Spotlight – Kyle Richardson

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Spotlight – Kyle Richardson

Today we Spotlight – Kyle Richardson. We took the time to chat with Kyle about music, the journey to get there, and some new music out now. Check it out now and let us know what you think of this talented artist.

What got you started in music?

I started singing and performing on a smaller level during elementary school. I had a very supportive music teacher who put me on stage and had me sing at all the school events, despite how shy I was about it. It was during high school that I really started to realize how much I enjoyed music and singing, and started taking some voice lessons, and learning guitar. I began performing with a cover band comprised of good friends from school, and I started taking part in musical theatre and different talent competitions.

Do you remember the first album you ever owned?

The first album I ever bought for myself was Kelly Clarkson’s debut album “Thankful”. I’ve been a fan of hers since the very beginning and think she’s such a strong talent. Her vocals are just amazing and keep getting better with time.

You have a new album release titled Louder Than Words, which follows your singles Can You Hear Me, Anything, and Fight the Good Fight, Can you give us the story behind that one?

Absolutely! This album was an enjoyable creative process where I focused on writing/recording one song a month and getting it as strong as possible before moving on to the next. This relaxed pacing gave me – as well as my producer Jeff Dawson – enough time to hone in on what made each song unique and execute everything to the best of our ability. I wanted my first album to be a very vocally-driven set of songs that shared messages of joy optimism and hope, and I wanted the album to have some sonic palette variety to keep it interesting from start to finish.

Everyone always wants to know more about the creative process and how you put a track?

The creative process can change from song to song, but generally, I like to work two ways. The most common way is I write a ton of smaller ideas, like a lyrical line, or a potential verse or chorus of a song, and make a voice note of myself singing and playing some very basic guitar, and share some of these ideas with whoever I’m collaborating with. If any of these ideas click, we get to work to try and finish up the song complete it, and hopefully record a full version of it! The other way is sometimes some other songwriters and I will meet up and just talk about what is going on in our lives, how we are feeling, and try to pick a topic or something we are relating to and create a song about that, usually based around piano or acoustic guitar. Once the full song is written, we produce it more fully to get an idea of what the right vibe for the song is.

How do you overcome things like writer’s block or bumps in the road?

Usually, if there is writer’s block or anything like that, I find it best to take a break and come back later. Trying to force ideas or creative work just usually ends up becoming more frustrating than anything else, so I think it’s best to wait until the energy is better and come back refreshed and try again.

How has your music evolved going back to 2016’s release of “Love is the Answer” vs “Louder Than Words”?

“Love Is The Answer” was a really fun track to be a part of, but I didn’t write any of the lyrics or melody to that song, so I’m a little less personally attached to it. It’s a great song but following that release, I wanted to take some time and focus on how I wanted my songs to come across – everything from what kind of instrumentals I wanted to sing over, to the types of melody and vocal placement, and the lyrical content. I think these new songs are a lot more personal to me and they better represent how I see myself as a vocalist and artist in general. Taking some time to focus on the creative process helped me put together material I’m proud of.

Do you have memorable moments from fan interactions you could share with us?

I don’t think this counts, but MY favorite moment as a fan was meeting Bryan Adams backstage at one of his shows. He was so kind and generous with his time. It was great to hear a little bit of his perspective, and his show was amazing – hit song after hit song, he sounded incredible.

What do you think it takes to stand out in this digital world of music we are in?

I think right now, artists need to have a unique perspective and genuine talent… and the know-how of how to present themselves online and across social media. It also takes a lot of time and investing in your own career as an artist. It’s really tricky because there is endless talent out there, but with talent persistence, and solid strategy, I think it’s possible to stand out and make an impact.

What do you do to stay grounded outside of music?

I play video games to relax, and I love going to check out movies at the theater. I also enjoy reading a good book or graphic novel to unwind and try to maintain some semblance of a social life amidst a busy schedule. I also have been trying to keep a consistent gym schedule to keep me focused on self-improvement.

What’s one thing you think should be asked more in an interview that’s not asked enough?

One cool question that isn’t asked enough could be what is the artist’s favorite and least favorite song in their catalogue to perform?

For me, I’d say my favorite is “Anything”, just because the words all flow so nicely and it has a great rhythm and momentum. My least favorite would probably be “Memory Lane”. I use the term “least favorite” loosely as it’s one of my favorite songs. It’s just a song that’s mostly placed in my upper range vocally, and there are some overlapping vocal sections with not much if any time to breathe! It’s a beautiful song though (not that I’m biased in any way).

What’s your guilty pleasure song people might not know you listen to?

My guilty pleasure song right now is the whole soundtrack to “Trolls 3”. I love Justin Timberlake and for some reason, these soundtracks are just so fun, with some cool new pop tunes and then reinterpretations and medleys of old favorites… the music is way better than I anticipated.

What’s your last meal? (this one tells a lot about someone)

My last meal… I think would have to be some sockeye salmon and potatoes and veggies. It was one of my favorite meals growing up and still to this day.

Who do you trust to do you justice and deliver your eulogy?

This is not something I have put much thought into as I like to live in the moment… I think it would have to be someone funny, a comedian of sorts… because I wouldn’t want everyone to be too depressed on my behalf, but would prefer them to celebrate the time we had together.

Last but not least, are you happy?

I am pretty happy right now! I’m glad to be at a phase in my life where I’m releasing music at a steady pace and I’m able to see how the response is. It’s been such a long-term goal to release an album and I’ve finally done that, so I’m excited about it. I’ve also been excited thinking about future projects, and getting some early ideas in mind to start working on, so it’s been a very positive and fulfilling time for me recently.

Spotlight – Kyle Richardson is a wrap. Thanks to Kyle for taking the time to share a little piece f himself

Check out Louder Than Words right now

Keep up with Kyle here

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