Declan Kelly was born in Sydney, Australia to an Irish father and Maori mother. During his high school years Declan grew up in Sydney’s inner city suburb of Balmain. Here he met Alex Lloyd and other musicians to form his first band The Beefs. When Kelly finished school he was headhunted by one of the hardest working rhythm and blues bands the Bondi Cigars. Having been the drummer for a number of great artists, Kelly learnt the craft of good songwriting, recording authentically and the mastery of studio production.