Kyle Phelan

One of our Second Prize Winners is a local who has been working on his craft diligently for quite a few years now, and his writing reflects both his efforts and talent. Of whom do we speak? Why, none other than Bob Duffy, making an encore contest appearance on a co-write with Kyle Phelan and Sean Mitchell. More prizes, including lengthy sessions with Proxy Music and Signature Sound, were secured by virtue of their second place song, "Still Believing."

http://www.sdsongwriters.org/newsletter/0306-sdsg.pdf - San Diego Songwriter's Guild

http://www.mylocalnews.com/nws/index.php?/main/content/pq_musician_kyle_phelan_looking_for_big_break/
By Robert Fulton

April 13, 2006

Rancho Penasquitos resident Kyle Phelan feels at ease in Hot Java Cafe.

The singer-songwriter lives just about a mile away from the Carmel Mountain Ranch coffee joint and is a frequent contributor to the live music venue.

Every Sunday, Phelan, 19, hosts an open-mic session, and from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 14 he’s part of the Hot Java Cafe’s Acoustic Roundtable Three with numerous other artists.

But the teenager’s aspirations are bigger than making the scene at Hot Java. His goal is simple yet grand — to make his living as a musician.

To that extent, the budding performer is on his way. Phelan recently self-released his second album “I’ll Be Ready” and has some local gigs lined up.

“(Music) is the only thing I’m passionate about,” said Phelan during an interview last week in Hot Java. “It’s something I feel I’m gifted at. When I pick up a guitar, I feel comfortable. I have fun with it. It brings me joy.”

Phelan’s sound can best be summed up in two words: John Mayer. Phelan isn’t shy about admitting that his music has that laid-back bluesy-rock-pop guitar vibe to it.

“I’m finding my voice,” he said.

Working on finding his voice was part of what making “I’ll Be Ready” was about. Phelan released a short collection of songs when he was 17, but his most recent effort has a more professional and a larger sound to it. The album was recorded in the bedroom of friend and fellow musician Jason Turtle. The result is a clean, professional-sounding recording that sounds like it was made with a full band. “I’m very picky about music now,” said Phelan, who references Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Dave Matthews as some of his many influences. “The goal with the CD is I’d like to be recognized and backed by a label. I’d love to be in the position to sign and tour and record.”

Good friend Sean Mitchell helped write most of the songs, which deal with the usual fare of relationships, but Phelan adds his own take on the age-old subject.

“I’m learning how now to take inspiration from situations in my life and put it into a creative way into a song,” he said. “Every love song has been written before. It’s all about getting an angle and explaining it in a way it hasn’t been explained. Get a good angle, and it will be interesting to people.”

The result has been an accessible, varied album.

“I wanted to fool around with a lot of different genres,” said Phelan, whose day job is working distribution for Sony. “Out of the process of recording, it was mind-opening of what I could do in the studio. I don’t want to appeal to just a certain group.

Originally from Phoenix, Phelan and his family moved to San Diego eight years ago. He was primarily home-schooled before finishing his education at Escondido Charter School. He’s played guitar for years, but it wasn’t until he was 16 that he became more serious and began playing open-mic nights.

“I love (music),” said Phelan, who cites basketball as his other passion. “It’s kind of basic. I love listening to it, I love watching it and I love playing it. It’s so fun for me. You want to communicate with everyone at the same time. It’s a cool feeling to be able to do that.”

Being able to “do that” for a living is the young Phelan’s ambition. He’d like to get signed to a major label, record some more and then tour. There is no reason to believe that won’t happen someday.

“The goal is to in some way be able to perform music for the rest of my life,” said Phelan. “I’d love to feel what it’s like to be on the road and have as many people as possible hear my music. I’d just love to be able to play music every day. The truth is, I’m going to play my guitar for the rest of my life. If I can just make money playing music and be happy, that would be my goal.” - The Pomerado Newspaper Group