All The Babes
Kelli Mayo
Biography
About Kelli Mayo
Kelli Mayo was born on Wednesday, March 29, 2000, in Oklahoma, United States. She is an American musician, part of the ugly pop band Skating Polly, which she formed with her step-sister Peyton Bighorse in 2009 at a Halloween party in Oklahoma City. Kelli was only nine years old at the time. The band has no traditional front person; both Kelli and Peyton write and provide lead vocals for their own songs. Kelli, who has red hair and brown eyes, plays basitar, piano, and drums, while Peyton plays guitar, piano, and drums. Their debut album was recorded when Kelli was 14. It caught the attention of punk legend Exene Cervenka of X, who offered to produce their second album and became a mentor to the step-sisters.
Skating Polly is known for their poetic lyrics, intense live shows, melodic arrangements, and an eclectic array of songs ranging from riot grrrl to grunge to indie-pop. They are often compared to riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill and Babes in Toyland, but they deny being part of that movement. Many of their songs also call to mind artists such as Kimya Dawson and Beat Happening. The band frequently covers other artists, putting their own spin on songs by Spacemen 3, Neutral Milk Hotel, Dead Boys, Portishead, Perfume Genius, The Left Banke, Ol' Dirty Bastard, M.I.A., AC/DC, Nina Nastasia, and Syd Barrett.
Mayo is 26 years old and has a slim build. She has a following of 13k on Instagram. Her musical career started early, and she continues to perform with Skating Polly, creating music that defies easy categorization. Her journey from a nine-year-old at a Halloween party to a musician with a punk legend as a mentor is unusual. She is a multi-instrumentalist who alternates roles within her band, and she remains active in the music scene.
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Frequently asked
How did Kelli Mayo's band get its start?
Skating Polly was formed in 2009 at a Halloween party in Oklahoma City when Kelli was only nine years old, with her step-sister Peyton Bighorse.
What makes Skating Polly's approach to music unique?
The band has no traditional front person; both Kelli and Peyton write and provide lead vocals for their own songs, and they alternate instruments, with Kelli playing basitar, piano, and drums, and Peyton playing guitar, piano, and drums.
Who produced Skating Polly's second album?
Their debut album caught the attention of punk legend Exene Cervenka of X, who offered to produce the band's second album and became a mentor to the step-sisters.
Is Skating Polly part of the riot grrrl movement?
Despite being compared to riot grrrl bands like Bikini Kill and Babes in Toyland, the band denies being a part of riot grrrl.
Did you know
- Kelli Mayo formed Skating Polly at age nine, and the band recorded its debut album when she was 14.
- Kelli's step-sister Peyton Bighorse is her bandmate, and together they co-founded the band in Oklahoma City.
- The band's second album was produced by Exene Cervenka, punk legend of X, who also mentored the step-sisters.
- Skating Polly has covered songs by artists as diverse as Spacemen 3, Ol' Dirty Bastard, and AC/DC.
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