Kyler England
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Kyler England

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF
Band Pop Singer/Songwriter

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"Interview"

Look who’s coming: Kyler England
By David Menconi
HOMETOWN: Raleigh based on birth; Los Angeles based on current address.
OCCUPATION: Classy singer-songwriter in the Sarah McLachlan vein.
EDUCATION: A graduate of N.C. State University, she also studied at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.

Los Angeles is Kyler England’s hometown nowadays, but she’s not there all that often. She spends most of her time on the road in have-guitar-will-travel mode, while also finding time to issue a string of critically acclaimed self-released albums. In advance of a Friday appearance in Durham, she spoke with staff writer David Menconi.

Q: The record industry seems to be falling apart, with CD sales falling and radio playlists shrinking. Has it been frustrating trying to launch a career at a time like this?

A: Oh, yeah. I’ve loved these years of being independent, and I’ll continue doing that if I need to. But it would be great to have a label to help with financing and promotion and marketing and all that, which would allow me more time to just be a musician.

The labels have been tightening down on everything. I did a demo deal the summer before last, which was not the best experience. It was kind of the major-label cliche: My ideas weren’t listened to or valued. At the end, I was supposed to play for the president, and he just brushed me off after I’d waited for two hours in the lobby of his office.

It was frustrating and humiliating. But I guess it’s good that that happened on a small scale, before I was tied into a five-record deal. I’ve not given up on labels entirely; I’m still interested in the right partnership. But I’m not holding my breath or waiting around for someone to find me.

Q: Your producer, Richard Oliver Furch, has quite the high profile as an engineer/mixer — Macy Gray, Emmylou Harris, Whitney Houston. How did you meet up with him?

A: We met at Berklee [College of Music in Boston] in ear-training class, which had two parts. First, you’d listen to music and transcribe it. Then you’d do the opposite, look at a piece on paper and have to sing it. And it would be some weird jazz melody, never a simple pop tune. You’d have to look at it, be given a start note and then sing it in front of the whole class. Even worse was going to the board and transcribing a melody they would play. It was very high-pressure. I almost got an ulcer from that class.

Q: Your voice has a pure, high tone that seems ideally suited to country music. Do you ever think of going in that direction?

A: I could see myself on the pop side of country, which isn’t nearly as twangy as it used to be. But I’m not ready to change paths and commit to that fulltime yet. In a way, it’s something I’ve fought for years, ever since my mom told me when I was 10 years old, “You could make a million dollars singing country.” People hear that in my voice.

To be honest, I’ve never listened to country music much. More like U2, Sarah McLachlan, that side of things. But I’ve noticed my North Carolina roots coming out more and more. It’s always been a part of me even when I didn’t know it was there.

Q: There’s more of a big rock sound on your new album, “The Green Room Sessions,” than on 2003’s “A Flower Grows in Stone.” Is that what you were going for?

A: That’s the culmination of a lot of things coming together. My songwriting grew a lot the past several years, as did my voice. My other records have worked toward the same goal, so this is the refinement of that musical approach. Every record I make seems a little closer to what I’m going for, informed by what I’ve learned and listened to. This time we were going for that big pop-rock kinda sound.

Q: Do you do much writing on the road?

A: I get ideas, but I’m too pressed for time or worn out to flesh them out completely. Mainly because I’m out there by myself with my acoustic guitar, doing all the driving and navigating. If someone else was driving the bus, I could write.

I wrote “Laika” [from “A Flower Grows in Stone”] several years ago when I was touring in a big van with a friend. I sat on the wide seat in back with my guitar and wrote that. Finished it on I-40 and debuted it at the old 6 String Cafe. That’s the only one I’ve ever written literally on the road.

