Kelly Mantle releases "Keyboard Courage" as anti-cyberbullying anthem

NEW YORK, NY:  First, Prince William and wife Kate Middleton announced plans to tackle cyber-bullying; now, a queen is joining the fight. RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Kelly Mantle’s new pop track, “Keyboard Courage”, is intended to be an anthem for anyone who has been harassed or stalked online. 

“I’ve been called every name in the book,” she reveals. “One person tweeted ‘Kelly Mantle is so ugly.  She looks like a burn victim going through chemo.’” Luckily, Kelly’s strong sense of humor allows her to brush off many of the personal attacks, but she wrote the song after meeting young fans being victimized online by kids in their schools.

“Not everyone can laugh it off. It’s a scary thought that someone’s heartless, mindless words could drive another person to take their life.” Kelly Mantle’s “Keyboard Courage” is available on iTunes now.

“My hope is that Keyboard Courage can be that song kids listen to and be reminded to not get discouraged by online bullies,” continues Kelly Mantle from her Hollywood home. Produced by Steven Phillips, who also produced Mantle’s last album Satellite Baby, “Keyboard Courage” is a high energy, 80’s inspired pop track. It’s fun but with a powerful message. The lyrics include actual negative comments that Kelly Mantle has received.

It isn’t the first time Kelly Mantle has reflected on real life in her music. She followed her elimination from RuPaul’s Drag Race with a song called (what else?) “Eliminated”. 

“One of my favorite things to do is to sit down with my guitar or at my piano and create a song about something that just happened to me,” she explains. “I get off on turning life experience into lyrics. Ya know, figuring out how the rhythm behind the words can convey what happened. I’m all about turning life into art.” 

Kelly Mantle is an entertainer extraordinaire.  Whether she’s acting, singing or brandishing her sardonic comedy, her high-energy performances captivate audiences, leaving them wanting more.

She grew up in Oklahoma just like her uncle, the late great Mickey Mantle. She received a B.F.A. in Theatre from the University of Oklahoma and is a graduate of Second City in Chicago—which means she's funny. 

Kelly is best known for her appearance on season six of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, but she has actually enjoyed a lengthy career in TV and film, working in Hollywood, in and out of drag, for the past ten years and accumulating a list of credits longer than her legs.

They include guest-starring roles on TV shows like The New Normal, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Mike & Molly, New Adventures of Old Christine, CSI, Judging Amy, Nip/Tuck, Cold Case, Will & Grace, George Lopez, and a recurring role on NYPD Blue.

Kelly also has a long list of movie credits. Most recently, she co-starred in Confessions of a Womanizer with Gary Busey. She just completed filming American Dream with Nick Stahl and Middle Man with Jim O’Heir, Andrew J. West and Josh McDermitt. Both will be released in theaters in 2016.

As a stand-up comedian, Kelly was featured on LOGO's stand-up comedy special, DragTastic NYC.

Kelly has released three music albums: Ever Changing, Rock N Glow and Satellite Baby.  She was in a band called Tranzkuntinental with fellow Drag Racers Willam Belli and Detox. She occasionally performs with Tammie Brown in their band called The Rollz Royces. Kelly’s next full album, Duality, is scheduled for release in early 2016.

“Keyboard Courage” is the first single from the album. Along with it, Kelly is releasing a new music video.  “I wanted to make a fun video showing me in my element playing live music on stage,” she says. “It’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was little girly boy growing up in Oklahomo. Hopefully, it will inspire others to go after their dreams!”

Kelly Mantle’s  “Keyboard Courage” is available on iTunes now.  For more information, visit Kellymantle.com.
The Gayly - 11/5/2015 @ 3:11 p.m. CST