We speak to a Scottish singer/songwriter Kyle Chatham about his musical creative outlet on our twelfth day of the 2022 Music Interview Marathon.
Artist’s Name: Kyle Chatham
Genre: Indie Folk, Alt Pop, Dark Folk
Originated From: East Ayrshire, Scotland
How would you describe your music?
It’s a mixture of many influences both music and non-music. It has strong elements of folk rock and pop, ambient soundscapes and electronic textures. It has a dark and melancholic thread running through it thematically.
What is your musical creative process like?
These days I primarily write and create on a DAW (Ableton) as I feel it allows me to have the most freedom and come up with more interesting ideas. It lets me work much quicker too. I also keep a lot of notes on my phone for ideas be it titles or lyrics and concepts. Those things keep my creative brain more organised.
How did you start out as a musician?
I was making albums myself for years in my childhood home in Scotland. During those years I really developed my sound and style and had a lot of free time to do so.
Who influenced you within the music industry?
My biggest influences have been people like Ben Howard, Frank Ocean, Chris Cornell, James Blake, King Krule and Bon Iver.
Have you performed live much and what was your favourite gig to play at?
Not as much as I would like to and nothing since the pandemic. I’m looking to change that this year though and perform much more regularly.
My favourite gig was probably being in the finals of the Ivor’s Scholarship in 2019. I had to perform in front of a crowd of industry professionals. Being able to chat to them and get good feedback on my performance after was a great feeling.
What is the best thing about being a musician?
I suppose having a strong creative outlet and being able to turn thoughts and experiences into pieces of art. It’s a lot of fun.
What’s the biggest problem you’ve had to overcome so far as a musician(s)?
I think getting recognised to a larger degree. I’ve had friends put out tracks and they’ve crossed a few thousand streams almost instantly and I’ve never seen anything close to that. Sometimes it’s just the nature of it, but I’m hoping to push more this year and spread the word a bit more effectively. I’ve always felt like an outsider in that respect.
What plans have you got coming up this year?
I have a new single out called Once More Round Your Heart. Apart from that hopefully a lot of playing live and then releasing more music later in the year. I’d like to push myself further than I ever have this year. So far that’s been the case so I’d like it to continue.
What is your ultimate dream as a musician?
I think to be able to consistently release albums and tour them to medium-sized venues would be more than enough for me. I’d like for my music to really have an effect on people emotionally and connect that way too.
You can find out more about Kyle Chatham by following him on Instagram.
If you’re in a band or a musician and would like to appear on this blog, please contact me and I’ll forward you an interview template.
Also, check out my other Music Interview roundups from 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2021.