The biggest thing is having the seed for the song, from which everything else springs from. I’ve forced myself to sit down and write, and without that first little seed to nourish it’s usually a waste of time. For me, writing melodies and chords and good musical ideas comes way, way faster than lyrics worth keeping. If I can get a title or phrase for the chorus, everything else will spring from that. I’ll write those down, hold onto them until I’ve got time. - Raleigh News & Observer


"Feature"

Songwriter Kyler England hits the road (and the Web) to find her audience
By Chris J. Starrs | Correspondent | Story updated at 12:58 AM on Thursday, January 11, 2007

North Carolina-born singer-songwriter Kyler England knows the quickest way for the masses to experience her earnest indie-pop creations is through the auspices of a major record company.

But since record label patronage may or may not ever happen, England gets the buzz out about herself with the next-best methods - by hitting the road and utilizing the Internet.

“There are opportunities available for the independent artist,” England says during a recent telephone interview from her home in the Los Angeles area. “But you have to be creative and you have to be OK with traveling and being away from home for a long time.

“This may be the best time ever for an indie artist, and the Internet is the best place for exposure. On my MySpace page, I’ve started a ‘MyStore,’ and now I can record a show and the next day upload MP3s to my site. It’s an amazing tool. It gets easier and more exciting all the time. Podcasts have also been great as well, but the best form of exposure is still word of mouth. If someone whose opinion you trust recommends a musician, you’re more likely to check it out.”

And having songs played during network television programming - most notably the soap opera “The Guiding Light” and A&E’s “Rollergirls” - doesn’t hurt in the exposure department.

England, who has five album releases to her credit since 2000, schedules close to 100 solo dates a year, and already has 2007 off to a strong start with a six-week East Coast tour that pulls into the Melting Point in Athens on Wednesday.

England’s on the road in support of her strong 2006 EP, “The Green Room Sessions,” which features four performances with a full band sensitive to her nuanced vocal presentations and arresting lyrics.

“You can scrape by out here,” she says of making a living through continual performance. “It’s better to do what you love and struggle than to do something you weren’t meant to do. When I’m home, I’m writing and recording, but if you make your living on the road, you can’t stay home too long.”

The valedictorian of North Carolina State’s Class (she majored in chemistry and humanities) has played Athens frequently, thanks to having a sister who was a student at the University of Georgia.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Athens,” she says. “I’ve played at Flicker and Tasty World, but this is the first time I’ve been at the Melting Point. My sister was in grad school here and she would always hang out and sing backup for me. Our voices blended well. She’s in Madison, Wis., now, but I still can’t wait to get there.”

England’s musical journey launched from the Carolinas to Boston’s Berklee School of Music and the busy streets of Brooklyn, and she’s happy to be living in Southern California, where some singer-songwriters have found it comfortable to live and work.

“I think the town is more oriented to pop-rock and singer-songwriters,” she says of Los Angeles. “The scene in New York was fantastic, but it can be brutal living there. And people here are still into singer-songwriters, though the scene isn’t as prevalent as it was in its heyday. In some respects, we’ve taken some steps backward with female artists being seen as novelties. Bands are still more popular, but it’s still a great time because there are a lot of fans of acoustic and solo music.” - Athens Banner Herald Marquee


"Live Review @ Room 5 in Los Angeles"

Billboard.com Blogs Review of Kyler England’s show at Room 5 in Los Angeles, July 14, 2007
by Dave Chung July 16, 2007

Without a Billboard-sponsored assignment on the calendar for the second consecutive week, I made arrangements to check out Kyler England and Alissa Moreno on a Saturday night. Having listened to both artists’ music through their MySpace pages, iTunes, personal sites, and demos provided to me, I was already a big fan of both. While Kyler and Alissa were different in style, neither was likely to start waving bandanas and krumping all over the stage to get me hyped. I went into tonight’s show needing a bit of a boost, especially after inadvertently falling asleep on the beach earlier in the day, successfully sponging UV rays out of the atmosphere and earning myself a tan Hellboy would have been jealous of. Thankfully, by the end of the night, I would witness one of my favorite shows I have attended in 23 years of life.

