After the rousing response to her much-loved studio album 'Soul Of A Showgirl' in 2022, fast-rising singer-songwriter Kyra Gordon has now made her eagerly-awaited return with her shimming new single 'Burn It Down'.
Lifted from her forthcoming new EP 'Traveler', which is set to arrive in June, 'Burn It Down makes for a wonderfully warm and dazzling return to form. With her rich and impactful vocal delivery spread across a soaring Americana-inspired production, she is returning to the fold with one of her most alluring efforts to date here.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Voice
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
All the girl groups of the early 90’s - En Vogue, SWV, TLC, Salt n Pepa! Then secretly, I fell in love with grunge. Then as a teenager, I fell in love with 60’s soul music and went die hard into Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I got my hands on two tapes early on - one was Madonna, the other was Chicago. Then when my family got a CD player when I was maybe 10 I got to buy my first CD, which was the soundtrack to the movie “Stand by Me,” which is still one of my absolute favourite!
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
“If you come back again,” by Rita Hosking
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I am writing all the time, and things crop up in all kinds of different ways. When I know what I’m writing about, I just let it flow at the piano, or a capella. Then after a while I put my editing cap on. If I am stuck, I sometimes take an existing chord progression from a song I like and change the feel, then write to that. Then I will change the chords as the melody becomes clearer. Other times I will speed write to a timer, and then circle phrases I like, then take that to the piano and see what it sparks.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Allison Russell, Sarah Jarosz, John Craigie, Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Armatrading, Anais Mitchell, Otis Redding, Ana Moura, Michelle Willis, Patty Griffin, Laura Mvula.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Janis Ian
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Playing music with people I adore and playing in front of an audience that is with us.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Getting booked by venues that don’t pay, or don’t pay much, and still they expect you to bring all the people.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
You just have to go out and do it! Everything will go wrong at first and you won’t know how to handle it in the moment, but that’s how you will find your way.
-
Kyra Gordon's new single 'Burn It Down' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.