Kyra
Kyra is one of the artists to watch out for in 2013 as she returns with her great new single Next Year - a track that will introduce us to her new EP.
We caught up with her to chat about the new music heading our way and her experience on the road with Wretch 32 last year.
- Next Year is you new single so what can fans expect from the new track?
I wrote Next Year when I was just contemplating on all the things that I wanted to achieve next year - all of my new year’s resolutions.
And there are so many things that we all say we are going to do and by the end of January they have gone out of the window. So it is a pretty light-hearted take on something I think that we can all relate to.
- So did you have any new year’s resolutions yourself?
They are in the song, this song is real. I really need to sell all of my junk on Ebay and I wouldn’t mind losing a few pounds in the gym. I think everyone always puts on a bit of weight over the holidays and stuff (laughs). The song is from the heart and it is all definitely true.
- The track is produced by Tre´ Jean Marie so how did that collaboration come about?
Me and Tre started working together last year after we were introduced to each other by another up and coming producer called K-Z. So we have just been writing and working together.
Obviously Tre is doing quite well as his last song was Smiler’s Top Of The World so he is definitely one to watch out for as well.
- Well you have slightly touched on my next question how did you find working with him and what did he bring to this record?
Tre is so cool and we always have a laugh (laughs). He is so relaxed and we just vibe to be honest. It came about very organically in the studio for me.
If ideas don’t work straight away I let them go but this song just progressed naturally. It was really fun and Tre is a lovely guy. He puts himself out for people, which is nice.
- And how have you found the response to the new track so far?
It has been really good. A lot of the blogs have picked up on it and people on Facebook and twitter have come out of the wood work and been like ’yeah, I can totally relate to this song’.
I have been getting people to tweet me their new year’s resolutions - most of them are about fitness (laughs). It has been really good and I am just glad that people can relate to it.
I think it is a song that won’t ever get old because we will be in the same position next year.
- And there is a debut EP now just around the corner so can you tell me a bit about what we can expect from that record?
The songs I have showcased so far - Good Love and Next Year - are quite light-hearted, mid-tempo and up-beat tracks but the EP will show a more emotional and deeper side to me.
There are definitely some real heart-felt soul songs on there that are quite stripped back and there is some acoustic stuff on there as well. So it is going to a bit more of a taster as to what my actual album is going to be like.
- And when are we going to see a full album do you think?
I am still unsigned at the moment. I would really like that backing and I would love to be able to release the album on a major label. We will see.
I am working towards that and I have set my goals so it could be later this year or it could be next year - there are no definite dates or plans for that.
- Next Year has a very pop sound but as you have mentioned already this new EP is going to see you experiment a bit with your sound so how have you found moving into soul and different genres?
For me I don’t think I have moved into soul as I think that everything that I do has a soul edge to it. Your soul can come from your voice as well as production.
I think it is about striking that balance - I love soul music and I love pop music and it is just about making music that is accessible for everyone. Soul is with me and soul is my roots and soul is the music that I listen to when I am at home.
- So where did your love for that music start?
I guess it was from the family home. My dad had a really great record collection and he is a bass player and worked in radio for years - he does a lot of local radio and stuff.
His collection was pretty cool and so we have always listened to Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder and these are classic soul artists. When you have grown up with that music you tend to have an appreciation for it.
- You have worked with Ben Harrison and Sunny for the EP and they have worked with the likes of Emeli Sande and Professor Green so how was the experience of working with them?
Really good. Again things just happen organically in music. Sunny and I first got put in touch early last year and just started work… he is quite local to me in Ealing, Broadway. And then he brought Ben along and he is such a talented guitarist and writer and we just clicked.
You just find people that you work well with and it tends to just happen - you can’t really plan these things. I am excited about some of the music that we have created together.
- How do you find the writing process is it something that comes quite naturally to you?
When I go into the studio I will never know what I am going to write about. I will be going through things in life but when I get there sometimes it is cathartic and it is just me spilling my guts. You do come up with concepts and I do keep a note pad to jot down ideas and words that come to me.
If a melody doesn’t work I am quite fierce and so if it doesn’t work after twenty minutes I don’t like trying to write as I feel that it should just happen naturally. So for most of my songs that is really how they have come about.
- 2012 was a busy year for you as you supported Wretch 32 so how did you find being on the road with him?
It was amazing and definitely one of my career highlights so far. Being on the road is an awesome experience and you tend to forget what day of the week it is (laughs).
You wake up bleary eyed from the tour bus and your view is the back of another venue and it just feels a bit like groundhog day.
But it was amazing and just to be able to reach so many thousands of people with my songs and having them hear for the first time and sing back my songs there and then was just amazing - and quite a confidence boost.
It was definitely inspirational and Wretch has really played a bit part in helping me with my career and I can’t thank him enough.
- How would you sum up your 2012 when you look back on it now as you opened shows for the likes of Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora?
It was a great year I have to say. On the live front it was amazing and you feel like you are not too far away from being in their position - you just need to keep working hard. It was definitely a great year music wise.
- With the new EP on the horizon are we going to be seeing you do headline shows of your own?
I have got a few things that I am scheduling in now in terms of dates. Last year I definitely went all at it with the live stuff and this year I want to continue doing the live stuff but maybe you will see a little less of me live - I want to make it a little more exclusive.
Definitely live for me is where I am at and if I don’t perform live I tend to start twitching (laughs) and get a bit frustrated. So I really am more of a live artist and that is what I enjoy more.
- And what about getting your music out outside of the UK into Europe and America?
I have been to America before; I went to LA and Atlanta and New York to do some work there. It is a massive place and everyone is an artist, the girl who works in Starbucks is an artist, so it is an aim but I guess you jus have to try and set your foundation here.
It is about having the right team around you to help you get your music out there. I am hopefully going to be spreading my wings this year.
- Finally what is next for you in the first few months of 2013?
I would say trying to keep my new year’s resolution (laughs). I am just putting the finishing touches to the EP to be honest.
The first few months of the year my focus is really on refining the material that I wrote last year. Then from March onwards I will be back in the studio writing some new stuff.
Kyra - Next Year is released 28th January.