Before England took the stage, the upstairs lounge area was already surprisingly lively and near-capacity, which, so far, has proven to be a rarity. I spotted Kyler whose musical style is inspired by Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan, from my single candlelit front row seat, interacting with friends and fans at the bar. When I approached the bar to order my usual glass of water, England, who has recently had five of her songs featured on long-running soap Guiding Light, surprised me by walking over and introducing herself. Apparently, my fashionably dorky notebook, cell phone, and initials-laden clothing were a dead giveaway. I was flattered and impressed that she took the time to pick me out of the dimly lit lounge to say hello. After our brief introduction, England’s brief warm up off stage, which was so good it could have been recorded and released as a single, could be heard over the lively conversations going on behind me and I immediately realized this was going to be a great night. In no way did Kyler or Alissa disappoint my unfairly high expectations for the night.

Opening up her ten song set, Kyler’s first song “Clean Slate,” which I heard on the radio later that night, managed to quiet the various conversations going on throughout the room in seconds. The whole room became infatuated with her performance - a trend that would continue throughout the night. “Clean Slate” was a perfect song to display her clear, confident voice, and her acoustic guitar was accompanied by some spot-on harmonies that made for a strong opening. The audience returned Kyler’s efforts by cheering raucously, clapping and wooing at the song’s conclusion. This might not seem so remarkable, but in a venue more accustomed to simple appreciative applause than “Take your shirt off, spin it around your head like a helicopter!” (what up Petey Pablo) performances have to be beyond just good to warrant this kind of response. If everyone in a large arena cheered with the enthusiasm of this crowd, you’d think it was Game 7 of the World Series, the Olympics Medal Ceremony, the final match of the World Cup, or Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest (big ups to Joey Chestnut; Kobayashi had it comin’).

Kyler followed up her first performance with a song she called her “only happy love song,” entitled “Sweet Spot.” I couldn’t have been more impressed with how powerful and pitch-perfect Kyler’s voice was all night. “Quittin’ Time” was a ballad with a more country-like vibe than the first two songs and utilized more of Kyler’s upper register. With her friend “Uncle” Paul Kim (who occasionally babysits her cats) on cello, called up to the stage to accompany her, Kyler sang “Carrie” and “I Am Ready To Listen,” both songs that sounded like Sheryl Crow with a small sprinkle of LeAnn Rimes on the high notes and mixed in with a Dixie Chicks ballad-like style, sans Natalie Maines (did that make any sense?). It was difficult to compare England’s voice with any mainstream artists, as it would be with Moreno’s, simply because both own their own styles and perform with a confidence that makes you almost forget that the other artists might have preceded them.

Next up were “Lay It On Me” and “Begin Again,” which were both more upbeat and pop-like. Both songs showed Kyler’s command over her vocals, even when there was heavy use of the upper register of her voice, as was the case in “Begin Again.” I was blown away song after song with how perfect Kyler’s vocals were. Incredibly, England, whose warm personality came through during her interaction with the audience between songs, got the venue’s typically mellow crowd to join her in singing not only “Begin Again,” but the chorus of “All I’ve Got” as well, while England herself tore it up with some passionate runs to close out the song.

Finishing out the show with the ballads “Simple Machine” and “No More Sad Songs,” Kyler saved the best for last with what I felt like was the most impressive performance of the night so far. I loved every piece in her ten song set; on no less than four separate occasions, I wrote in my notebook, “This is my favorite song of the set.” England’s time on stage felt like one of the fastest hours of my life, because her voice seemed to convert all of us from casual fans to hardcore groupies, groupies who would help carry her guitar cases, who would untangle her audio cords and do her laundry. With the recent release of her new record “Live Wire Volume 2…” and her upcoming East Coast Tour, I have no doubt that Kyler will continue to win over anyone who has the privilege of seeing her perform. - Billboard.com


"Live Review @ Karma Coffee in Los Angeles"

Vol XXIX, No. 24 11/21/05-12/04/05
Karma Coffeehouse
Hollywood, CA

The Players: Kyler England- guitar and vocals

Material: Kyler England is a North Carolina native only recently transplanted to Los Angeles. She performs story songs with lyrics that touch your heart. Especially noteworthy are her songs “Blue Ridge,” which was inspired by the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Carolina and Tennessee; and “Something So Beautiful,” which follows the transformation of an abused child to a compassionate, caring adult.

