Interview with local International Blues Singer Kyla Brox
Local People
Jude Gidney
Reporter: Ruby Anstee
In Saddlworth News’ quest to find interesting and inspiring people in the area, I had the pleasure of meeting with Kyla Brox, local girl and international blues singer. Interview and a taste of Kyla performing with her band below:
Kyla, tell us about where you live.
For 16 yrs I’ve lived on Carr Hill Road in Mossley. I originally came from Stockport, born and bred. There’s very big contrast between Stockport and this area. When I grew up in Stockport I knew the names of the neighbours next to me but here I know all my neighbours and feel there is a real community spirit. It really is special. I’ve travelled a lot throughout the world and it really is the only place I’d consider living in.
What’s your background in music?
I’ve been singing since I was 12 in my dad’s blues band. I’ve been singing for years. When I was 21 I broke away, stole most of his band, and started singing in pubs and clubs and gradually worked my way up and up. Now we tour all over the world. I did some training with an opera singer at the Royal Northern and I did enjoy it, but I’ve been writing songs since I was 6, and I knew I didn’t want to sing other people’s songs. The training helped me to discover my range, but opera singing was never going to be a long-term career for me. My mum is an opera singer by the way. Hear Kyla sing at the bottom of the interview.
Tell us about your latest album.
We’ve made lots of albums, but this is the first studio album for 7 years as we’ve had a break since I had my two children. We made a live album in 2014 but now we’ve got back to the studio. We’re really proud of it. We recorded it in an amazing studio in Holland that’s attached to a venue that we played at. It made sense to get out to the studio for a couple of days, get everything down, the kids stayed here so it meant we could concentrate on getting it recorded and it worked for us. Our album’s called ‘Throw away your blues’. We recorded an acoustic album in Woodend Mill in 2009 and it was lovely to make an album in Mossley.
Tell us about why you sing the blues.
I’ve been singing blues for ever, I think it’s the influence of my dad. It’s all about emotion and that’s what ties me to the blues. Opera and blues have this in common, emotion. The gigs just get better and better and better. We make most of our living in Europe; Switzerland, Italy, France, Holland. We’ve been working on getting known in Europe for years and it’s working well now. It’s not easy with juggling the kids but it’s really nice now to get gigs where you are really appreciated. We also get so well looked after in Europe, they treat the arts as something to be revered which we don’t find so much in the UK.
Jude Gidney
Jude Gidney
What do you love about the area you live in?
I love the people, I love the community, I love the hills, I love the moors, I even like the austere dank weather, sometimes. I’ve written some great songs just walking down the canal or over the tops of the hills. Nature inspires me, it makes my heart swell when I’m surrounded by such beauty. We’ve also got some great small shops around; greengrocers, butchers, independent dress shops. And of course, my absolute favourite dresses are Victory Parade by Limb. I think I’ve got about 11 now, I love them! I recommend anyone to go and see their fabrics and showroom in Mossley.
Tell us about your imminent plans for the future.
We’re writing at the moment and will start recording maybe February next year. I’m always up for the British Blues Awards and have been runner up on numerous occasions. Music isn’t a competition and I’m thrilled to be nominated. We’re down in Cardiff later this month at the Cardiff Millennium Centre for the end of Black History Month, London soon and the UK Blues Cruise, then back to Switzerland.
Go on, surprise us
When I was 12 I sang the song in the Manchester bid for the Olympics. Sadly Manchester didn’t win it but my song was great 😉 !
Images by Jude Gidney Photography taken at her studio in Woodend Mill, Mossley. Her specialism is babies and children, although she loves meeting and photographing interesting and inspiring people. Visit her website here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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