Let's get this started.
Where in the world is Kelsey Miles?
Well, Kelsey Miles came to the University of Wisconsin
for a PhD and she left with a music career,
taking up a guitar and ditching life in a chem lab.
Opportunities recently taken Kelsey to Kansas City
where barbecue blues and now Taylor Swift ruled the day.
Oh no.
Kelsey is back in Wisconsin for the holidays
to record and play for us right here,
live in the air on Maxine Gradio.
Kelsey Miles, welcome back to Mel,
Maxine Gradio.
What an amazing welcome.
I'm so glad to have you back in Wisconsin.
Thank you so much.
It's so nice to be back.
So when we pulled in, when I say we, it's my cat, Rodi.
Yes.
Oh no.
It's Rodi in the car.
Rodi is not in the car.
This time, but I know you've met Rodi in my car.
I've met Rodi in my car.
We pulled into my, where we were staying.
And as soon as I got there, I said, Rodi,
I said, where are we?
And she perked up and I said, are we home?
And she me out, went right to the door, went right upstairs.
She knew exactly where we were.
She's happy to be back.
She's just like me.
March.
Oh my God.
We're happy to be here.
Okay.
Obviously we know everything about you and we love that.
But for our listeners, and we've been saying, please, please,
you got to, you got to check this out.
But for anybody, maybe not familiar with you and the nontraditional
root to music, I love this.
Who are you?
How'd you get into music?
Yeah.
Great big question.
Yes.
Rodi, you did a really great job of summarizing my transition,
which is so crazy.
You know, so I moved here in 2013.
And I stayed here for 10 years because I loved Wisconsin so much.
When I moved here, I moved for grad school.
And I ended up getting my PhD in chemistry.
And then I know it's, I really like creative.
I like finding creative solutions to problems.
And it was that creativity that I think transcended into my music.
Now, I was going through a terrible time when I came here.
This life in general and music came into my life.
But it found me, you know, it found me.
When I grew up, my dad always said, you either have it or you don't.
Never believed him until I picked up the guitar.
I could play and sing at the same time.
And I started writing music immediately.
And I thought everyone could.
And we're talking about 2013 though.
This was 2014 then, when I picked it out.
That's when you started playing the guitar.
That's what blows me away.
That's a first instrument.
I was not musical.
I sang in the lab, real loud, you know.
That's what I did.
And then when I picked up the guitar, I started writing music.
And it was through writing.
That I started to heal all the stuff that therapy didn't quite do for me.
You know, talking about it didn't quite work.
I needed music.
I needed song.
And it was through that.
And then I met people.
And the people I met through music, including you guys.
Like it's blown my mind like the community with music.
And how that, I just, I couldn't be more grateful.
That music, I feel like music plucked me out of like depression and all that stuff.
Yeah.
You know, I think a lot of us feel that way.
And so, yeah, 2017 got my PhD, went full-time music, driving around playing solo shows.
And then I found my cat on the road.
Yes.
You know, and I made a living playing solo shows, looping my guitar, playing harmonica, playing bars, lots of bars.
And then the pandemic hit, stop playing shows as much.
And then I started teaching online.
Oh, I didn't even know you did that.
And yeah, I taught at UW-Madison.
I had over 300 students in my organic chemistry course.
It was crazy.
But it was fun because I got to show them like, hey, chemistry can be fun.
And you can do anything you want with it.
So I showed them some of my music and stuff.
So I found a way to kind of navigate some of the teaching and bring that back in.
Inspired me for more songs.
And now I'm back to music actually in Kansas City.
I picked up another teaching gig.
Oh my god.
Anyway, you know, music has offered me a lot of new opportunities.
And I'm so glad it found me in 2014.
We're so glad it found you too because music would be a little sadder without you, I think.
So I'm so glad that you're around for us.
Wow.
Okay, so if music is still sort of new, I guess, what were you into before music?
Obviously school and work.
You know, it's interesting.
I think that we often will focus on things that make us feel successful.
And at the time, I didn't know what that was.
So I just listened to what other people told me was success.
And the easiest way for me to be successful was school.
You know, so I poured myself into that.
I jumped through all the hoops that someone else told me.
You jumped through that hoop.