Musicianship: England has soaring vocals in the style of Carole King and Carly Simon with just a touch of Sheryl Crow. Combining her expertise on the guitar with top flight well crafted songs, expressively portrayed through her vocals, England is a one-woman band. Were you to close your eyes and just listen to the music, you’d swear she had a host of musicians assisting her.

Performance: The stage was filled with sound though England was the only one there. All eyes and ears were hers, as she expounded on tales of her life and took listeners on a special journey into the world that this artist sees and explores. Her performance was a musical treat. At this gig, England was participating in the “Don’t Call Us Tori” showcases presented by Shannon Hurley; and she was the cream of the crop this night.

Summary: England can find a song in anything she observes or comes in contact with. Her voice is angelic and her songs take you to the heavens. Should she continue to impress audiences in her new Los Angeles location, England’s goal for a long career in music should be achieved.

- Bob Leggett - Music Connection Magazine


"Feature"

Asheville’s Citizen Times feature on Kyler
Singer-songwriter England brings her smooth sound to the Grey Eagle
By Laura Blackley
CITIZEN-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
published: December 2, 2005 6:00 am

Kyler England writes and sings of live wires and brushfires things that are fast to ignite and faster still to burn out. But the singer-songwriter s music and her presence suggest a different kind of warmth more of an intimate flame that emits a nurturing light.

One of the reasons I love music singing it or listening to it is because it makes you feel alive, England says. I m a junkie for when a song knocks the wind out of me. I want to do that with my music make people feel. That s the most important thing for me.

The Raleigh native (and N.C. State University alumnus) now resides in Los Angeles but admittedly spends most of her time on the road, having been a full-time musician for about three years now.

I m a self-employed musician, England says. From the time I get up in the morning until the time I go to bed I m doing something related to my career … I have a strong work ethic, (which) serves an independent musician well you can t just sit around and wait for someone to come and rescue you.

Having shared stages with such superstars as Sting, James Taylor and Melissa Etheridge, and winning a handful of prestigious songwriting contests, it s apparent that England is in no need of rescue anytime soon.

My family was always singing, the guitarist/pianist admits. Music was a way to entertain ourselves. Dad played the acoustic guitar and the trombone … and Mom used to always sing, too … music was just a part of daily life.

England s songs are rife with complex melodies and emotional honesty, and they crackle to life when combined with her pop sensibilities and sultry, magnetic delivery. She s been called breathless and fragile, yet she s gutsy and real at the same time. Sweet and soulful, England s voice is effortlessly haunting and disarming, and she sings like there s no tomorrow.
I would describe my genre as acoustic-based pop rock, England says. If you were going to file my CD in your own collection, it would go between Sarah McLachlan and Patty Griffin, with Coldplay and Jonatha Brooke somewhere close by, she explains.

England performs in Asheville for the first time since Bele Chere this past summer. It s her first show at the Grey Eagle, and a co-bill with talented local songwriter Ashley Chambliss.

Most of my best gigs are house concerts with 30 or so people at them, England admits. (Those gigs) have such great energy … it s really not all about being a rock star all the time, England continues, but, then again, I haven t really started playing the stadiums yet.

Laura Blackley writes about entertainment for the Citizen-Times. E-mail LauraBlackleyBand@yahoo.com.

www.citizen-times.com - Asheville’s Citizen Times


"DIY Spotlight"

Performing Songwriter Magazine DIY Spotlights
These artists have been selected from the 72 reviewed in the Top 12 Do-It-Yourself columns (issues 75-80) to be featured on the Editors Choice Compilation No. 12.
by Mare Wakefield

"A Flower Grows In Stone" is Kyler England's third release in four years. The California-based artist credits her prolific output to the fact that she is able to find inspiration from so many places, often mining friends' lives for ideas when she's already tapped her own stories. "I live for that moment when a song gets inside you and twists your gut up and makes you feel alive," she says. "I try to write when something gives me that feeling, in the hopes that it will seep into the song."

