What is your name?
My name is Kyle Richardson!
What is your genre of music?
I make pop music, but have influences from other genres like rock, soul, R&B, and singer-songwriter.
Give us a little bio about you.
I grew up just outside of Vernon, BC, here in Canada, though I have lived in Vancouver since 2010. I consider myself a soulful pop artist, and love writing and recording new music. Outside of my musical interests, I have a job at a nightclub in downtown Vancouver. I spend way too much time at Cineplex catching the latest blockbuster movies, and am putting way too many hours into the new Legend of Zelda video game.
What made you go into music?
At a young age, I had a very enthusiastic music teacher who forced a shy Kyle up on stage to perform at various school assemblies and functions. When I reached high school, I started performing in musical theatre and some talent nights at the school, and realized how much I still loved singing and performing. From there, I started learning guitar and writing songs as a way to express myself, moving to Vancouver after a year of music production courses in college. I started recording my songs with some amazing producers and engineers and forging the relationships that helped me create my debut album “Louder Than Words” that arrives later this year.
Who are your influences?
Some of my strongest influences are artists like Adam Lambert, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, OneRepublic, and Gavin Degraw… strong vocals with awesome songwriting and production, and individual sounds that are immediately recognizable.
Are you signed?
I’m currently unsigned!
You released your new single “Can You Hear Me”, tell us more about the single and the meaning behind the song.
“Can You Hear Me” is a fun, upbeat, inspiring song, with a message about staying true to yourself and living in the moment. It’s a very fresh, poppy sound with a rock edge to the chorus, and a very impassioned vocal performance in which I try to encourage the listener to live life without regrets!
Describe the track in two words.
Upbeat, inspiring.
What was the writing and recording process like?
The writing session for “Can You Hear Me” was a pretty easygoing session, where we all just wanted to make an inspiring pop song. It came together quickly in just one session. We took a while tweaking the production over time with Jeff to get the right vibe and make sure the verses laid the groundwork for that chorus to really soar. We wanted influence from Queen and OneRepublic and I think those aspects really helped bring the song to life by adding a little bit of the classic vibe with a current pop production.
Who did you work with on the single?
I wrote the song with my fellow BC artist Andrew Allen, and hit producer Jeff Dawson.
Will we see a music video for “Can You Hear Me”, and if so, what can we expect from the creative process?
Yes! The video is out right now on my YouTube channel. I filmed the video in Toronto, with Roadhouse Productions. We wanted to find an edgy location that really brought out some vivid imagery, so we found a spot called Neon Demon which was this awesome studio space filled with various neon lights and set pieces. The bright colors and interesting constructs really brought a kinetic energy to the video, which we made to focus specifically on the song and performance.
Can we expect an EP or Album and if so, what can we expect from it?
I have a full album coming later this year! It’s eleven songs, with a mix of sounds, I have some more modern pop singles, some emotional and soulful ballads, and some songs with a bit of a throwback vibe as well.
Do you have any live shows coming up?
I don’t have any shows booked right now, I’m looking to start booking shows later this year and especially excited to do some sort of album release party!
What else can we expect in 2023?
I have multiple singles and music videos still to release this year, along with the full album! I’m going to be working on new music too, so there might be the odd tease here and there on my social media accounts of stuff I’m working on! I want to start getting out and performing a bit more as well.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
I see myself focusing even more on my music, I want to release projects pretty consistently and play around a bit more between genres. I will always have a pop vibe to my work but I love so many styles of music I always want to explore new things. Hopefully in five years I’ll be touring as well!
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Bob Marley said “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.”
I love music and it’s what I turn to when I’m having a bad day, music has always been a safe space for me to express myself and let my guard down, and I’m so grateful to have it as an outlet.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Water bottle, tea, honey, my own microphone, a printed set list because I know I’ll forget the order of songs otherwise!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes! All accounts I can be found under @TurnUpTheKyle
Instagram: @TurnUpTheKyle
Facebook: @TurnUpTheKyle
Twitter: @TurnUpTheKyle
YouTube: @TurnUpTheKyle
Spotify: tinyurl.com/turnupthekylespotify
TikTok: TikTok.com/@turnupthekyle