You're going to feel good.
And I didn't really serve me.
Yeah.
So yeah.
It did.
I guess it served me.
Not my soul.
It wasn't that wasn't quite the hoop I wanted.
Well, what did it feel like though?
When I, because you know, usually the people fall back on a degree, right?
They're like, you know, you're like, can I go pursue music?
And your parents are like, no, get a degree first.
Let me go pursue music.
And you could like fall back on it.
But you like got your degree.
You were like a PhD.
And you jumped.
You said, I know.
Forget the scrubs, right?
Oh, I know.
What did that, what did that feel like just like letting that go?
Well, that was so difficult because I disappointed every person in my life.
I really did because everyone went, when people know you in a certain way, right?
They knew me as the chemist.
And I was going to get a chemistry degree and all this stuff.
The only people that were accepting with my music friends.
You did it again.
It's great.
But everyone else was very disappointed.
And so actually, that transition from me was the most difficult choice I had to make
because it was my decision.
It was what felt right to me.
And I think those are the hardest when you have outside external influences.
And I'm not saying that was bad.
You know, like when you have family who they just want you to do well.
They want it.
They mean, well, they want you to be safe and secure.
And you know, a career in music is not, doesn't feel as secure as chemistry.
They worry.
They worry.
And so then when you, when I made that decision, that was one of the hardest decisions I made
to really choose not only myself, but my what I wanted, right?
And I feel so grateful I could actually do that.
You know, I lived in the basin of a friend's place for a while.
Like I was like, I was just trying to make ends meet.
You know, and I was like, am I crazy?
Because I could go get a job.
You know, but I, it was the right thing for me.
And yeah, it was really, really tough.
That was a really tough point in my life to make that decision that was best for me.
And following my intuition there, I just was like, something's here.
It feels right.
I want to explore it.
I don't know where I'm going to go.
I don't know if it's going to work.
Scary.
It was so scary.
And that's what people always say, though, you got to go with your gut.
Yes.
You know, you listen to your head or your heart and sometimes that goes in a whole weird direction.
So, oh my gosh.
Well, let's get to some live music in the air with Kelsey Miles, presented by the Aaron Weber group.
Kelsey, the first song you have for us tonight, it's really about this topic.
It's one of my favorite songs.
And we play this all the time.
It's called Save My Soul.
So, is this a song written while you were in scrubs?
You know what?
This is a song when I was, yeah, I was in grad school and I was, I remember starting to write this
because I felt like an imposter in the chemistry world.
I didn't fit in chemistry because I wasn't just a chemist and then I didn't fit at night in music at the jams and stuff
because I was kind of hiding the fact that I was in grad school for a chemist.
Like, who does that?
What are you doing here?
You have a PhD.
I know.
I know.
So, I didn't feel cool enough for the music scene and I felt, maybe it's a little too cool for some of the chemistry.
I didn't feel like I fit in either world.
And, you know, at the end of the day, though, when you feel that way, there's a part of you that knows it will all work out.
And in this song, you're going to hear me say the words, let the music roll.
And it's this idea and music really saved me in a big, big way like it saved all of us.
And you just, you know, the music keeps going, right?
And you just kind of let the music roll and it'll all work out.
So, yeah, this song's called Save Myself.
All right.
It's Kelsey Miles, live in the air on Maxine Gradio.
We are local music.
Music
Six strings, my hands don't wrist.
I've got a secret soul.
I have to confess everything I'm known.
It feels so stage.
So, it sits on a new horizon.
Spend a little night's guess.
Fence out there.
And I lose myself in the light.
Hey, I'm a stranger to myself.
Want to recognize and I want it.
No, I say I so.
I say my soul, let the music roll.
Seasons pass.
Reflections change.
I bury all that I have in the grave of mine.
Six strings, make me feel at home.
Well, that's too bright.
And now I'm a fan.
I'm saved to song.
Now pay my earn a hand.
Everything I'm known.
Well, it feels so strange.
Let me take some.
I'm a stranger to myself.
Want to recognize and I want it.
No, I say my soul, let the music roll.
Seasons pass.
I say my soul, let the music roll.
I say my soul, I say my soul.
And I say let the music.
Yeah, I say let the music.
