We were lucky to catch up with Kayla Silverman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kayla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Many artist say that change inspired new songs, but I was actually inspired by my new song to change. My song “Starting Over” was written at a pretty low point in my life. I was feeling stuck in almost all aspects of my life and wrote this song as a bookmark to start a new chapter in my life and get me out of my comfort zone. I just did not know exactly what it was. I am the black sheep of my family. My sister and parents are born natural hikers. While other families view lounging by the beach at a resort relaxing, my family feels at home on the side of a mountain, sleeping in tents, and rocking zip-off shorts. I on the other hand, prefer mani-pedis, hotel rooms and happy hour. So when my family decided to hike Mountain Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, I was not invited. When my sister had to drop out of the trip last minute, I knew that this was the change I was searching for. It was a 10 day brutal hike full of sunburns, blisters, and altitude sickness. But when things were getting hard on the mountain, I popped in my earbuds and listened to “Starting Over” to motivate me to keep going.
Kayla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Kayla Silverman is an alt-pop musician drawing from both the classical and electronic spheres to create an at-once regal and whimsical sound. Silverman is known for her ethereal live performances, having played everywhere from Carnegie Hall to underground basement venues in Allston. Cavorting about the stage in puffy ball gowns, her concerts are infused with a simultaneously comedic and romantic sensibility, showcasing her passion for theatricality. The tone of her shows draws inspiration from artists like Weyes Blood, Kate Bush and Queen, and her larger-than-life stage persona has made her one of the most exciting new live performers of today’s music scene.
Silverman broke into the pop world with singles like 2021’s “Look Away” and “Can’t You Tell.” That year also saw the release of her first EP, “Golden Frequencies,” which features beloved tracks like “Mine” and “Breaking and Entering.” Her single “Starting Over” has garnered more than 45,000 streams on Spotify. After 2021, she began playing across the East Coast, recently completing her second tour, hitting iconic venues like Arlene’s Grocery, The Bitter End and The Delancey. She has cultivated a reputation for lushly-produced, maximalist ballads, backed by powerful vocals and intricate harmonies.
Her highly-anticipated sophomore EP, Sophisticated Lady, dives into the technicolor chaos of navigating one’s mid-twenties, expanding her interest in Baroque and Renaissance art and offering an even more personal approach to her artistry. The new collection of songs will stay true to her ageless signature style while venturing into the more experimental, electric world of alt-pop soundscapes. Her visuals evoke classical paintings like “Girl With A Pearl Earring,” and her merch lands more in the streetwear sphere than typical tour T-shirts.
Kayla is a heart-on-your-sleeve, unabashedly emotional storyteller and a true romantic. She looked to the love saga between her grandparents as a blueprint for what decades of a relationship can look like and dedicates her new EP to them. She says:“The ironic title of Sophisticated Lady is about thinking you own the world while having 5 dollars to your name, and the indulgence of living in the unknown. For better or for worse, this EP is dedicated to those who read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath at a small coffee shop. It is written for those who seem to cry at almost everything and it is for those who are willing to love regardless of being burned in the past.” Silverman’s fascination with the sensitive, bleeding hearts of the world has poised her to emerge as one of the most relatable-yet-ethereal voices of modern alt-pop.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
As an independent artist, there is a lot more energy that is being funneled into my career that is seeming to be unreciprocated. But sometimes my effort and care is being noticed and appreciated, even if I am unaware of it. When I released my first EP, I dropped merchandise that I spent hours designing. The graphic was inspired by my favorite painting “The Girl With the Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer. The sales did okay, but I made just enough money to recoup the initial purchase. In self-description mode, I thought that no one really liked or cared about my products. A year later, when I was on my first date with my boyfriend, Sam, he told me he had a confession to make. At the time of my merchandise release, Sam was sitting at a coffee shop when he suddenly say someone wearing one of my sweatshirts. He thought that the design was the coolest thing ever and wanted one of his own. Sam took a blurry, quick photo of the shirt so he could look it up later. Because I am a small business, he could not find me just by making a simple Google Search. He kept that photo on his phone until a month before our first date when he saw one of our mutual friends wearing the same sweatshirt. I was beyond shocked and flattered that a then stranger was so impacted by my art. If we would have never met, I would have never known. Now I have that photo saved on my phone to remind myself that if I produce art that I love, it will impact the right people.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Growing up in both the classical and pop world, I was taught that the two genres could not mix and that I had to choose a genre to exist in. But ever since going to Berklee, I soon realized that the two genres can mix and match effortlessly to create lush and emotional sonics. Growing up performing and studying operas, I have been fascinated by the over-the-top theatrics, makeup and costumes found in these timeless productions which I implement in each musical release. I create photos and graphics to perfectly curate a world around the song. When playing my music live, my band and I love to foster an energetic and feel good atmosphere where people can dance, jump and sing along. This entire sonic and visual journey led to me to my life long mission of blending genres and influences to make an emotional impact on my listeners.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kaylasilverman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaylasilverwoman/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kaylasilvermanmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN6if5cJZv1RynX8claa7Dw
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-869441997
- Other: spotify: https://bit.ly/spotifykayla
tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kaylasilverwoman
Booking: [email protected]
Image Credits
Personal photo – Emilio Herce
Other photos – Lena Nugent
Performance Photo- Sofiya Luna