Kayla Silverman is a Boston based indie-pop artist who looks to the past as a songwriting inspiration generator.

Looking to the Past as a songwriting inspiration generator

“I have been singing and listening to music since I was six years old. In my childhood home, there was a little radio in our kitchen and I would sit on a chair beside it for hours and listen to the works of Elvis, Micheal Jackson, and Frankie Valli. “

I grew up to appreciate all genres of music. I almost became an opera singer. Trained in the classical style, I studied and performed the compositions of Schubert, Mozart, and Bach to audiences at Carnegie Hall. But as I reached young adulthood, I discovered that the synergy of combining the sounds of classical music and the electronic sounds of bedroom pop can fuse into a single beautiful identity. One can describe my music as the byproduct of a studio session with “Mozart and Billie Eilish.” In addition to singing, I also play the guitar, the piano, the saxophone, and the oboe.

I have many live performance experiences already under my belt, such as my 2019 headliner show promoting my EP “I Believe” at The Cutting Room and the Bitter End in New York City. I also am a two-time performer at the BBYO International Convention to an audience of six thousand people in which I performed with Justin Jesso, a rising pop artist. My compositions have won me songwriting awards from the “Unsigned Only Music Competition,” “Global Music Award” and Best Song at the “Los Angeles Film Awards.”

Song name: Crying On a Plane
Music Genre: Indie Pop with hints of Baroque Pop

This song was inspired by my trip to China a few years ago.

I met a producer on the trip and through music we were able to connect very deeply.

He introduced me to electronic music which I eventually learned to fuse with my other musical inspirations. Once the trip was over, we had to go our separate ways. “Crying On a Plane” focuses on the bittersweet emotions I felt on the plane ride back home.

To create the mood, my complex vocal harmonies, sounds of seatbelt clicks as percussion, the revving of engines, and lastly my powerful vocals paint a clear picture for my audience.

The song has been featured multiple times on stations like AVA Live Radio and recently hit a 50k streaming milestone.

Spotify: https://bit.ly/cryingonaplanespotify
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/crying-on-a-plane-single/1516549101

 I have lived in the suburbs of Boston my whole life, but I have spent the majority of my time at my local recording studio in Boston.

Now, I live in a little apartment in the Back Bay area of Boston.

Who has been the most influential in your music?

I am inspired by many musicians of different periods and genres. I am heavily influenced by the bold textures of Queen, St. Vincent, and Weyes Blood. However, I also like the intimacy found in music from Bruno Major and Ashe. But if I had to choose the most influential person in my music, it would have to be Bronwen Upton, my voice teacher, and mentor.

I found Mrs. Upton when I was 11 and have studied with her intensively ever since. She helped me find my voice and vocal technique. She also is responsible for introducing me to classical music. I recall that she was in the room the very moment I fell in love with classical music.

When did you know that this was the right path for you?

I have always loved entertaining. I remember that I sang “I Dreamed a Dream” from the musical Les Miserables for a music recital when I was 8 years old. After the performance, as I hugged my mom, I told her that “this is what I want to do for the rest of my life”. But after that decision, my path was not always straight. Originally I wanted to be on Broadway. There was a time where I wanted to be part of an opera company. Finally, I settled in the path of fusing all my influences to create contemporary music.

What do you like most about what you do?

My favorite part about what I do is performing live. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made live performances very difficult. There is something magical about sharing my music to a crowd. The audience absorbs my emotion and I take in their energy. There is this incredible sense of trust and respect between an audience and a performer. When I am onstage, nothing but the music matters. It truly is a joy to perform and share my music.

What do you most hope to accomplish with your influence?

My ultimate goal as a musician is to emotionally impact my audience. I want my music to be intimate and emotional while remaining lush and full of interesting timbres and textures. I aim to draw out a raw and genuine feeling from my listeners.

I want my music to be a safe space where people will allow themselves to feel the emotions that they need.

What is the biggest obstacle you have faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?

My journey has not been smooth. I grew up in a family of doctors and educators where my whole family expected that I would be a dentist like my grandfather and indulge in music “on the side.” Despite that, my mom has always been my number one supporter and advocated for me. It was a long battle to get the remainder of my family and friends completely on board with my pursuit as a full-time recording artist. But due to my hard work, hours of practice, and demonstrating through actions my dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, I slowly won them over. Besides, pursuing music and releasing original content online during high school was not always met with unconditional support. But I had this need to keep making music and working towards my dream.

What do you want people to remember most about you and your career?

I want people to remember me for my freedom of sound and my raw, genuine emotions. I want people to still have an emotional affiliation with my songs many years from now.

What are you most looking forward to this next month?

This month, I will be planning the release of my next single! I have many performances, content, and giveaways planned for my fans, so stay tuned! I also am starting college at Berklee College of Music which has been incredibly exciting.

Website & social media links: : 

Website: http://kaylasilverman.com
YouTube: https://bit.ly/kaylayoutube
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylasilverman_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kaylasilvermanmusic
Bandsintown: https://bit.ly/kaylabnds
Spotify: https://bit.ly/spotifykayla