I say let the music roll.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
All right, Kelsey Miles.
Right here, live in the Laira, Maxing Radio.
Broadcasting on the Civic media.
I have those bombs.
Oh, that was so good.
We are so happy to have you back.
Kelsey Madison has a great music scene.
Yeah.
But you moved to Kansas City for the music scene.
Yeah, why?
I'm sorry.
Describe to us.
You know, we live in this great music scene here.
We do.
We're like, we've got an original music all the time.
I love it.
Tell us about this other scene somewhere far away.
How dare I, right?
No, I know.
You know what?
I love Madison.
I really do.
And so much so that I came back here to record.
Yeah.
And I came back here to record with my van because they're amazing.
And I say my van, really, they're friends of mine.
I've been playing with them for years and they're killer musicians.
And blast house studios is a killer studio.
Landon Arkins is amazing at what he does.
I'm so grateful to be back to be recording.
And that's the important part, right?
And recording, right?
No.
Now, when I traveled, so I traveled a lot, you know, playing solo shows.
And one of my booking agents in St. Louis had me kind of do some loops.
And one of my loops went to Kansas City.
And so I went to, I always like to go to the blues jams in new cities.
Because blues jams really helped me understand about the city a bit
and how the musicians work together and what the vibe is like.
You just kind of understand a little bit more of that.
And in Kansas City, there are so many blues jams.
And I showed up there and I felt so at home.
And so I think one of the main takeaways.
And we could talk more about, you know, jams and all that stuff.
I think the takeaway that I felt in Kansas City was that there's a little more,
there's a little bit more of a blues scene there.
It's got a little bit southern charm kind of kicking in, okay?
A little more soul coming in.
And then it's a bigger city.
Yeah.
And so what happens is that in a bigger city, you still, like Madison has phenomenal musicians, okay?
And so like I've got Joe White on drums, Adam Naman on guitar, Todd Fipps on organ.
I mean, yeah.
These are like killer, killer musicians.
John Meseralis on bass.
Jared Lander on bass as well.
You might not have heard of him.
He's pretty new here.
Oh, go ahead.
Fantastic musicians.
When you go to a bigger city, you have that level and it goes deeper.
Yes, and there's just more of that level of music, you know, of top musicians.
So what happens is you start to get a little more flavor as a different stuff.
And I was looking to expand, in particular, as looking to expand,
with blues and harmonica.
And so actually I got hired by a blues band as soon as I got in there to just play harmonica.
Not even to sing, just harmonica.
That's great.
I have to tell you this super quick.
I played a song for my mom and my nephew was there.
And he's like, harmonica, who is that?
Who is that?
Oh my gosh, she's amazing.
Next time I visit, my nephew has a harmonica and he's learning how to play it because of you.
Get out.
No, he's 10.
Wow.
Oh my gosh, that's awesome.
Yep, he was blown away by your harmonica.
So I just got nominated for a whammy for harmonica player, but I'm like,
do they know?
No, no, Wisconsin.
Who knows?
Well, maybe you were at the time.
I was probably at the time, right?
You mentioned this band.
I think are you talking about Lost Wax?
Oh, you know what?
This is a different band, Lost Wax.
So, okay, so I'm traveling through Kansas City.
Okay.
And then it was through, I don't even know, it was almost like a cold call.
Someone told me about, it was like, I met people in your network.
And this band Lost Wax is a corporate band.
It's got about 50 to 60 professional musicians.
And we go and play real fancy weddings and corporate events.
And it's really fun because it's a cover band.
It's a cover band show.
But you show up to this beautiful wedding.
You get a real nice dinner.
You know?
What?
What, you want me there at 2 p.m. for soundcheck?
No problem.
You know, we've got a uniform.
We all wear the same Adidas shoes.
We wear black.
I love that.
We wear 10-10 shoes.
That's very awesome.
Comfortable shoes.
And we play like, we play all kinds of music.
But we do the wedding receptions.
And they're all on click tracks.
And so it's as a vocalist, it's pretty tough.
It's non-stop.
So we've done like, I've done, you know, two, three hour non-stop shows.
It's constant.
It's so much fun, though.
And so they were the, so I didn't play at the NFL draft.
