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Edgehill frontman Chris Kelly spoke with me about the pressure of success when suddenly everyone is watching.

Kelly notes that success doesn’t erase self-doubt and self-criticism can be channeled into growth.

For emerging artists, Kelly emphasizes an “undying belief in yourself” while staying open to progress.

I first discovered Edgehill when I heard "Doubletake" on Alt Nation and fell in love with the song. I soon had the privilege of meeting frontman Chris Kelly and began following the band's rise, watching them perform as they moved from intimate house shows and touring with other bands to headlining shows of their own.

Edgehill's story began in 2021, when Kelly, then a Vanderbilt freshman studying psychology, attended a student-run jam session and met guitarist Jake Zimmermann. They clicked musically, began writing together, and the first song they completed was "Shooting Glances," Edgehill's first release.

Watching them perform, I was struck by the ease between the band members, their connection with the audience, and the energy that makes live music feel intimate, communal, and impossible to recreate twice.

But looking comfortable onstage and truly feeling comfortable are two different things.

In my discussions with Kelly for my forthcoming book, Body Business: Maintaining Mental Health and Autonomy for Athletes, Performers, and Models, which explores what happens when your talent, body, identity, and livelihood become intertwined, we talked about the psychological experience behind the performance.

At the time of our conversation, Edgehill was already gaining momentum quickly. Since then, that momentum has accelerated. The Nashville alternative band's debut album, Ode to the Greyhouse, was released on February 13, 2026. Their breakout single "Doubletake" reached No. 1 on Billboard's Alternative Airplay chart in April. By May, the band was........

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