Kalene

Singer-songwriter Kalene is a pop/rock artist whose unique Broadway-influenced vocal style has helped her develop a loyal fan base in the Long Island/New York City area.

Born Kalene Maria Speranza on October 17, 1995, Kalene was raised in Hicksville, New York, and is an alumna of Hicksville High School.

Her first foray into performing music, aside from participating in her high-school choir, was at an annual festival hosted by her hometown --- a performance that earned critical praise and appreciation among her peers and which brought Kalene and musician Matt Miller (also a former Hicksville High School alum) together. Shortly following, Kalene and Matt decided to collaborate on a new project, rebranding themselves as a band called Medium. Unfortunately, due to conflicting views and aspirations, Kalene and Matt ended Medium after only a handful of performances.

Early Years and Influences:
She is the child of parents Gloria and Kenneth Speranza and has an older sister, Christa, and a younger brother, Mark.

Her parents always encouraged the arts throughout her childhood, despite Kalene's early passion to pursue sports such as soccer and softball. Her mother, Gloria, works as a legal secretary for GEICO Insurance, but demonstrated a talent for the fine arts as a child. Meanwhile her father, Kenneth, was born to write and utilizes that skill for his current position at The Salvation Army Greater New York Division, where he is Director of Marketing.

Kalene's siblings acquired the skills of her mother, while Kalene inherited her father's gift of writing. Although instead of writing short stories, Kalene found a knack for writing poetry, which she later developed into songwriting. "I used to write these lyrics I'd come up with in my head when I was about six years-old and could hardly write a proper sentence. But these words and melody I'd sing in the shower, just randomly: I had to write them down. And I didn't have loose leaf ever in my house for some reason, so I'd write these songs on construction paper!" Kalene says.

At around age 7 or 8, Kalene had discovered the sounds of the ‘80's after seeing Thirteen Going on Thirty with Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. She received the movie soundtrack for her birthday and would play it (in sequential order) at every opportunity. "When you're a kid, you don't consciously realize how much music inspires you. Why would you? You're just responding freely."

Her true, eye-opening moment came some years later, when she was 20 years-old and listened to Adele's 25 album. "Listening to 25 changed my life. I just realized I have to do this. I need to tell my stories. I need to make great music. Now!"

"When I was like 12 years-old and just starting my Christina Aguilera obsession, I would listen to Stripped and just cry. I felt every emotion I could ever feel as if she was singing to me. After that, I've only ever listened to music that way."

"Christina Aguilera is hands-down my favorite artist of all-time. I mean, she's that little girl with the big voice. My other influences: Gwen Stefani, Adele, Fiona Apple, Lady Gaga, and especially, Pat Benatar."

Following her high-school graduation, Kalene attended Brooklyn College as an acting student in the BFA Theatre program. However, Kalene discontinued her enrollment to pursue a career as a successful recording artist. Kalene is currently working on her debut EP titled Four that will be released in 2017. She has already recorded three tracks that she performs on a regular basis in the New York City area. Performing with her are Joe Oliveto (guitar), Tony Perez (drums), and Mike Themistocleous (bass guitar).

To listen to Kalene's music, please visit her website at:
www.kalenemusic.com