They were the band for the NFL draft.
We saw them.
Yeah.
And then later I think you posted about lost wax.
And I was like, I said to my husband.
Yeah.
That is the NFL draft band.
Yeah.
Because I was happening in Kansas City.
So what happened was I kept, I was playing with them probably
about once as I met them.
And then I played with them.
Oh, I just, I love the people in that band.
So then they kept booking me about once a month.
And then what they started to do is because I got busy up here
and they were like, don't worry, we'll fly you down.
So they started flying me down just to get me down for gigs.
And then I talked to the guy who was, you know, in charge of booking.
And he goes, yeah, that was the whole point to get you to move here.
So I started, I started feeling, I was like, man, I feel a little guilty.
They're really investing in me.
You know, and so, you know, we play on Saturdays most Saturdays.
But I've traveled, you know, to Houston and Dallas and St. Louis
and places in Arkansas, so with them.
Yeah.
It's been, this move has really opened up, you know, things for me as far as networking
and also meeting people that give me different flavors for my music,
which is, which is fun.
I get to come back here and record it in the studio.
And then come visit us.
Thank you.
Wow.
Well, let's get back to live music in the layer with Kelsey Miles,
presented by the Aaron Wehrer group.
The next song you have for us tonight, it's called I Go Back.
Tell us about this song before you play.
Yeah.
I go back is all about those ruminating thoughts in your head.
So when you have something in your life that maybe didn't turn out how you wanted it to
and you just keep going back to that thought.
And I thought about this one day because I was like, how am I going to, you know,
you have a thought and you're like, I want to stop thinking about that thing.
That never works because it just makes you think about the thing more.
And so the easiest way I found to do it was just to let my mind keep thinking about it,
eventually your mind gets tired of it, you know.
So this song is about going back in that thought process that kind of circles back
and you can't really get rid of it.
Yeah.
Kelsey Miles live in the layer on Maxine Gradio Wehrer local music.
I remember me all too well.
Like a picture burning in my eyes.
Here in your memory drives my crazy baby.
But I never, I know I never satisfied with this.
Well I'm there, I'm there if I do.
And I'm there, I'm there if I don't.
Oh, if I could just fall at you.
But I know that I won't.
So I go back.
I go back every time.
I go back every time.
You, you and I.
I go back.
I go back.
I go back.
Well it was only one moment.
I tell you, can I, can I see your face?
Oh, if I could just forget your baby.
But then I never, no I'd never be the same.
Well I'm there, I'm there if I do.
And I'm there, I'm there if I don't.
Oh, if I could just fall at you.
But I know that I won't.
So I go back.
I go back every time.
I go back every time.
You, you and I.
I go back.
I go back.
I go back.
I go back every time.
I go back every time.
You, you and I.
Please, I go back.
I go back.
I go back.
Oh, I go back every time.
Oh, yeah.
Wow.
We're getting some texts on our little text line.
Oh, man.
One says, I am just so excited for these layers tonight.
Awesome.
This one came in during your song.
Kelsey songs are great and so relatable.
Oh, you know what's, yeah.
I love this.
Whoever just said that.
So relatable.
So think about this.
Yeah, actually all go through very similar, very similar emotions and thought processes
and struggles.
They are colored and they have different flavors because of the situation you're in.
Right?
So my situation, right, of going, getting a PhD and all that stuff, that's still had the theme
of finding my way, my intuition and listening to, but we all go through those things.
I love that they just said so relatable and that's because we literally all go through
very similar things, just different situations.
I need to listen to those words and it's like, yeah, that's my song.
She wrote my song.
I've been there.
Wow.
Well, let's get back to live music in the layer with Kelsey Miles, presented by the Aaron
Weber group.
The next song you have for us tonight, it's called Go Easy.
Tell us about this song before you play it.
Oh, man.
And then we're going to hit a break and then we'll be back because we saw a lot more
to go through.
Oh, yes.
Totally.
This is Go Easy.
Yeah, I wasn't expecting to get there this quickly.
So that's totally cool.
I can't believe I promised that to you.
This is on the next album already.
Wow.
Rocker, I think you called me before my coffee.
Beauty.
Good job, Rocker.
Thank you.
Thank you.
