Kelly McCartney

Armed with an Entertainment Tonight internship and a BA in journalism, I started my career in 1989 as a personal assistant to celebrity types like Susanna Hoffs, Adam Horowitz, and Isabelle Adjani. From that springboard, I co-represented a cool band (Sun 60) and hosted hipster musicians (Mazzy Star, Dada, Beastie Boys) at exclusive Hollywood club nights. In late '92, I switched gears, became a vegan, and spent a year at Virgin Records coordinating contracts for newbie artists who later became sort of famous (Ben Harper, David Gray, the Wallflowers). In 1994, I booked Genghis Cohen, a tiny acoustic venue where I met Vonda Shepard, Shawn Mullins, Jill Sobule, and other notables including Joni Mitchell. From there, I spent a few years managing Vonda’s career, and booked/managed several tours for Melissa Ferrick. I even supervised the music for two independent films (both showcased at the 1997 Sundance Film Festival). Around the turn of the century, I became a freelance ‘expert’ for AllMusic.com, then joined Velvetpark magazine as managing editor. With Circle Back Music, I continued to support indie artists like Vonda Shepard, Natalia Zukerman, The Coal Men, Korby Lenker, Joan Jones, Steven Delopoulos, and others. Upon the slimming down of Vp after five years in print, I started writing and copy editing for Showtime’s OurChart.com, covering activism, music, and politics/news. When OC lost its groove, we revved the Vp engines back up with me as Senior Editor and I added some SEO writing for Oak Web Works. In 2011, I tacked Shareable and NoiseTrade's blog on to my freelancer gigs. Come 2012, Circle Back did artist outreach for Stageit and NoiseTrade, supported Susanna Hoffs‘ solo CD and Sid n' Susie duo project with Matthew Sweet, and crafted a theatre series with Six01 Studio. Now in '14, that is all still happening while I continue my freelance writing by adding American Songwriter, PopMatters, Elmore magazine, VC Reporter, and No Depression to the portfolio.
Trigger Hippy: Trigger Hippy

Trigger Hippy: Trigger Hippy

Trigger Hippy's roots run deep and the down-and-dirty, soul-tinged blues they rock is the real deal.
Ben Glover: Atlantic

Ben Glover: Atlantic

On Atlantic, redemption awaits in the cleansing waters of the river, if not in the chorus of the songs or the hallowed memory of Robert Johnson that Ben Glover invokes.
LP: Forever For Now

LP: Forever For Now

From the top on down, the intent of Forever For Now is perfectly clear: fun. This is one big good time broken into 12 melodically succinct, percussively infectious packages.
Sinéad O’Connor: I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss

Sinéad O’Connor: I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss

For Sinéad O'Connor, the personal and the political are one and the same. She makes no distinction, and always, always allows the two to join forces in her music.
The Eyes Have It: An Interview with LP

The Eyes Have It: An Interview with LP

Equal parts swagger and sway, LP is a rock star, in the truest sense.... like the love child of David Bowie and Patti Smith.
Jonah Tolchin: Clover Lane

Jonah Tolchin: Clover Lane

Taking directions from Bourbon Street up to Maxwell Street, Jonah Tolchin's Clover Lane deserves its rightful place on the map as a really great Americana/blues record.
Ruby Rose: “Break Free” (video) (Interview)

Ruby Rose: “Break Free” (video) (Interview)

PopMatters speaks with Ruby Rose and Butterfly Boucher about "Break Free", the compelling and provocative video of Rose's that Boucher directed.
Katie Herzig – “Drug” (video) (Review)

Katie Herzig – “Drug” (video) (Review)

In her latest video, Katie Herzig shows those true humor-soaked colors whilst sporting her true school colors.
Korby Lenker – “If I Prove False” (video)

Korby Lenker – “If I Prove False” (video)

When singer/songwriter/filmmaker/author Korby Lenker needed a video for his “If I Prove False”, he turned to another local renaissance man, Dawson Wells.
Fink: Hard Believer

Fink: Hard Believer

Hard Believer is about the immersive experience that a cohesive record can offer. It's a top-to-bottom, unhurried listen.
Brandy Clark on the Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic of Life

Brandy Clark on the Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic of Life

Late last year, country songwriter Brandy Clark quietly released her debut album as an artist and a funny thing happened: people listened and loved it.
Jonah Tolchin – “21st Century Girl” (video)

Jonah Tolchin – “21st Century Girl” (video)

With a heart full of old soul wisdom, it's no wonder Jonah Tolchin's music is full of old school sounds.