Florida Agenda

Kelli from TV’s ‘NYC Prep’ debuts her first music single

Photo: Kelli on the music video set of “Gave Up on Love”. Courtesy, Project Publicity

By MAX JIMINEZ

Millions know Kelli as the girl from Bravo’s hit reality show, NYC Prep. Billed as the real life Gossip Girl, NYC Prep chronicled the lives of a group of privileged teenagers navigating through Manhattan’s elite prep school scene. But Kelli’s high school career wasn’t about masquerade parties and debutante balls. She turned ‘Prep’ into ‘Prepare’, spending her time out of the classroom gearing up for the launch of her singing career. At long last, we’ll finally hear the results of her hard work when Kelli performs her first music single, “Gave Up on Love”, at Score on March 10th.

NYC Prep’s Kelli is all grown up!

It has been a very exciting time. Since the show ended, I have immersed myself into my singing career.

How are fans responding to the new Kelli?

I think fans are most surprised to see me out of my Upper East Side school girl uniform.

Was the Kelli portrayed on the show the real you? Or was it the ‘reality’ you?

I had about ten minutes max of TV time on each episode. There must be a lot more to me than that, right?! (Laughs)

Were you happy with how you were portrayed?

I wanted the show to showcase my budding singing career, which it did, so I was happy. I do cringe at the scenes when I was selecting my voice teachers, though.

Do you keep in touch with anyone from the show?

Everyone has gone off to college. I guess like most high school friendships, we’ve gone our separate ways in order to chase our dreams.

Your dream is to go from prep to pop!

I like that.

Why did you choose to make such a powerful anti-love statement with your first single? Are you really against love?

I am in no way against love. What I am against are people drowning and losing themselves into relationships without really knowing who they are or what they want out of life.

How do you feel about Taylor Swift writing and singing about finding her Romeo?

People are wasting too much time chasing white horses.

You have never pined over an ill-fated love?

Yes, of course I have. I have poems written about loves I had in the 4th grade. 4th grade love is a whole other story! (Laughs)

What is ‘Gave Up on Love’ about?

The song depicts the journey of a heart broken girl or guy at the point she or he begins hanging with friends and realizing life isn’t over because a relationship didn’t work out. The next best thing will come along eventually. When you’re in between relationships, it’s time to appreciate the real loves in your life – your friends.

Would you turn away Mr. Right if he appeared in your life right now

Yes, I have no time for nonsense.

How did NYC prep you for the real world?

If NYC Prep taught me anything, it was to develop a thick skin. When you put yourself out there, either with a show or a new record, you’re going to be critiqued. It’s important to take the good with the bad.

How do you keep your focus?

I stay true to myself. I was a singer before the show, I sang during the show and I plan on singing long after the show.

Kelli performs “Gave Up on Love”, at
Score, 727 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
on Thursday, March 10.

Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day, courtesy of some of our favorite ladies of the dance floor. It’s not the sweet, candycovered romantic love these girls are singing about.

Taking their cue from gay boys who look for love in all the wrong places ? you know who you are ? these girls shoot their arrows past the Mr. Rights that treat lovers well. Instead, their songs take aim at the Mr. Wrongs that treat them oh so good.

Emii – “Mr. Romeo”

Emii would do well on Manhunt or Grindr. For her, romance is not about landing the guy; it’s about taking off, flying high, and enjoying the ride. She sings about it in her explosive new song, “Mr. Romeo”, a high powered dance romp that features one of the original partiers of hip hop, Snoop Dog.

“I am no Juliet,” she confirms. “I am strong hearted, fierce, and independent.”

About finding her own Romeo this Valentine’s Day, Emii says, “When the love is right, maybe it will last until death and beyond, but I’m not hanging on unless it’s right.”

She’s also not looking for the fairy-tale. She prefers her guys rough, tough and a little bit dangerous. “Let’s just say I have someone in mind when I sing, ‘Come here and bite me like an animal.’”

KELLI – “Gave Up on Love”

For a girl who presented herself as independent and in control on the hit Bravo reality show, “NYC Prep”, Kelli admits deep down she is full of contradictions and is extremely sensitive. “I can be guarded and maybe a little over-protective when it comes to relationships,” she says. “I believe maintaining strength requires a strong offense and an even stronger defense.” She sings about the protective walls she has built in her debut single, “Gave Up on Love”, a song she co-wrote that sheds light on the intensity of budding romances. “When you’re young, you feel you need to give all of your self and soul into a relationship,” says Kelli. “But most relationships are bound to end – and oftentimes badly. “It’s important that people embrace who they are before trying to get someone else to love you,” she continues. “It’s so silly to live for a guy or a girl who in the end, you’ll likely realize is not worth the time or tears.”

SARIAH – “All about Sex”

“I found my ‘All about Sex’ man on the dance floor,” laughs Sariah, the Queen of Hearts, whose sophomore single about nostrings attached romances releases in time for Valentines Day. “I loved that everything was crystal clear. We both knew what we were there for and there was no baggage.”

Inevitably, however, the guy began inquiring about Sariah’s life outside of their arrangement. “That’s when things got tricky. We began to think there might be something more to us so we made an effort to see each other outside of the bed. Our conventional relationship became confusing and worse, it lost the intrigue. Soon after that, I stopped returning his text messages.”

“Just goes to show ya, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” concludes Sariah. “A purely sexual relationship can be satisfying.” And it can inspire a great single, too. “All about Sex” is on dancefloors now.