Jayne Kelli Premieres the Music Video for Pensive Single “Way Too Low”

Considering where she currently finds herself, it feels like a bit of a new musical beginning for Jayne Kelli. The singer-songwriter is pleased to debut her new music video for “Way Too Low,” released via Gone Rogue Music. A tender folk ballad, the song emphasizes Kelli’s stripped-down approach in which she entrusts her impressive vocal ability to do a lot of the heavy lifting. Find Jayne on Facebook.

The video is just as free as the song it accompanies, featuring Kelli singing the song all by herself, surrounded by the beauty of the outdoors. “Way Too Low” is the start of a new era for her, a collection of deeply personal songs she has been working on. Some of them are from quite a long time ago, but they have now found a home within the creative space Kelli has arrived at as a songwriter.

Discussing the song and the video, Kelli states:

“‘Way Too Low’ feels like a song that’s been waiting in the wings for years—an echo from a past life finally stepping into the light. Some people pine for the days of their early and mid-20s, but I don’t. That chapter was full of chaos: the wrong people, the wrong scenes, and the repeating loops that come with unresolved wounds. Shot independently in the quiet woods of Tennessee, the ‘Way Too Low’ video visually echoes the song’s internal unravelling. Set against the stillness of nature, it explores the tension between escape and surrender. With a minimalist, almost dreamlike aesthetic, the video opens a window into a darker emotional landscape—one finally ready to be revealed.”

Going at it alone as a solo artist is quite new to Kelli. For more than a decade, she served as one-half of the Americana duo Swearingen & Kelli. It’s not that she didn’t find that fulfilling, but as an artist, she wanted to take a more personal turn. Her collaborator, AJ Swearingen, actually played guitar, bass, and strings on “Way Too Low,” while also serving as a producer.

Along with this song, Kelli has been working on a number of other solo tracks. They are piano-focused, more raw, and more emotionally haunted than anything she has done before. “Way Too Low” was actually written at a time of great personal struggle for Kelli. Some songs sound like they were inspired by pages right out of a secret journal. Her songwriting is both intimate and confessional, with lyrics that are poetic yet accessible. As an artist, Kelli has really moved into a whole new creative space, demonstrating the depth and extent of her skills as a songwriter.

Jayne Kelli “Way Too Low” single artwork