Like the start of many great projects, Rad and Kell began as a college experiment. 

At La Salle University in 2011, Kelly McGlynn was the lead singer in the school’s house band. Upon the exit of a founding member, guitarist/vocalist Matt Radomile was introduced to the group. While performing covers across campus and around town, Matt and Kelly quickly sparked a friendship. With the school year coming to a close, Kelly suggested they start a duo to play the Jersey Shore towns in the summer. 

 

Dubbed “Rad and Kell” by their peers, they quickly recorded a demo CD and shopped it around to as many bars and restaurants as they could - ultimately landing a weekly gig in Sea Isle City, NJ. Their Sea Isle adventures continued with a weekly residency at the Carousel every summer for eight years. 

 

Following the buzz of their first summer as a duo, they began writing their own songs. In May of 2012, they released their first EP entitled Cruise Control which was influenced by the beachy sounds of the Jersey Shore. The song “Fly” was featured on 93.7 WSTW’s Hometown Heroes. 

 

Aside from the Jersey Shore, Rad and Kell have become a major fixture in the fertile Philadelphia area music scene. They began by playing venues like the Legendary Dobbs, Xfinity Live and the Fieldhouse, and have graduated to headlining shows at Ardmore Music Hall and playing notable festivals such as Musikfest (Bethlehem, PA) and the Ladybug Festival (Wilmington, DE). They also have opened for Rusted Root, Fastball, Big Head Todd & The Monsters and Monophonics. 

 

“Philly is home to both of us and we've never felt a need to leave,” says Radomile. “Our friends and family are very supportive as well as fans we've made along the way and we just want to build on that. We love the Philly scene because everyone is supportive of each other. Most people are just friendly and involved in music for the right reasons. The venues are also incredibly supportive.” However, in 2018 they played their first shows in New York City (Rockwood Music Hall) and Washington DC (Songbyrd), with the goal to play more shows outside of the tri-state area.

 

Their first full-length album, Give Me Gravity, was released in 2016. Pop-oriented with elements of soul and R&B, the album tackled deeper themes like first love, heartbreak, quarter-life crises and adult anxieties, and showed a progression in the duo’s songwriting capabilities. It featured the singles “Inspiration” and “Heavy on the Pedal,” which won a WSTW “Homey” award for “Best Music Video.”

 

In early 2018, Rad and Kell worked with Grammy Winning producer Glenn Barratt and recorded three singles: “Falling Head First,” “Dirty Laundry” and “She’s Already Gone.” Upon their release, their songs were featured on WXPN with Helen Leicht as well as 93.7 FM in Wilmington, DE. 

 

As their careers grew, the duo’s natural chemistry blossomed into romance, and they recently wed in late 2019. Their music reflects the optimism and pure joy that comes with love, and it's feel-good music at its finest. 

 

Rad and Kell married their musical inspirations - for Rad, he admires Tom Misch and Vulfpeck for their perfect mix of funk/soul; Kell loves Amy Winehouse and Rachel Price (Lake Street Dive) because of their soulful singing styles; and they both respect John Mayer’s sensitive, keen songwriting - to create a soul-pop duo that is reminiscent of male/female duos of the 60s and 70s (think Captain & Tennille, The Carpenters, Sonny & Cher, only with less cheese) but with a fresh twist that could only be from the 21st century. In addition to soul and pop, there’s a strong mix of R&B, funk and a little folk thrown in the groove. 

 

Rad and Kell recently started working with noted Philly producer Ron DiSilvestro on their next record which they plan to release later in the year, leading with two singles in the spring. “People can expect a more refined sound musically and lyrically with a focus on our vocals and harmonies. We are challenging ourselves more as writers and want to write songs that are true to ourselves,” says Radomile. 

 

See Rad and Kell continue their musical adventures at an upcoming show near you! 

 

"Immense vocal talents and always tasteful guitar styling" - The Swollen Fox (Philadelphia Music Blog)