1.
Growing Up
My first instrument was piano, and I remember getting up early so I could finish my practice before it was time for Tarzan on the TV. I also played some guitar in primary, followed by years of bassoon in the Sydney Schools Wind Ensemble. Ironically I then dropped all of my instruments for years while travelling, but the music was still playing on the inside, and it soon burst out again, in a different way.
2.
Inspirations
I am a lover of lyric, and as such have always been drawn to musicians that bring forth a story or a timeline in their creative flow. Sting, Nitin Sawhney, Amos Lee, Paul Simon and Tracy Chapman have been prominent for me, but I love a wide range of genres. Strong vocal expressionists like Bobby McFerrin and Zap Mama are also favourites, because they give us all permission to delve deeper into how and why we sing.
3.
Your Band
I am presently collaborating with some accomplished musicians here in the Byron Bay region, particularly vocalist Rebekah Ray, who has sung on all of my albums through the years. We are fortunate here in the Northern Rivers to have a good pool of musicians who are also friends, so we are usually on the same channel and are also in it for the joy. I am now producing and audio engineering as a side career, which is great as it brings more music and creation into my life.
4.
The Music You Make
A Murray Kyle performance is a breath of fresh air for people who are saturated by the usual media machine. My songs are a heart-centred journey, bringing some nourishment and strength to the spirit in these astounding times we are witnessing aboard our planet. Conscious roots shamanic soul music is born! I released my fourth album on 12/12/12 entitled Mountain Song, and it was self-recorded and produced here in the creative epicentre of Uki.
5.
Music, Right Here, Right Now
It is a unique time for musicians of my genre pool, and we are writing the soundtrack for a new paradigm as we move into a clearer connection in our lives. I believe this will be reflected in the venues and events that we see emerging more in the coming years. I love being a part of cultural/lifestyle events where body, mind and spirit are all engaged and entertained, and lifted into a place of awareness that can be brought into our everyday lives.
Murray Kyle is playing at Amazonia’s Conscious New Year’s Eve alongside Deya Dova, Saritah, Chris Deckker and Jocelyn Gordon at Paddington Chapel on Wednesday December 31. More information can be found here.