All right, let's see if I remember all the words.
Okay.
So here's the thing.
Go Easy is on my next album.
My next album is called Aware.
So my first album is called I Am.
And it's in this series that I'm actually writing.
So just stay tuned how many I have already planned in my head.
This song, my, I am is the album I just, I recently released, which is about discovering
your authentic self.
It's very relatable.
We all go through similar things.
My album I'm working on now is called Aware.
And it is about working through being a people pleaser.
I know.
And I think we all, they're so, especially going over the Midwest.
And so Go Easy is this song that asks the person that's near you to go easy on you.
Because you, you just went through the ringer with something and you're trying your best.
And you weren't quite on a solid foundation yet.
Makes sense.
Yep.
Cool.
Let's see if I remember all the, all the words.
I don't know.
Let's see.
Go easy, Kelsey.
Go easy.
Brand new from Kelsey Miles, Live in the Lair on Maxine Corredio.
I had a sneaky suspicion.
You were all a different bitch.
And I only was on the other side.
You're having me asking for me.
She's like I'm losing my ambition.
You're the only thing that is on my mind.
Yeah.
I got my vision for creed.
And I didn't all the feeling.
Getting more and more well.
But I do it inside.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
I put your puzzle back together.
But no one won't the piece if I find.
Between the cushions in your soul.
Find the edges and the colors.
Tell which pieces are yours on mine.
I'm flying, flying, and so will fly.
Attend and take it over.
Oh, I'll crash this plane and everyone dies.
Well, if I'm being honest, starting over
with this knowledge scares me more than I realize.
One more please.
Go easy, eat opposite my thoughts.
Be easy, too.
Go easy.
Go easy.
Work big with this courage.
Go easy.
Go easy.
Go easy.
Go easy on me.
Go easy.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
Kelsey Miles in the air on Maxing Radio.
We'll be right back after this break.
All right.
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We'll be back with more of Kelsey Miles live in the air right after this.
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We need to put some little post it notes up for her.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Maxing Radio.
Filling in for Jimmy as my cake is nice.
So as Kelsey, as Kelsey would say, be go easy on me.
Go easy.
Go easy.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
Go easy on me.
I'll tell you, KJ, the software that runs all this music and all these commercials and all this stuff.
It's not for the meek, right?
And there's a lot of buttons.
There's a lot of stuff.
I have a PhD in chemistry in that.
That is a lot.
I'm seeing already.
I don't know how to make you feel better.
It does.
It does.
Thank you.
There you go.
There's a lot going on.
Well, Kelsey, you didn't ditch the PhD altogether.
Oh, kidding.
Can we call you Professor Miles now?
I mean, you're an assistant professor of chemistry at Avila University.
You can call me.
Not.
So I actually, so I was, I was going down there for the Lost Swacks.
I actually was playing with Lost Swacks for about a year and a half almost before I, you know,
really was like, I'm going to move to Kansas City.
A friend of mine, it's Avila University, works at Avila.
And she goes like, we need another chemistry professor.
And specifically in the field that I, that I, I am, I know, right?
Organic chemistry.
Oh, man.
And, and so I told her no.
And then she was like, oh, just come meet my colleagues.
So I meet her colleagues online and, oh, it, it wasn't just meeting them.
It was an interview.
And I was like, wait a second.
They're really organized.
And everyone in the department is here.
I'm like, oh, this is an interview.
So she wrote me a turned interview.
And then I met everyone.
And they all have a passion for teaching.
And what I loved is there were smaller classes there.
And I was pretty sure I was going to say no.
Like I was pretty sure.
And I was like, whatever.
So they, so they flew me down to, to interview.
And I thought, why not?
I'm going to move to Kansas City.
Let's just go meet them.
You know, maybe it fell in my lap for, for a reason.
And I, I went there.
And I was like, oh, wow.
They care about teaching.
They care about students.
I, yeah.
So I, I said yes to it.
And what's been so cool is that it's allowed me freedom to then go play at whatever blues jam.
Say yes to only the gigs I want.
Oh, that's awesome.
And I'm not living in the basement of someone's, you know, like to start over again.
Which is what I did in Madison when I started my music career.
And so now I have a little foundation.
