Every month Brave Island runs a Young Creative of the Month fund, where we spotlight a local young creative with an interview on our blog, and support them with funding of £100. For April, its singer/songwriter, Kyra! This fund launches at the beginning of every month, you can apply to be Young Creative of the Month for May here.
Please can you tell us about your creative practice?
I am a young singer/songwriter on the Island. I love to perform live for different audiences, though I mostly perform at pubs. In fact, I started what you could call my music career singing in other musicians’ cigarette breaks! Before that though, I started writing to make sense of my emotions, mostly alone in my bedroom, where only the walls could hear me. I feel it’s such a privilege to be able to perform in front of people, and I hope I don’t ever lose the excitement I have when I’m up on stage.
Who or what are your biggest inspirations for your music?
I grew up in an environment surrounded by music, from kid’s praise songs to the hard rock that my mother and I used to dance to in the kitchen while she made dinner. My father makes music too, though only for himself, and my stepfather was the first to introduce me to the Island’s vibrant music community when he began taking me to the Mod and Lambretta weekends when I was 13. These are the inspirations that are really important to me, far more so than any celebrities or any of my favourite artists could be.
If you could collaborate with any artist or perform at any venue in the world, what would that ‘dream scenario’ look like?
As someone with endless determination, but a proclivity to doubt myself, I opt to break my dreams down into smaller, more manageable steps, so I can always see myself moving forward. One day I’d love to hit the road and travel the world performing my music for people, but today’s dreams look more like ‘finish producing an ep’ or ‘play a local festival’.
Where can people find your work if they’d like to support you?
My YouTube channel (@signedkyra) has a selection of my songs on it, live or acoustic, which are currently the only versions available. My Instagram (@signedkyra) has clips up as well, and updates about where I’ll be and when. But really, the best way to support me is to come and see me play, and don’t forget to say hello when you do!
