If you’re someone who thinks it’s been a little too long since we’ve had a great rock opera, then Kelsy Karter & The Heroines’ sophomore full-length, Love Made Me Do It, just might be your first favorite album of 2025… The band – comprised of Aussie frontwoman Kelsy Karter and a trio of Englishmen (lead guitarist Matt Peach, drummer Sebastian Boyse, and bassist Tommy Gent) — has described the follow-up to 2020’s Missing Person as, “an autobiographical rock opera about the grit and grace of love in all its forms.” The 14-song LP, which is set for release on January 31st, boasts an amalgam of the kinds of ‘80s glam, metal, punk, and soul that the band have become known for over the last half-decade. And Kelsy Karter & The Heroines will be bringing their latest sounds to the States on the “Lightning In a Bottle” headlining tour, which kicks off the night before the album drops and will find the quartet in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection on February 13th, when they play The Foundry at The Fillmore. I recently got a chance to chat with Kelsy and The Heroines about all of this and more.
Izzy Cihak: You’ve had a lot going on this year, between winning a She Rocks Award, a collaboration with Hudson Thames and Nuno Bettencourt, a bunch of touring (including a date here in Philly), dropping a bunch of singles, and completing your sophomore full-length. What have been some of the highlights of 2024 for you?
Kelsy Karter: A few to note would be the day we solved the immigration hell we were in (IYKYK), the day we had the album mastered, and yeah, winning the Spirit Award at She Rocks was definitely pretty cool.
Izzy: Have you had any favorite fan reactions to the new music?
Kelsy: Fans getting our lyrics tattooed on them. As someone who has a lot of tattoos, (most) of mine mean something to me so it’s always a cool feeling when your poetry means that much to someone else.
Izzy: I know that Love Made Me Do It, the sophomore LP, is a rock opera, which I feel like we don’t get enough of these days. How did that idea come about, and how do you feel like the album compares to your debut LP?
Kelsy: We don’t make music to be some fast and viral moment – I’ve had that already, hahaha. We make it to make people feel something, including ourselves. So, we made the album we wanted to make without thinking about the industry or the expectations or the trends. And, hopefully, it’ll make you and others feel something, too. Missing Person was about heartbreak, depression, losing oneself… Love Made Me Do It is the opposite. It’s about all the different kinds of love. There’s more certainty, hope, optimism, and wisdom in it. And a lot more guitars, too.
Izzy: I know a lot of artists find sophomore albums to be tricky because they simultaneously feel like they need to live up to what fans loved about the first record, while not doing something that sounds exactly the same. Did you feel any of that, or did you just enjoy the chance to continue to build your catalogue for your fanbase?
Kelsy: You can never please everyone, and to be honest, I don’t want to. That’s no fun. We’re just doing what inspires us at the moment and seeing what happens. Evolution happens to all of us, personally and creatively, and that’s exciting.
Izzy: Have you noticed patterns amongst your biggest fans? Your vibes would seem to have an obvious appeal to people into classic rock n’ roll of the ‘70s and ‘80s, but I feel like your sound probably has a wider appeal than just that (Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to make it out to a live show of yours yet to see for myself, but I’ll be there in February!)
Kelsy: When someone says ballads are dead, they’re so wrong. Some of our biggest tunes are ballads and our fans love them. Our audience has always been quite young but since touring with Billy Idol and our viral cover of “Alone”, that has definitely broadened. I love when we see fathers and daughters at our gigs. Rock ‘n roll is for everyone.
Izzy: On a sort of related note, since we’re nearing the end of 2024, I’m curious if you’ve had any favorite music to drop this year? Again, your sounds obviously nod to various previous eras, but I suspect you also listen to some things that might not be so obvious to fans…
Kelsy: Alex Cameron, Inhaler, The Joy Hotel, The Bloobs, Sam Fender, ABBA, and always, Oasis
Tommy Gent: Jamie T and the Sugababes.
Sebastian Boyse: Deafheaven, The Police, and Cigarettes After Sex mostly.
Matt Peach: “Hello Again” and “I’m Not In Love” covers by Fun Loving Criminals – on repeat.
Izzy: You often utilize social media to provide advice and support for fans about embracing their respective identities and just approaching life in general. Do you have any basic advice for young people who may be looking for an outlet to express themselves?
Kelsy: Be kind, but take no shit. People will always think they know better than you. But remember, no one knows you better than you. Your gut, your will, your nerve, your instinct are all you need to guide you. Own your individuality and tell your fucking story. It’s the most powerful thing you have.
Izzy: You’re gearing up to kick off the “Lightning In a Bottle” tour early in 2025, which will have you playing some of the biggest headlining venues you’ve played in the States. Are there any dates you’re especially excited about?
Kelsy: New York City, baby. It’s my favourite city to play and our biggest headline in the US to date. We might even be recording a cheeky live record there, too.
Peach: Philly! For the big afternoon history tour!
Seb: LA because I am actually yet to play Los Angeles as an official “Heroine”.
Tommy: I’m with Kels. New York is always my favourite no matter how big or small.
Izzy: Here you’ll be playing The Foundry, which is more than twice the size of the venue you played when you were last here. How do you like playing these bigger rooms, compared to barrooms? There’s obviously something very rock n’ roll about a cramped and sweaty barroom, but there’s also something nice about having a little more space for a bigger spectacle of sorts.
Kelsy: We don’t care how big or small the audience is, we just love to play. There’s a charm in the smaller rooms that you don’t get with big ones, but there’s a feeling you get in a big rooms that is special. It’s like you’re making the little kid in you very proud.
Izzy: Finally, considering that the new album is called Love Made Me Do It and “about the grit and grace of love in all its forms,” it feels fittingly festive that you’ll be playing here the night before Valentine’s Day… Anything you may tell couples to convince them to make this show one of their Valentine’s Day outings? What can be expected of the live experience this time around?
Kelsy: Well first off, the whole band will be there — If you know what we went through earlier this year then you know how special this tour is for us. And we’re obviously playing the new record, which is an experience in itself. This shit was made to be played live. More theatre, more guitar solos, more poetry and always blood sweat ‘n tears.
*Get your tickets here.
**Listen for Kelsy Karter & The Heroines on the next edition of Philthy Radio, 1/17 (9-11pm ET) on Y-Not Radio.
