Troy University alumna and Christian singer/songwriter Kelly Alayna has signed with Pure Mosaic Services, a division of Pure Mosaic Records.
Born and raised in Hazlehurst, Ga., Kelly Alayna graduated from TROY in 2007 with a degree in graphic design and a minor in music industry. She marched in the Sound of the South as a majorette and played the flute in the John M. Long School of Music’s symphony band. She also met her husband Nick while in SOTS, who is now an associate band director at a high school.
Singing since she was young, Kelly Alayna has loved songwriting and learned how to perfect her craft at TROY with the help of the late Dr. Robert W. Smith.
“I am just so appreciative of Robert Smith,” she said. “I was involved in the music industry program from its conception, and I took a songwriting class, that’s really where I learned the structure of songwriting from him.”
Kelly Alayna’s senior project included designing the branding for Ilium Records, TROY’s student-administrated record label that is part of the music industry program.
“The program teaches you everything from beginning to end like how a song is born, how to market it within the music industry and more,” she said, “I think that If anybody wants to be a part of the music industry, they need to learn from the music industry program at TROY.”
After graduating from TROY, Kelly Alayna and her husband moved to Panama City and got involved in a church where she met Cori. Together they formed Cori and Kelly, a country Christian music duo, and toured for several years together.
In 2018, Cori and Kelly saw major success by earning two number one spots on the top 100 Christian Country charts for their songs “Victory Song” and “Take Me Back to Church.” By 2019, they were named “Duo of the Year” at the Inspirational Country Music Association awards at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn.
After starting her solo career in 2023 and a couple of moves later, Kelly Alayna and her family now live in Tennessee where she is still working on several music projects. Through her deal with Pure Mosaic Services, she owns all the master’s for her music, while Pure Mosaic assists with promotion and distribution through Integrity Music.
“They know what they’re doing when I may not, especially when it comes to pitching to Spotify,” she explained. “I’ve done it so many times and never got hit, and while I still may never get a hit, they’ve done it before. I have a great team helping me through this whole process.”
In addition to her music career, Kelly Alayna is looking to help other independent Christian artists build their brand, launch their music and navigate the business side of their artistry through her newest venture, Higher Calling Consulting.
“I know how challenging it can be to turn a calling into a career,” she said. “That’s why I’m passionate about equipping others with the tools, strategies, and encouragement they need to thrive.”
According to Kelly Alayna, her family’s decision to move to Tennessee was a major “stepping out in faith and trusting God” moment for them. While they have no idea what to expect, they are excited about this new season.
“I’m just so thankful for the opportunity that God just creates for us, you know,” she said. “If anybody is scared to just go for a dream or go for something just know that you’re never too old and it’s never too late. It just requires stepping on in faith a lot of times, and so if there’s a dream and you know in your heart, you just got to go for it.”
Kelly Alayna plans to release her first single with Pure Mosaic Services, a contemporary version of “Take Me Back to Church,” on February 7. You can learn more about her and other upcoming projects by going to her website or Facebook page.
