Kyla Brox
Caroline Miller (CM) interview with Kyla Brox (Kyla) - May 2010
CM: You have played many festivals which in your eyes is the best?
Kyla: It's impossible to say which is best. I've enjoyed every single festival I've ever played, no matter where in the world.
CM: If you were not singing in a group or duo what would you be doing?
Kyla: I've always wanted to make my living through singing, and I almost always have but for a while when I left college I worked for an optician. I actually really enjoyed it and was very good at my job! I left to go on tour but for ages afterwards they'd phone just to make sure I didn't want my job back, so I guess I'd be doing that.
CM: Growing up with your dads band, you must have met some of the biggest British blues artists, is there one that impressed you more than anyone else?
Kyla: Well, I missed a lot by not being alive in the 60s and 70s, but meeting Robert Plant and Jimmy Page was pretty amazing. It was at a memorial concert for Alexis Korner, who my mum and dad used to play with. It blew me away when Robert Plant said my dad was one of his heroes. Apparently they used to follow his band around when they were young teenagers, back when blues was new and different in Britain...and cool!
It was nothing to do with my dad, but I met Robert Lockwood Junior a few months before he died. Now he was someone to be impressed by! He was 91 years old and still playing so smoothly. I spoke to him about the guy who first taught him to play guitar...Robert Johnson!!
CM: Do you prefer playing with the band or the duo?
Kyla: It's difficult to choose. I love Dan's acoustic guitar playing and he still manages to surprise me with the stuff he comes out with. In some ways I think we have more impact as a duo because Dan's playing is so spectacular and he kind of sounds like a whole band anyway! But I love the camaraderie with the band, on and off the stage. We're all mates, you know, we all enjoy each other’s company so while it's great when it's just me and Dan touring - especially because it's so easy...sling the acoustic in the van and we're away - it's always so much fun to play with the band.
CM: How many instruments do you play?
Kyla: I play the flute and I also play guitar, but not very well, just enough to write songs...you won't catch me playing guitar on stage any time soon.
CM: Who was the biggest influence on your career after your dad?
Kyla: In terms of musical influence, probably Nina Simone. I strive for her emotional delivery and depth of repertoire. She could really make a song her own, no matter what style. In career terms, I'd have to say Danny...he's the one who lured me away from the opticians with the promise of a tour of Australia, so I guess he's responsible for everything! He'd been away for a couple of years and he couldn't believe I'd got myself a "proper" job...he thought I was mad.
CM: Aims for the future and what do you hope to achieve within the Blues?
Kyla: Right now I'm so happy that we're managing to carry on touring after having our baby, Sadie, because I'd always imagined having kids would be really difficult for us. She's 11 months now and I'm really lucky that my mum is willing and able to come with us to look after her. So in the future, more of the same, please! I always imagine us playing bigger and better gigs, because performing is what it's all about for me. When I was growing up I used to think that being really famous was what I wanted, but in fact being an independent musician, able to make decisions and balance music with the rest of my life is much more important.
CM: Why do you feel that young people are not as attracted to the Blues as other Genres?
Kyla: I'm not really sure. Obviously the Blues doesn't get the same amount of media coverage as other types of music, probably because young people don't listen to it, but perhaps young people don't listen to it because they don't learn about it from the media. I think each generation wants to feel like they're bringing new things to the table and maybe there's a feeling that the Blues is old hat, but I think it's always changing and evolving.
CM: What other styles of music have you drawn inspiration from?
Kyla: All types of music, I suppose. I've always been a fan of a wide variety of styles...I even trained in opera! I'm a massive Stevie Wonder fan and I love anything that's soulful and funky, I try to bring that into our music.
and before Eric Bibb! Sandwiched between two great Eric’s...scary stuff! He does a lot of gigs on his own and he was really encouraging us to pursue the duo more.
CM: What do you do to relax when you have some spare time away from music?
Kyla: Anything that doesn't involve using too much energy! I'm always reading and I love food. Luckily for me Danny's a talented cook and we enjoy going out to good restaurants, too. We watch a ridiculous amount of films and, when I get time, I make jewellery...I've also been known to crochet...not sure I should admit to that! I'm a real family girl and there's nothing better than a big get together.
CM: What makes a good gig for you as a performer?
Kyla: It's something to do with the energy that's created between the audience and us. When I get that tingly feeling and goose bumps, I know it's really happening. Simply put, if the audience are enjoying it, then I'm enjoying it. No matter how many people I'm playing to, so long as they're engaged with what I'm doing, it's going to be a good gig from my point of view.
CM: What can be done to keep the blues music fresh and modern or do you think it should stay in the past?
Kyla: Sometimes I look at our audiences and there are so few younger people that I wonder who Blues musicians will be playing to in years to come. It would be fantastic if a new generation of Blues fans came through and I suspect the way to do that is for more youngsters to be playing the Blues, making it relevant to our times in their own way, which I've seen happening in other countries. We've done the odd "Blues In Schools" gig, playing our music to little kids. We've always had a really positive response. Wouldn't it be amazing if one of those 8 year olds was inspired to play the Blues?
Thank you Kyla for a great interview
Caroline Miller
Nottingham Blues Society
CM: Do you think the blues scene on the continent is better than in the UK?
Kyla: Possibly, in some ways, but I think we have extremely dedicated Blues lovers here in the UK, many of whom are willing to put a lot of effort into running Blues clubs so that they can hear the music they love.
CM: Which country do you enjoy playing in most of all?
Kyla: I'd have to say Australia. The scene over there is completely different. There's been a real resurgence of interest in the Blues over there and a lot more young people attend concerts and festivals. I find that Australian artists aren't afraid to stretch the boundaries of the Blues, too, which keeps it fresh.
CM: Who was the last blues act that you paid to see?
Kyla: I honestly can't remember! That's the one thing that can go by the wayside when you're a musician and gigging a lot (and when you're a new mum!). I always try to see as many bands as possible when we're playing at a festival, though. Some bands are slow to arrive and quick to leave, but we like to listen to what else is out there.
CM: What was the last blues CD that you bought for yourself?
Kyla: I've just bought 'Booker's Guitar' by Eric Bibb. I think he's brilliant. We did a charity gig for Paul Jones about 18 months ago and he was on the bill. We played after Eric Clapton
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