Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your musical journey and background?
My name is Kyla Tilley, I’m a singer-songwriter and guitar player based in Newfoundland & Labrador, which is on the far east coast of Canada. I started playing classical guitar as a kid, and grew up singing along to a lot of Celtic music and prog-rock. I’ve played various genres in a number of bands over the years, including metal, classical, and experimental, and all of that colours the folk songs I write now. I live stream several times a week on Twitch, including a show where I write songs in front of an audience.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, and how have they shaped your sound and style?
Jethro Tull is a huge one, as is John Prine, Rush, Steeleye Span, Fairport Convention, JS Bach. John Prine is one of the reasons I began writing songs in the first place. My guitar playing is heavily influenced by Martin Carthy and Richard Thompson (from Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention) and my love of the story telling ballad comes from those bands, as well as my singing style. Another factor in my playing is JS Bach. When I was primarily playing classical guitar, I loved playing Bach above all others. My song structures and love of playing with time signatures certainly comes from the prog-rock bands like Jethro Tull and Rush.
Can you share a specific artist or album that has had a significant impact on your music?
I’d say Jethro Tull’s Songs From The Wood had a tremendous influence, as did Steeleye Span’s Below The Salt.
What’s your creative process like when you’re composing or writing a new song?
Generally I have an idea, a kernel, an inkling, maybe even a riff or a phrase and it grows from there. I go back and forth between the lyrics, melody, and chord structure and pick away until I have a song. Then I perform it a bunch of times to get a feel for what works and what doesn’t. If I feel weird singing a line, or a transition seems awkward etc, I’ll keep tinkering until I’m happy with it. I pretty much always write with a guitar in my hand.
You can watch this unfold on my Twitch show!
Among all the songs you’ve created, do you have a personal favorite? If so, what makes it special to you?
Someone asked me about this recently on my show. I have written a lot of songs, so I don’t know that there’s a particular favourite, but there are some that always bring me back to the time and place when I wrote them, and they are special. One that comes to mind is called ‘The Definition of Happiness’ which is about practising guitar. I wrote it while I was moving into my current studio and it always brings me back to that time of newness and excitement.
Can you share the story or inspiration behind that particular song?
It’s about how much joy playing music brings. It’s largely in 7/8 and in Locrian mode, so it’s kind of a weird sounding tune that needs more practice than some of my other tunes to pull off live, but as the words to the song indicate, there is no greater feeling than doing that practice and pulling off the live performance! It is the definition of happiness.
Let’s talk about your latest song. What’s the title, and what’s the story or message behind it?
My latest is a 3 song EP called Road Trip. It consists of 3 very chilled out songs about packing up the car, going for a long drive, then arriving at a motel. I was inspired by watching dash cam footage on TV of someone just driving through Quebec Canada, (which I have driven through a lot) and I wanted to capture the feelings of the hazy morning when you get up early to go on a trip, followed by the hypnosis of the highway and all the things you see on the side of the road, and finally, the feeling of relief and exhaustion when you pull over at the end of the day to crash at a motel.
Share a memorable or unique experience from one of your live performances.
I showed up at a gig to discover that a chess club had started up in the bar at the same time. We all had such a great time chatting back and forth between songs while even the bartender was taking part in chess challenges that we decided to make it a regular affair and I booked the next gig live on stage. (I think that was a first!)
Beyond music, do you have any hobbies or interests that you’re passionate about? How do they influence your music?
I run, I love fashion and sewing and shoes, I am an enthusiastic sports fan and I deeply enjoy playing certain video games. I’m a bit of a history buff and love reading, I’m also big into martial arts films. I have written songs about pretty much all of my interests and hobbies, and my interest in fashion and shoes gets to manifest in my stage wear. (Though I’ve also written plenty of songs about fashion and shoes!)
Is there a dream collaboration you’d like to pursue in the future?
I think I’d really just like to do more collaborations in the future. I’ve been meeting musicians from all over the world and I’d like to start doing more co-writing and recording with people who work in vastly different musical styles from me and see what comes out of it!
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their journey in the music industry?
There are forty-two thousand and one things that you ‘should’ be doing for your career. I think if you’re just starting, I’d say get out there, talk to lots of people, meet as many musicians as you can. Try a bunch of stuff. Make a bunch of music. Find what gets you excited, figure out which subset of the forty-two thousand and one things work best for you, then sit down and make a plan! Don’t let people discourage you.
Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or new music you have in the works? What can your fans and listeners look forward to from you in the near future?
I have several releases on the horizon for 2024. 3 EPs and a handful of singles, with a good mix of very proggy, very folky, and the in-between. Another exciting super secret project that I took part in will have its official announcement very soon and I think my fans are going to be really pleased with this one.