SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT WILL HIGHLIGHT A SINGER-ARTIST IN THE STUDIO. SOME OF THESE SINGER-ARTISTS MIGHT BE FAMILIAR TO YOU, AND SOME MAY NOT. NO MATTER WHAT, EACH SINGER-ARTIST IS SOMEONE THAT YOU SHOULD GET TO KNOW!

It is an honor and a privilege for me to work with each of these singer-artists and introduce them to you!

This week’s spotlight shines on singer/actor/writer Kelly Strandemo.

Kelly is the epitome of life energy. I knew it from the moment we met. She has and is a force, a vibrancy, an electricity that is connected and bright. We connected on many levels, as you will read below. Kelly has vision. Kelly IS vision. She IS purpose. She IS authenticity. If she’s afraid, she will do it anyway. Don’t give her a mission unless you are ready to see it fully realized and embodied before you!

Humor, grit, intensity, depth, light, fullness, intelligence, talent & beauty. This is Kelly. She is a true unicorn, yet completely integrated into this world. Get to know her. She will add a dimension you didn’t know you needed.

KELLY STRANDEMO

Artist and author Mako Fujimura writes about the “Kintsugi” approach to life and art. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with precious metals, most often, gold. The art form embraces the philosophy that the repair of broken items can, in fact, make them more valuable, more beautiful. The traces of past brokenness do not need to be disguised or “fixed,” but made new. The result is one-of-a-kind pieces of handiwork that elevate something “ordinary” like a teacup to a unique, precious work of art. 

Finding Susan was like finding the Kintsugi artist of vocal healing, beauty, and creation. That may sound like some over-philosophized prose, but I mean it in the real, nitty gritty sense. Both Susan and I were involved in separate, near-fatal car crashes before our personal paths collided. We both carry very physical and emotional scars on and in our bodies. Having had two surgeries and two different titanium plates in my arm alone, my scars are visible. Susan understood, and understands, the artistry of repair and renewal. And then there are, of course, the invisible scars we ALL carry. I used to wish them all away. I wanted to be a perfect teacup. I wanted to be the imagined cookie-cutter image of Broadway actors who easily “fit the mold.” I’d be lying if I didn’t say that there’s a fragment of me that still desires perfection, but it’s now only one of the tiny pieces of the cup. Now, I have begun to see the strength, resilience, and yes, even the beauty that can come from the fusion of all the broken pieces. The seams are the places where gold can be seen. My goal as an actor, writer, and singer, is no longer to try to disguise, cover up, or negate the broken parts, but to use them to make something new and generative…. to “kintsugi” my life and art. I still have big ambitions for my career, but know that the path to them will be anything but ordinary. 

Okay, so that’s the more serious, internal, missional part of my personality. Here’s the other side: I am a fire sign, but a water baby. Put me near any ocean, pool, or bathtub and I am a happy girl… but make sure all those places are near indoor plumbing as a camper, I am NOT.  I love dogs, and am compelled to speak in a different, ridiculous, high frequency to any cute pup that crosses my path. At this point, it is beyond my control. I cannot imagine my life without a good cup of coffee as I’ve been drinking it since I was two years old. Yes, literally, TWO. My grandfather gave me some from his cup thinking I wouldn’t like it, and SURPRISE! My life-ling addiction began! (For the record, I am 5’6” so that whole “it’ll stunt your growth” thing is a myth.)  I grew up in the south, finished high school in southern California, went to undergrad in the Midwest, and graduate school in London. I’ve loved most of the places I’ve lived, but I am in a long-term relationship with New York City.  I don’t use this term lightly, but I “fell in love” with the city when I first came here as a teenager, and can’t imagine ever calling another place “home,” even when work takes me elsewhere. I love Peanuts (the comic), but dislike peanut butter (look, just means there’s more for you!). I traditionally spend the first moments of the new year in a bathtub - with clothes on – often ridiculous ones. I don’t have any siblings, but I have the best friends around, and am lucky to now count Susan Eichhorn Young among them! 

Kelly’s upcoming projects:

Collaboration with Weathervane Theatre (acting & writing) – summer & fall 2022

CARDIFF (I play “Tammi”) – short film shot in the UK to be released in 2022 

Catch me on insta at @strandemofficial or online at kellystrandemo.com for everything else!