And then honestly teaching is really inspiring for, for music.
And, and I just, I, I've always loved teaching.
So, wow.
I don't know.
It kind of worked out.
Professor.
Professor Miles.
You have an upcoming lecture.
Or should I say performance at the Gibson Music Hall in Appleton.
Playing a few songs with Kyle Macden and the Monsuit.
Oh, hello.
Yeah.
Tell us about this collaboration.
How did the molecules fit?
Oh, my gosh, right.
Well, so this one, so I'm, I'm probably playing opening, opening for them.
They're going to, Gibson Hall is doing this huge, like New Year's weekend.
Tons of music.
And so Dave texted me literally on the drive up to Wisconsin.
And the owner of gives, he's like, hey, you coming in, you know, you coming into town for the holidays?
I said, get out.
I just got here.
Oh, wow.
And so he was like, well, come on up.
And so Appleton has some, some really great venues and, and, and with Gibson as a host.
Yeah.
And so I was like, sure.
So then I'm going to jump up there on Thursday and go see some people and play a few songs.
And yeah.
I'm glad we could talk about it and let people know about it too.
Yeah, it's an Appleton.
I think it starts at, I think doors are seven.
And yeah, you can go on the website for that.
What's the data on that?
Next Thursday.
Thursday, the 28th, I believe.
Okay.
There's some music call in Appleton, everyone.
Gibson Music Hall on, it's on Thursday evening, because Friday, Saturday, Sunday, I'm in the studio.
So yeah.
This sounds like a good lineup ahead.
Well, let's get back to live music in the layer with Kelsey Miles, presented by the Aaron Weber group.
This next song is called Time and Again.
Is this song about Dronehog Day?
Oh my gosh, that is a great movie.
It is actually in a way.
Think about this.
So when you repeat the same thing over and over again, that's kind of what this is.
Now, here's the difference.
Well, maybe I should just jump ship on the Groundhog Day idea.
Time and again is this idea that something will keep coming back in your sphere until you learn the lesson.
And so, yeah.
Now, here's the thing.
With everything that you say, ooh, there is the other side that goes, ooh.
So there's a Yine Yang, there's a positive and a negative to everything, really.
So in Time and Again talks about the lesson coming back, but there's, there's peace in that.
Because you know that if you don't learn the lesson, you don't have to worry.
It'll come back in snack, yeah.
Okay.
Seriously.
It's so true.
And that's so true with everything in life.
If you don't listen to your intuition, something's going to come up, a door will shut in your face.
That is how this works, you know.
And so, Time and Again is about the time when I didn't, they didn't listen.
And then I didn't listen.
And then I didn't listen.
And it just kept coming back.
And I'm grateful because I learned.
Okay.
That's called the God's Mac.
Yeah.
We're listening to Kelsey Miles, live in the Lair on Maxine Gradio.
We are local music.
There was always a reason, you and I were meant for keeping, we're not all the problems.
I was thinking that one day we'd solve them.
There was a time when I thought that this could last.
Now I'm thinking maybe it was all just a part of my path.
Time and again, you stole my heart and lived to me wanting more.
I'm lost in the way you said you tried.
I can't do this no more.
Time and again.
Every issue, I'm blessing, ignoring it without confessing.
We were spinning in circles thinking that we were moving forward.
There was a time when I thought that this could last.
Now I'm thinking maybe it was all just a part of my path.
Time and again, you stole my heart and lived to me wanting more.
I'm lost in the way you said you tried.
I can't do this no more.
I can't do this no more.
I can't do this no more.
I have a league, I fully stream.
My mouth's playing tricks on me.
Now nothing's changed.
Now I see you can't be loved for me.
Time and again, you stole my heart and lived to me wanting more.
I'm lost in the way you said you tried.
I can't do this no more.
I said I can't do this no more.
There was a time when I thought that this could last.
That was awesome.
Thank you so much.
People could see some of the behind the scenes.
I'm going to share this video.
I filmed it and I don't know.
That took three people because things were falling.
I got real into that song.
Isn't it crazy?
Nobody would ever know.
No, that's because we're professionals here.
Absolutely.
Let's move along and talk about I am.
The new album.
That's what it's called.
I am.
And I want to read your words and then you can.