The record- a collection of mostly upbeat, tight pop-rock songs- definitely feels alive. England's voice shimmers with an energy that bounces off the thick walls of sound created by the full band, making the lyrics pulse and breathe as each story unfolds.

The album starts strong with the title track, which England wrote for a friend who grew up in an abusive home. "I was really moved because this friend has such a warm and open heart," she says. "I think that takes a lot of guts if you've been hurt over and over." Synth sounds and multiple electric guitars float over the bass and drums as stacked harmonies highlight the positive message of the lyrics: "Somehow you defied all reason and rhyme, you're like a flower that grows in stone." England says this particular song also has meaning in her own life. "It came at a time when I needed to remind myself not to let sadness and hurt close my heart off to the world," she says.

"Dead End" is another striking song. "You're guilty but you won't confess, you pack up all that you posess," England sings as bluesy electric guitars and a driving drum beat create a sense of loneliness and desperation. "That song was written as a plea to someone i know who unexpectedly walked out on all the people who cared about him and didn't look back," she says. "The more I talk to people, the more it seems everyone has someone in their life like that, be it a family member who cut ties or a friend who lost their way."

England says that for her, writing is often a balance between the mind and the emotions. "I think a lot of the time my heart and head are gridlocked, each trying to yell louder than the other to be heard," she says. "That's when I beat my head against the wall trying to write and I second guess myself." But out of this struggle, she's sometimes able to find a balance. "It's the precious few moments when my heart and head cooperate to translate an idea into song that I get closer to something true and the music flows," she says. "I definitely made appointments with myself to write while working on this record but I much prefer the unguarded moments when a song ambushes me."

www.performingsongwriter.com - Performing Songwriter Magazine


"live review: Kyler England @ The Six String"

She Has IT
There is nothing I enjoy more than discovering a great artist, song or live music venue. But it’s even better when you discover them in your own backyard BY LISA ELDER

Dec., 20, 2003 — A friend told me about Kyler England’s music and my first thought after hearing it was, “She has IT. I can’t believe she’s not already famous!” I was then lucky enough to catch her December show at the Six String Café in Cary, NC (www.sixstringcafe.com) with my partner in crime, Sheila, and was even more blown away!

Known as a “listening room,” the Six String Café is a small, intimate club created by owner David Sardinha with only one thing in mind; to showcase live music. To steal a quote right from the Six String website: “There are lots of great places to go where food and drink are the focus and music is provided. At The Six String Café and Music Hall, music is the focus and great food and drink are provided.” (Check out the “ Milestones ” link on the website and you will fully understand just how serious this place is about its music.) But kudos have to go to the food too — the shrimp and garlic ravioli and chocolate layer cake were to die for, so you can get the best of both worlds here.

SONGS FROM THE HEART
Playing to a packed house for the first of two holiday shows that night, England co-headlined with Taylor Roberts. England took the stage first and performed solo with only her acoustic guitar for accompaniment. Petite, with long brown hair, she captivated her audience with one of the most incredible voices I’ve ever heard. Combining the power of Melissa Etheridge, the sweet lilt of Sarah McLachlan, and the songwriting ability of Sheryl Crow, England has a lethal combination of talent.

The songs have serious lyrical content, written and performed totally from the heart. It’s scary when artists can reach into themselves and draw out those types of emotions so clearly; the ultimate therapy for the listener. It’s even more amazing when an artist can perform songs as good or better live as they did on the CD.

Hailing from North Carolina originally, England had us cracking up right out of the gate when she described how cold the weather was but how she told her grandmother earlier that day, “You still gotta dress like a rock star.” She did several of my favorite songs from her newest CD, as well as some I didn’t know from her first CD. “Dead End”: a song about helplessly watching a friend headed down the wrong path. “Higher Ground”: a song about survival after the death of a relationship. “Something So Beautiful”: a song about a friend who grew up in an abusive home and is now this great person who is an inspiration to others. Taylor Roberts joined Kyler to sing back up vocals on this one. “Snowed In”: a very sexy tune about the benefits of bad weather and being stuck inside with that special someone. “The One”: the last song on the CD, it's not just the message of lost love in the lyrics but it’s how they are delivered in that strong clear voice that goes right to your heart; no chance for miscommunication. England also performed a new song that had yet to receive a title but contained words of “Tell me you want me, just lay it on me, I can be strong if you don’t want me, honesty is all I need.”

