EQUATE meets Kyra

"I think the biggest learning curve is to trust your gut. You will come across a lot of people, many well established, but if your gut is telling you something about them, always listen."

Kyra Wears – Coat: Topshop, Jewellery: Stylists Own, Shoes: EGO

EQ: How did you get into music, and what drew you to the industry and better yet a career in it?

K: It’s a boring answer but it happened very organically, I’ve never had any singing lessons or pushy parents. I come from a very normal background where my dad played a lot of great music growing up and I literally sang everywhere because I liked it. I didn’t know what ‘the industry’ was and to be honest it’s still a mystery to me [laughs]. I got connected with Prgrshn and Angel, as we’re all from West London and recorded one of my first demos at around 13 years old. One thing led to another and boom I’m deep in, having released two songs this year, an EP on the way, and chatting to you!

EQ: Who was your biggest musical inspiration growing up?

K: Vocally I was obsessed with Faith Evans and Randy Crawford. I loved the soft tones of Olivia Newton John on E.L.O’s production. I used to play Destiny’s Child albums and just practice adlibs in my bedroom over and over. I love how raw the vocals on soul and early RnB records were, and I’m a big fan of rare groove.

EQ: What does music mean to you?

K: Music is my life. My life is music. They are one and the same. I’m so grateful to have an outlet to express my emotions and keep me sane - my voice is a gift from God, which I try not to take for granted and I feel very blessed to be able to connect with people through my art. It’s shaped my whole life and opened up so many amazing opportunities. I don’t know who I would be without music.

EQ: Would you say musical art is your only form of creative expression? If not, what are your other creative outlets?

K: I draw and design clothes, stage outfits and shoes for the female form. I’ve been told I’m really good at it. I’ve always felt there’ll be a time to develop that down the line, but for now I just do it for fun and when I’m writing songs in the studio, I draw loads. I also love cooking - there’s something about frying onions and garlic while listening to music that just makes me really happy [laughs].

EQ: Who or what keeps you grounded?

K: My Son! Kids will strip you right down in a heartbeat, believe me. They will humble you and bring you back to earth real quick - there is no pretence with them. Also, my family and friends keep me grounded. They love my singing, but they don’t understand my world or really care for fame, so they never inflate my ego. It’s good to have that balance because there’s a lot of highs and lows in music.

Kyra Wears: Shirt Dress: Assem Issingarina, Earrings: Ayse Daga, Shoes: EGO

EQ: What is an average day in the life of Kyra?

K: My schedule varies day to day but typically it starts by being woken at 7am by my two-year-old full of beans shouting ‘mummy, mummy’ until I wake up. Depending on who is less knackered, either my partner or I will take the lead on the morning duties. If it’s me, blurry eyed, I make breakfast and vibe to some CBeebies [laughs]. I’ll reply to some emails on my phone and head out to a play group or the park for the morning. Once I’ve worn him out, I’ll put him down for a nap around 1. The desire to nap with him at this point is strong but this baby free time is like gold dust! If I have something on, my partner usually comes back and swaps over or if it’s just me I make a quick lunch and prepare bubbas, put clothes wash on and proceed to cram my working day into these next two hours. It’ll range from sending emails, listening to my demo mixes, booking studio sessions, organising shoots, chasing people, sending invoices, replying to WhatsApp messages - it’s endless. Once bubba wakes it’s a straddle of playtime and anything else I can juggle. His dinner, bath and bedtime routine start around 6pm and he’s asleep by 9pm on a good day. Typically, once he’s in bed I spruce up to go to a live music night or an event and get home around midnight. I’m a proper night owl so often stay up till around 3am catching up on socials, looking at video reference ideas or idly wasting the night away laughing at memes. I hit the sack vowing not to go to bed so late tomorrow but do it all again anyway.

EQ: What’s been the defining moment of your career so far? The best, or something that taught you a lesson?

K: That’s a hard question. There have been many blessings and lessons along the way like for example hearing my song play on BBC Radio 1 was a pretty special moment. Also, opening up for Kwabs in Ghent was magical. My Xanadu EP was essentially in demo format and it gave me a chance to test my songs out live before I went on to finish them. Seeing my music being received so well first-hand was inspiring and gave me a belief that there is absolutely an audience for what I’m making. As corny as it sounds, I think the biggest learning curve is to trust your gut. You will come across a lot of people, many well established, but if your gut is telling you something about them, always listen.

EQ: Apart from your own music, what is the best song on your playlist at the moment?

K: I like the way you phrased that question. I’m obsessed with Joseph Lawrence & The Garden – ‘Fade’.

EQ: Tell us something about yourself that no one knows about you. An EQUATE exclusive.

K: Fun fact: I have a dimple in my left butt cheek, there you go. Ground-breaking info for you [laughs].

EQ: If you could pick any artist (dead or alive) to collaborate with, who would it be and why?

K: That’s always a tough ask and I’ve changed my answer several times. Currently I’d say Prince. He’s a genius and a very intriguing character. I’d love to observe his creative process and write some songs. He might not even want to work with me but at the very least just to have a cuppa [tea] with him would be so insightful.

EQ: What is next for you musically, do you have any new projects we should keep an eye out for?

Definitely! My new release ‘Stampede’ came out in November, it’s taken from my ‘Xanadu EP’ out early 2020.

Follow Kyra on socials:

Instagram: @kyravision

Twitter: @kyraofficial

Stream her latest single ‘Stampede’ on Spotify HERE