Hailing from the city of Los Angeles, Kyle Banks emerged onto the scene in late-2018 with his debut single, “Time Go.” The visual-accompanied song illustrates the potential carried by the rising R&B star, who describes his music as “genuine.” That same year, he served as an opener for Phora‘s Love Is Hell tour. In March, Kyle released his follow-up single, “Calabasas,” in anticipation of his forthcoming debut release Vulnerable.
Earlier this year, Kyle Banks joined Dreamville for the recording sessions of their highly-anticipated compilation album, Revenge of the Dreamers III. Kyle describes the experience as “beautiful,” having the chance to observe how other artists and producers create content. Not only did these encounters build connections, but served as fuel for his forthcoming releases. Check out our interview with him below.
Talk to me about your roots coming up in Los Angeles. When did you first take hold it music and develop a sound of your own?
So you know growing up in L.A., you know, you see a lot of crazy stuff. A lot of people don’t have many decisions, they either play sports, make music, or do other stuff. So you see a lot of stuff you don’t really want to see. I grew up playing basketball and I got into music not even on purpose, more on some “let me see how this goes.” I remember I got kicked out of school and my boy at the time who makes music, I just wanted to see what it’s about. I decided to pull up on him and go to the studio sessions, then we ended up making one of the hottest songs out that year. From then on, I decided to I was going to do music.
Walk me through your childhood, who were your musical influences?
As a child, my mom and dad, they were older so they would play Michael Jackson and Jahiem. I just began to like old music, not just because I liked it, but I heard it all the time.
When do you feel most inspired to create music?
I feel most inspired to do music when I’m around other artists. When they’re inspiring me to try new melodies and add different rifts and rafts in the song or whatever the case may be. I might hear something on the radio when I’m driving or I may just jot in my notes and I come to the studio.
Let’s talk music, you released your debut single “Time Go” in December. Where were you at in life when you recorded that single?
When I released “Time Go,” I was in a vulnerable state of my life. I had just got out of a situation and I was heard. I did what I knew how to do best, record. And that’s what I did, I just put what I was going through like a diary.
How do you want people to respond to your music?
When people hear my music I want them to understand it’s real, nothing is made up. I want them to understand it’s genuine and get a feel for it. I feel like everybody goes through some point where they were hurt or down, they were vulnerable. And it’s okay, sometimes you have to admit when you wrong and move on.
At the top of the year, you attended the Revenge of the Dreamers III recording sessions, how was that experience?
The Revenge of the Dreamers camp, it was a crazy experience. It was crazy talent from all over the world. I saw how people recorded. I saw how people created and it was a beautiful thing. And I just remember being up damn near twenty-four hours of the day, all day, no sleep for two days. Not even realizing you haven’t slept or ate because you’re having so much fun and it’s just so much inspiration going on. When I got back to Los Angeles, I just realized I had to go that much harder because it’s so much talent out there.
Is there anyone in particular that you shared great chemistry with?
In the music industry, I’ve come across a lot of cool people. But my team, Mittee Gang, we got chemistry that, not only do we make music, we damn near brothers. Everything we do is for the best. Nobody makes selfish decisions, everything is genuinely for the best. We all support each other music like it’s our own. I support everybody’s music in the camp like I’m dropping it myself.
I feel like that’s what makes us different from a lot of people. We’ll tell each other “that songs not hot, do it over” or “that beat sucks.” Whatever the case is, we keep everything real. Honestly, that’s the key, being surrounded by real people. You can’t grow if people are constantly lying, you know.
Talk to us about your forthcoming project, Vulnerable, what can we expect?
I can’t even tell you how excited I am, I feel like when it drops, it’s going to say a lot. I feel like it’s doing a lot plus more. Right now, we’re impatient. I feel like maybe a good time to drop would be my birthday month. So you know, just stay ready for that.
What are your goals for the year?
My goal this year is to just be known. My music everywhere is speaking for itself and I feel like it will, so stay tuned. All Hits, Mittee Gang. Kyle Banks, I’m out.
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[…] this week, Kyle Banks sat down with RESPECT. for an extensive interview on his musical influences and forthcoming project, Vulnerable. “When people hear my music I […]