Taylor Roberts then took the stage and he shocked the audience by proposing to his longtime girlfriend, Claire, during the show. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. After their set, England returned to the stage and joined Roberts and his band to sing holiday songs. It was one fantastic show — this chick can SING! Later, I overheard someone who was raving about England and her music say, “Oh, God —- what she sings — it’s just how I feel!” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

http://www.backstagestories.com - BackStageStories.com


"A Night With Indie Performer Kyler England"

by Marisa Emralino

It's a gloomy Tuesday afternoon, and before finalizing my evening plans, I check the weather- a chilly 63 degrees, showers with steady rain continuing into the evening, winds at 20 to 25 mph. This disappointingly dark and dreary summer day has put a damper on my spirits, and in my opinion, there are only two possible cures for the rainy Tuesday night blues: a cup of chai tea, and live music. But, tonight is my lucky night; I get both of those fixes at once. I make my way across town to the DTUT café on 2nd Avenue, between 84th and 85th Streets, where Kyler, one of my favorite local indie singers, is performing. With chai in hand, I sink deep into one of the couches and let the healing begin.

If you dig into the recesses of your memory, and recall the millions of little things that inexplicably wiped away your tear-stained cheeks as a child, that's what listening to Kyler is like. Hearing her sing is like a warm hug, a brightly colored band-aid on a skinned knee, a lollipop and a sticker after a visit to the doctor, a handful of dandelions in an old jelly jar. However, there is nothing childish about her approach to music. Her songs mostly deal with matters of life and love: the euphoric ups and devastating downs of relationships, battling the stresses of everyday life, the struggles of letting go and moving on. Very simply put, she makes the best of a bad situation by transforming even the darkest emotions into dazzling works of beauty and perfection.

Tonight, she casts magic in the air. From the minute she picks up her acoustic guitar and the first notes escape her lips, the audience is drawn in and captivated by her warmth and charm. Stern-looking businessmen furiously tapping away at their laptops suddenly shut their screens and look up; couples hiding in dark corners emerge, set down their glasses of wine in front of them, and shuffle their chairs in her direction. She makes sure to play some of her crowd favorites, like "Something So Beautiful," about a loved one defying cruel childhood surroundings, and "Radioactive," which takes a closer look today's pop music industry, and gives it a poke in the ribs.

Kyler's acoustic feel evokes the spirit of singer-songwriter predecessors like Joni Mitchell and Sarah McLachlan, but her own unique sound forges its own path. She melds together elements of folk, rock, and pop, creating seamless pieces that are mellow and introspective, but with enough edge to grab and take hold of your attention. Her voice envelops you like a favorite sweater on a winter day, and her songs are individual perfect little rooms you want nothing more than to hide away in. Her lyrics are always poignant and honest, revealing the inner truths of human emotion. The combination of all these things hits the heart in such a way that all of that day's or week's or month's baggage you've been carrying melts away, and you're left with nothing but feelings of peace and contentment.

As Kyler finishes her set, it's impossible to remain unaffected. After closing with an upbeat love song called "Snowed In," that turns the harsh New York winter weather into an occasion worth celebrating, her infectious good mood spreads throughout the room like wildfire, and she eagerly meets those who have come to see her play. Meet her once and she gushes with enthusiasm and appreciation. Meet her twice and she treats you like an old and dear friend.

