about KELSEY BARNES
“Kelsey Barnes is a cultural connoisseur” — bbc
“THIS INTERVIEW iS THE MOST SEEN I’VE FELT IN AGES […] I FEEL LIKE YOU REALLY UNDERSTAND me and MY WORK.”
- Camila Cabello, singer
“I love the interview. I feel very seen while reading it. You’ve such a way with words, so very talented. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
- Toni O’Rourke, actress
“This was one of my favourite interviews ever, it was so lovely to chat with Kelsey.”
- Alessi Rose, singer
“I was so keen to chat with you because I feel like you see me exactly as I am.”
- Max Harwood, actor
“AFTER 3 YEARS, THIS WAS OUR SECOND INTERVIEW AND SHE HAS the most wonderful energy […] I WAS doing thE junket all day and OUR CONVERSATION WAS the most expressive i’ve been — SHE IS the one person I connected with.”
- Dove Cameron, actress and singer
“She’s a great interviewer […] This is all very new to me and she made me feel so relaxed and comfortable, like chatting with a friend."
- Louis McCartney, Stranger Things: The First Shadow actor
“before our interview i read all of kelsey’s work and i was amazed at what she’s done. IT’S ALWAYS SO EXCITING TO SEE SOMEONE KILLING IT IN THEIR INDUSTRY AND THAT’S WHAT SHE’S DOING.”
- Maria Bakalova, Oscar-nominated actress
“She asks amazing questions […] thank you for the space to be open, Kelsey.”
- Molly Quinn, producer & actress
WHO IS KELSEY BARNES?
Kelsey Barnes is a Canadian music and culture writer and interviewer. She currently serves as the Digital Editor at Schön! Magazine and Jr. Editor at Alt Press.
With nearly a decade of experience spanning digital and print, Kelsey regularly contributes to outlets such as Nylon, GRAMMY.com, Netflix, and The Line of Best Fit. Her work spans entertainment, culture, and lifestyle, and has appeared in publications such as The Independent, Teen Vogue, Jezebel, The i Paper, i-D, Paste, Clash, among many others.
As a cultural commentator, she’s been featured by CBC, the Toronto Star, the BBC, and more.
Known for thoughtful, long-form interviews, every conversation is approached with curiosity and care. She has profiled a range of artists and creatives, including David Harbour, Nicola Coughlan, Jacob Elordi, Anya Taylor-Joy, Camila Cabello, Sadie Sink, Hozier, Reneé Rapp, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Suki Waterhouse, Zara Larsson, Tate McRae, Cailee Spaeny, Maria Bakalova, and many more.
With a knack for spotting emerging talent before they break through — from Heartstopper’s Joe Locke and Kit Connor, The Summer I Turned Pretty’s Chris Briney, and Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn — her stories have sparked some of the past year’s most widely shared cultural moments.
In 2024, Kelsey was selected from thousands of applicants by London’s Victoria & Albert Museum to advise on Taylor Swift’s Songbook Trail exhibit, providing expertise and insight into Swift’s eras, storytelling, and cultural impact.
“Thank you for the chat — you’re a great interviewer, very thoughtful and well-researched.”
- David Harbour, Stranger Things actor
“KELSEY’S piece was so wonderfully written. It always says a lot when I read something I’ve said and don’t hate it because I ramble, but SHE’S put everything together so beautifully.”
- Erin Kellyman, Marvel + Star Wars + Willow actress
“I think KELSEY conducted my favourite interview I’ve ever done.”
- Kayli Carter, actress
“I had loads of interviews recently and I enjoyed my chat with KELSEY the absolute best! SHE IS so lovely and genuinely interested in what I was saying. Interviewers can oftentimes be very, very probing. I really appreciated HEr very classy style.”
- Leah McNamara, Normal People actress
“I had so much fun talking to Kelsey, I wouldn’t shut up.”
- Charli Adams, singer-songwriter
“Thank you for this beautiful piece. It was an honour to have spoken with you.”
- Elizabeth Gilpin, actress & author
“I would say this is my most accurate interview to date. No performative ramblings, just exactly how it’s been. [...] It’s rare to have questions about [BPD] that actually understand the nuances of it and Kelsey did it so beautifully.”
- Odette, singer-songwriter
“Constantly in awe of Kelsey’s ability to really get to know the people she interviews, like they're a best friend she just hasn't had the chance to meet yet.”
- Lucy Ford, journalist & presenter