53. When We Wake with Kelly McMichael
From When We Wake with Andrew Shaver by Andrew Shaver
April 10, 2026 · 46 min · Season 1 · Episode 53
About this episode
Kelly McMichael discusses her musical journey and the evolution of her artistic identity.
You could say that Kelly McMichael took the long way round to using her own name. Born in Peterborough, Ontario and now based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, she spent years making music under different monikers and inside other people’s bands, touring with artists like Sarah Harmer, Gentleman Reg , The Hidden Cameras and The Burning Hell . Along the way she made her own music as Rouge and then Renders , before eventually stepping forward using her name with her Polaris Prize shortlisted debut album Waves , and its Music NL award winning (and Polaris Prize longlisted) follow-up After the Sting of It . In today's episode, we chat about those different musical lives, the process of finding her own voice, the winding path that led her to the front of the stage, and about sharing vocals on one of my new Clever Hopes songs, Long Way Round ...which she absolutely, positively, knocks out of the ballpark. KellyMcMichael.com Wanna get in touch? Send an email to whenwewakeradio@gmail.com Or find me on Instagram @theandrewshaver When We Wake with Andrew Shaver is written, hosted, edited, and produced by Andrew Shaver of Clever Hopes . The weekly radio broadcast is…
People in this episode
Host: Andrew Shaver
Guest: Kelly McMichael
Topics covered
- music
- identity
- artistic journey
- collaboration
- Canadian artists
Keywords
- Kelly McMichael
- music
- Waves
- Polaris Prize
- Canadian music
- artistic identity
- collaboration
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Clever Hopes, Music NL, Polaris Prize
Books & works: Waves, After the Sting of It, Long Way Round
Places: Peterborough, Ontario, St. John’s, Newfoundland
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