This is what I texted.
This morning.
I'm going to read Kelsey pre-coffee.
Here's what you told rocker.
Writing the album I am was so monumental in my growth and foundation as my true self
that I wanted to share it with others during the album writing.
I uncovered a lot of my truths by asking, shining a light on all of the parts,
even those I like to keep locked up or hidden.
Wow.
Wow.
I may have never drank coffee again.
I'm smart.
Look, this is good.
What truth did you uncover?
Oh boy, now we want to know more.
So many.
Okay.
You know, my second song on this album is called Shadow.
And it really talks about my favorite line in that song is darkness leads you to the light.
There's something interesting about things that make us who we are.
There are things that maybe we don't think about much and they are kind of hidden
and we don't really want to open that box.
There's a reason we put it in a box and we put it in the back of our mind
and it stays there.
Right?
And there's something about not wanting to open it because we're afraid that there's fear involved.
We're afraid that if we open it up and we shine light on it, it might amplify, it might get worse.
So some of the things that we are afraid of, we have anxiety about, we get stressed about,
we don't really want to spend time on them because it's uncomfortable.
But that short term amount of time you spend that short term discomfort actually lends itself
to long term peace and contentment.
So let me explain.
So something I've uncovered about myself.
Right?
So much.
Something like I judge, I judge myself so much.
And I'm, I'm, I'm, I have an internal voice and inner critic that is so mean.
And you wouldn't believe it because I'm so nice, I'm so happy, I'm bubbly.
But we all have that inner critic.
Now, the inner critic isn't a bad thing.
There's good and bad with them, right?
With everything.
So you have this inner critic in your head.
It keeps you alive.
It helps you survive.
It keeps you away from the saber tooth tiger.
Oh, wait, there's no saber tooth tiger anymore.
So that inner critic is on overload for most of us.
So that's one of the things that I uncovered.
Why?
Is what that inner critic sounds like for me?
I've got a song.
I think it's on the playlist called Fool on my album.
I am talks about judgment.
And that's actually chapter three.
And I think we're going to get into this.
I am journal that I wrote.
But we all have these same kind of topics that are so similar.
But your inner critic is going to be different than mine.
It's going to come up in different ways and get triggered in different ways.
But that was one of the pieces.
One of the small pieces I uncovered of actually writing through the songs
and going, whoa, I say that to myself.
And there are things I say to push myself to get something done or to whatever.
But you know, you look in the mirror and maybe you say things that aren't very nice.
And we don't want to spend time on that voice because we're afraid it'll get louder.
But actually, when you spend time on that voice, you say, hey, what makes you say that to me?
And you sit with it, it actually allows it to get a little quieter because it feels heard.
And then you don't, it doesn't get louder.
The things that are dark don't get darker when you shine light on them.
They always get lighter.
That's interesting.
Okay.
Now, I do want to ask you about this.
It's a lyrical journey that you're launching on January 6th.
Yes.
How does this include your passion for teaching?
Because I feel like I'm learning a lot already tonight.
Oh, listening to you.
You know why?
I was wondering if Amy...
I was wondering if Amy...
I was wondering if Amy...
You know, we're going to church.
Great.
I thought, maybe she doesn't have a chemistry PhD.
She has a psychology PhD.
No, I...
You know, I love research.
I love learning.
I really, I really do.
And I am very good at diving into subjects, which is what I did with my PhD.
And actually, psychology is a big, a big passion of mine.
And so, and obviously, through my story, I talked about how music really helped me heal.
And it wasn't just talking about things in therapy, right?
It's writing the music and hearing songs and connecting it with my thoughts.
And it's through music that that helped me heal.
So what I did with teaching...
So teaching, I take the...
It's a weed out class.
Organic chemistry is one of the most difficult chemistry courses you ask.
Any med school student, that's what they're going to say.
I love it because I can help students on all levels like really understand it.
I'm not perfect, but I try really hard.
I love taking difficult topics and figuring out a way.
A figuring out a way to help a student learn through it.
And so what I did with my I am album is I thought to myself,
this was so monumental for me.
It's transformed my life, you know, give me this foundation.
And I thought, how can I create something where I could...
Someone else could learn the same thing I just learned.