As I leave the café, the sound of her voice still echoes in my head. My heart is racing, and I feel strangely elated. There's the possibility that the caffeine running though my system has something to do with it, but I highly doubt that's the case. I'm experiencing what can only be described as a "concert high" that I'll be riding for the next several days. Walking through the front doors and out into the cold night, I notice that it's still raining. But this time around, I don't care.

http://www.fclcobserver.com/observer - The Fordham Observer


"review of "A Flower Grows In Stone""

by Jennifer Layton

Kyler’s career has reached a place of emerging into sunlight. Her two previous projects have focused on her struggle to understand and recover from her mother’s death. Now, with the worst of the pain behind her and the ability to let her mother’s memory inspire her, Kyler bursts out of the studio with a collection of songs centered on the idea of emerging gloriously from darkness. Lyrically, it’s direct, challenging, and triumphant. Musically, she’s become a rock star.

Kyler pushes herself hard on this album, and that voice rings out with new assertion and power. It still dances between vulnerable and strong – on the chorus of “Dead End,” for example, she barely breathes the word “still” before soaring ahead with the rest of the line in an almost operatic fashion. But her voice is consistently more passionate and intense than on previous work. The music is fueled by an impressive lineup of NYC artists, including Ethan Eubanks, the powerhouse behind Redtime, on drums.

Many tracks stand out, including the steamy, provocative “Snowed In.” Kyler has been playing this one live for a while, and it usually stuns the male audience members so much they forget to applaud when it’s over. I’ve seen it happen at several shows. It’s funny to watch, but you can hardly blame them when this alluring siren croons, “We got nowhere to be, it’s just you and me, baby, and our body heat.”

She makes a sly dig in the ribs with “Radioactive,” a track about Top 40 Radio’s penchant for poster-pretty entertainers with nothing substantial to say. In other songs, she captures entire relationships in just a few lines. “You painted me prettier in your head,” is how she begins “Flawless,” and we know exactly where this is going. We can just never be prepared for the way she will make it so real. “You rearranged the words that I said to you, but I can’t live up to that.”

Fans of Kyler’s solo acoustic shows will appreciate the last five tracks. I see them as “Kyler Unplugged.” “Breathe Again” is the only one featuring just Kyler and her guitar, but the instrumentation is kept simple on the others, and the feeling is more intimate than the full band arrangements. She celebrates her North Carolina roots in “Big City Boy” and reveals her science-major college past with “Distill.” (“I’d burn off the liquid of your love until the crystals of myself remained, but even then my heart it would be stained.”)

These fourteen tracks are daring, bold strides into more vivid territory. This CD, even in its quieter moments, feels like thunder. This is the sound of a creative soul emerging from darkness. - Indie-Music.com


Discography

Electric Hum (Oct 2011)
Simple Machine (2008)
Live Wire Volume 2 (2007)
The Green Room Sessions EP (2006)
Live Wire (2005)
A Flower Grows In Stone (2003)
How Many Angels EP (2001)
If The World Would Just End (2000)

As a member of the band The Rescues:
Let Loose the Horses (2010)

Photos

Bio

One-fourth of critically acclaimed LA band The Rescues, singer-songwriter Kyler England strikes out into bold new territory with Electric Hum, a solo collection of 10 emotionally charged songs and a vivid sonic palette equal parts organic and electronic.

Her latest CD was produced by Bill Lefler (Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, Laura Jansen) and paid for 100% by fan contributions through a highly successful PledgeMusic campaign.

England took a hiatus from her solo career to focus on The Rescues upon being signed to Universal Republic in 2009. “It was a whirlwind couple of years,” she says. “When I had some quiet time in January 2011, the songs started pouring out.”

Kyler’s songs have appeared on numerous TV shows including Vampire Diaries, One Tree Hill, Switched At Birth, Ghost Whisperer and Army Wives, and in the feature film The Lucky Ones, and her collaborations with DJs have been featured on Armin van Burren’s “A State of Trance” compilations and radio shows.

She has toured the country many times, opening for Sting, Annie Lennox, Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson and more; she’s also played the Toronto Film Festival.

Electric Hum hit iTunes on 10.25.11 and went humming straight into the Singer-Songwriter chart Top 30. It was named #1 Indie Album of 2011 by Examiner.com and included in Amazon's Digital-Only Faves of 2011. A sign of things to come, Electric Hum is just warming up.