first track with Veta Records; Before It Has Begun.

Before It Has Begun is about the beginning of the end of a relationship and that moment where one person realises they will not be able to love someone in the same way that they are loved in return. It is a humanising and heartbreaking tale in which Maria’s vocals, which have a delicate, fragile quality similar to Lucy Rose but with the story telling ability of Regina Spektor draw you in to share the emotion of what the protagonist is going through.

Maria premiered the video for Before It Has Begun on her Facebook page but you can also download it for free now via her Soundcloud.

Before It Has Begun - Maria Kelly

Let me introduce you to my song 'Before It Has Begun'.If you enjoy this video, please pass it on to someone who might like it too. I am excited and terrified to find out what you all think!Thank you so much to Ciarán O'Brien Media for the video.You can also download the track here for free: http://bit.ly/1Nlgp7f

Posted by Maria Kelly on Tuesday, 1 December 2015


Maria has played numerous shows in both the UK and Ireland supporting the likes of Orla Gartland and Wyvern Lingo and playing venues such as Birthdays, Whelans, The Button Factory, Cyprus Avenue, The Roisin Dubh, and The Workmans Club as a solo musician. Maria is working in the studio on new tracks for her next EP and developing her live sound in preparation for a busy 2016!

Before It Has Begun is available to download for free now via Veta Records.


If you'd like more information on Maria Kelly or our PR services, please email info@abadgeoffriendship.com.