So I thought, well, not everyone's a songwriter and can write the songs and ask themselves
the hard questions when they're writing.
So I thought, what about...
What about the journaling?
Because if you have to spend time on all the hard topics I went through to write the lyrics,
it still be really similar.
And on top of that, I...
So I put this together.
Because of what I've learned with teaching and putting together curriculum
to help students learn difficult topics, that's what I did with this I am lyrical experience.
It involves meeting weekly, starting January 6th.
It's a hundred day experience.
And it comes with my beautiful journal.
I'm so excited about this hard cover.
I'm really nervous.
And I got this manufacturer's thicker paper.
So it's beautiful.
And then it comes with this box with my music, my album, download codes.
It comes with meditations.
I walk you through meditations as well that I created.
And all these little goodies inside of this box
comes with daily emails from me and then weekly meetings.
And it's really...
It's all encompassing community building.
The community that's already signed up for this are so excited.
And yes.
Wow.
Wow.
Did you have your hand up?
I put my hand up.
We've got five minutes left.
I've had his hand up.
So he wanted to ask the teacher a question.
I'm raising my hand.
That's what I thought you were doing.
And I said, as a good teacher, I stopped talking.
You did?
You looked right at him.
That was so funny.
And I was like, wait, why are you stopping talking?
Well, you know, that's a beautiful product.
Where can people find that online on your website?
KelseyMiles.com.
You can go right as you go.
KelseyMiles.com has a first thing that you'll see right there.
And they have time because this is all starting January.
Correct.
Correct.
I think the last day to order to make sure it gets to you by January 6th
is I think the 28th, the Thursday, the 28th.
So yeah, so I would check that out.
It's going to be a really, really great experience.
And for me too, I need it again.
So this will be the third time I've gone through this.
And I find more about myself every time I go through it.
Because as we learn more about ourselves,
we can keep going deeper in these topics.
And so I found that many of the people that are joining me on this journey
have recently gone through big transitions,
whether they went through a divorce.
They changed jobs.
They lost someone close to them.
They moved to a new city like I did.
These big transitions are, this is a perfect start to your year
if you're looking for something in a community to dive in.
This is amazing.
Kelsey, thanks for so much for coming in here.
While you're up here recording,
taking the time out to come play for us,
we have time for one more song.
In fact, we have about three minutes.
And I think you should probably just go right into it.
We're listening to Kelsey Miles here in the live in the layer,
presented by the Aaron Weber group.
The next song is called I See You Again.
Let's hear it and take us out.
Awesome.
You got a job to do.
Depends on you.
Putting everything from around you first.
And I know you're tired.
You're losing fire.
But I'm not.
You're losing fire.
You're losing fire.
You're losing fire.
You're losing fire.
You're losing fire.
You're losing fire.
You're losing fire.
But I know you're strength.
You through.
You may fail and you may fall.
So as it feels like nothing else I don't.
So let the soul remind you.
Thanks for you.
You're getting through.
Thank you.
I see you.
And everything you do.
I see you.
I see you.
And what you're going through.
I see you.
Behind your mask.
Emotions grab everything you bought to look inside.
But you don't show it.
Now you keep your focus.
It's your strength.
It's gonna end on fire.
You may fail and you may fall.
So as it feels like nothing else I don't.
So let the song remind you.
Thanks for you.
You're getting through.
It's true.
I see you.
And everything you do.
I see you.
I see you.
And what you're going through.
I see you.
I see you.
As I see you.
And everything you do.
I see you.
And what you're going through.
I see you.
Yes, I do.
I see you.
And we need to.
Yes, we need to.
Yes, we're doing it.
I see you.
I see you.
I see you.
I see you.
Woo!
Woo!
Wow.
Absolutely.
By the way, I brought you guys a gift.
So that I am lyrical box set.
I have one for each of you.
Oh my goodness.
Yes, I wanted to bring you some of the goodies to you.
Thank you.
And if you wanna dive in, I'll send you the Zoom links.
You can join us if you'd like.
Thank you so much for having me.
It's been a pleasure, Kelsey.
Thank you so much.
Kelsey Miles, everybody.
Wow.
Love you guys.
Thank you so much.
Back at you.
