Photo: Corné de Weert
Bio
Whether it be in her songs or other creative works, she tends to shine a light on raw, sincere emotions, frequently exploring themes of vulnerability, introspection and self-care. Driven by the firm belief that there must be others who recognize these same feelings and, hopefully, feel less alone as a result.
Elly previously worked with Grammy Award-winning producer Larry Klein (Joni Mitchel, Tracy Chapman, Bob Dylan), Iain Matthews (Fairport Convention, Matthews Southern Comfort) and was awarded with the Tamoil Culture Award for the Arts & Literature. Jury report excerpt: “Elly is able to write about what is sharp and painful in a way that makes it slightly muffled and vague and therefore easier to digest and look at. At the same time she knows how to make the vague visible with exactly the right words...”
News & Past projects
Photo: Andy Houtman
Singing for people living with dementia
In 2025, Elly Kellner began playing music for the residents of one of Aafje's nursing homes. Aafje is an organization for elderly care, and this particular location houses a small-scale nursing home, primarily for people with various forms of dementia. Initially, she volunteered as a buddy for two residents, sometimes bringing her guitar along to entertain them. After that, she was invited to give small concerts in some of the living rooms.
Now, Elly regularly sings beautiful songs by others, songs she also has fond memories of. Smiles all round: some residents closed their eyes and danced with their hands, others sang along or stood up to dance the twist. All emotions were welcome and singing along was encouraged. The connection had a positive effect on everyone present.
OOR: album review of Out Of The Flames
Album review (2023) by Willem Jongeneelen of Elly Kellner's new album Out Of The Flames in the biggest music magazine of the Netherlands. You can find the album on all online streaming platforms.
🗣 ‘A magazine that really gives a shit’ - Josh Homme
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Hete Vuren
For the exhibition Hete Vuren in The Markiezenhof (2023) (Stichting M6 in collaboration with the Rijksmuseum), Elly was invited to compose songs for three paintings. The Markiezenhof, the oldest city palace in the Netherlands, is her favorite place in her former hometown of Bergen op Zoom.
Her three songs for the artworks can be found on Elly's album Out Of The Flames. They feature themes such as loneliness among the elderly, differences in taste (including in love) and 'rising like a phoenix' again after experiencing loss. Two concerts were given in The Markiezenhof, with 'het perkeffect' giving an extra dimension with specially created visuals.
Photo: SHOOT!ByGitta
Divina Commedia
In 2022, Elly sang the role of the Roman poet Virgil, who also composed and wrote. In the fashion theater DIVINA COMMEDIA by fashion designer Ward Warmoeskerken. Virgil is Dante's guide in Hell and on the Purification Mountain.
Within a mysterious atmosphere, Ward's beautiful costumes and enticing dance, Elly performed four songs. This music was partly written especially for this fashion theater. The show was performed at a unique location: an underground parking garage; subterranean and dark as Dante's Hell.
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Beyond Music
In 2019 Elly was invited to join the BEYOND Music Foundation. Through their online platform she was able to connect with musicians from around the world. She collaborated on five songs and her co-write ‘Different, You and I’ with Heather Bond from Nashville (USA) earned them both a spot on Beyond Music’s first album Same Sky.
Under the guidance of Grammy-winning producer Larry Klein (USA) Elly, Heather and 19 other artists recorded the album in Studios La Fabrique (France). Elly also made vlogs during the recording proces. A nice insight into her personal experience those two weeks.
In 2020 Elly took part again and worked on 16 songs, collaborating with 32 people from 21 countries. The song Si Ghan (a co-write with Dyllann from Cameroon) won them an award.
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Matthews Southern Comfort
At the Pastorale Au Parvis festival in Nisse (2007) Elly met Iain Matthews. Shorty after, he invited her to play at his Common Grounds concert series. From 2011 she performed with Iain and his Matthews Southern Comfort band with BJ Baartmans & Bart de Win.
They recorded ‘Kind of Live’ and she joined the band on the road for a number of years bringing beautiful harmonies to the people of the United Kingdom, The Netherlands and Italy.
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Shannon Lyon
Elly first met Canadian troubadour Shannon Lyon in 2011 after she saw him performing in her hometown. The story goes that she was so touched by his music that she cried and immediately offered to sing backingvocals for him.
Together they recorded the beautiful and melancholy album ‘Broken Things’. After that Elly sang backing vocals to many of his songs and joined Shannon live on tour in 2015. This was the first time she started vlogging, so the entire experience, from her point of view, is still available on Elly’s YouTube channel.
Photo:
Solo
Keshri (in The Netherlands)
After returning to the Netherlands Elly had enough material to record. In 2008 she went into the studio and recorded her self-titled EP, produced by Danny Gras. Bass player Lennart v/d Berg was playing those sessions and they vibed so well that they decided to get into a band together. Later on drummer Niels van Rooij joined them and they started the third version of Keshri. They performed live as a trio from 2009 till 2011.
Chanoyu
Chanoyu, another word for tea ceremony, was a psychedelic rock triphop band, sprouted from the graduation project of producer Danny Gras. Members included Danny Gras on electronics, Niels van Rooij on drums, Lennart v/d Berg on bassguitar and Bas on electric guitars.
In this formation Elly was able to experiment with more powerful vocals. Other than recording a so far unreleased album (Moon Sparkling) and two performances the band never got any further from being a project.
Keshri (in England)
In the UK Elly started up a new 'Keshri' with bassplayer Ian Starling and drummer Ric Byer. This was short-lasting and never went further than the rehearsalroom. In 2005 an EP was recorded under the guidance of producer Danny Gras but it was never released.
Tea Ceremony
Between 2002 and the start of 2004 Elly was the singer and co-composer in the band Tea Ceremony. This triphop formation was heavily influenced by Lamb, Moloko and Bjork and set up by producer Danny Gras. Other members were: Niels van Rooij, Andra Veraart, Jos Verveen. Stijn Loman and Sicco Faase were involved in the band as VJ.
Many songs were recorded but remain unreleased. Besides a try-out the group never performed live.
Acoustic-Noise-Duo Keshri
Between 1999 and 2003 Elly performed live with the Acoustic-Noise-Duo Keshri, together with multi-instrumentalist Andra Veraart. They played at the Breda Barst Festival and were opening act for The Gathering. This early version of Keshri stopped due to Elly moving to the United Kingdom in 2003.
Elly walked the English soil for three years and enjoyed the spotlight at Open Mic Nights and gigs in the London area.
Four strings
As a teenager and young adult Elly put all her emotions, and sometimes anger, into playing loudly on her Western guitar. This resulted in the two thinnest strings breaking quite often so by the year 1998 she gave up and bid them farewell. With a special tuning for the remaining four strings this made for a unique sound. Most of Elly’s songs are now still written and performed on her 4-string guitar. It is her preferred instrument. Elly Kellner started performing live from age 18.
Music as a steady factor
Strumming the guitar and singing from when she was 9 years old, music was always Elly's greatest source of joy and comfort. Not long after she picked up the guitar she started writing her own songs. These musings were first heard in a time when fantasy was a much needed escape from reality. Besides fantasy, music always remained the one steady factor in her life. Something she could depend on and find solace in.