Kelsey Lu

Kelsey Lu defies classification. At a time when recording artists stick to the most marketable genre, the singer/songwriter and classically-trained cellist created a new one entirely, dubbing her sound "Luthereal." "It stems from the word Ethereal," she explains, "which means, extremely delicate and light in a way that seems not to be of this world. When I perform, I feel like I'm tapping into things unseen." Her music is both thrilling and haunting, from the first piercing note of her cello to her angelic vocals, both instruments blending seamlessly to create one cohesive sound. Her style is just as eclectic. It's not uncommon to find the Charlotte, North Carolina native in a floral tunic paired with an oversize "church hat" one day, and a red Gucci suit replete with a pussybow blouse the next — each look punctuated by colorful makeup she does herself. "I've been putting false eyelashes on my bottom row to add an extra bit of performance flare," she shares. "It makes me feel like somewhat of a clown, a sad one and at times goofy, but mostly internally external." Even her moniker has meaning. Born Kelsey McJunkins, Lu points out that her birth name is one she never agreed to. She gravitated toward her childhood nickname "Lu" instead, mostly because it's androgynous: a rejection of the gender binary she no doubt encountered growing up as a Jehovah's Witness in the South. Though she ultimately parted ways with her family's chosen religion, spirituality remains a recurring theme in her work. Her solo debut EP "Church" was recorded in a Brooklyn church in just one take. She is a rising star — who has already worked with the likes of Solange and Sampha. -Jessica Andrews

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Olunkwa