Kelley Polar is an American musician and producer born as Michael Kelley. Originally a classical violist from Providence, Rhode Island, he studied at the Oberlin Conservatory and the Juilliard School. He collaborated with the group Metro Area on tracks including “Miura” (2002) and “The Art of Hot” (2002). Under the alias Kelley Polar Quartet, he issued several solo extended plays through the label Environ Records, such as Audition (2002) and Rococo (2004). Polar released his debut studio album, Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens (2005), which combined elements of house, disco, and pop. He followed this with the studio recording I Need You to Hold On While the Sky Is Falling (2008). In 2012, his track “Ashamed of Myself” (2008) reached wider recognition after being sampled by Madonna during her MDNA Tour. Performing as Mike Kelley, he is the violist for the ensemble Apple Hill Chamber Players. His discography includes the collaborative studio recording Au Suisse (2022).
