Kyra Simone: The Artist, The Woman

Kyra Simone: The Artist, The Woman

The United Kingdom has been a major musical outlet for the underground sound.  Soul music as well as alternative music has also been a large success coming out of the UK. With a culture that that looks to music for its brighter moments, the sun couldn’t be any brighter, though it’s typically overcast in their parts.

Another soulful addition to the breakout bunch of artists from London, UK steps onto the scene. Kyra Simone steps into the scene in the United States.

The singer/songwriter and author come from a mixed cultural family. With her St. Lucian and Grenadian background, which comes from her parents, this Newton, UK born artist has been subjected to diversity since the beginning. Being raised in London, UK, with a West Indian upbringing, shaped and developed the artist as well as the person. Her welcoming spirit is derived from her inspiration, her grandmother, which people say that they can see through Simone.

“I am the kind of person that people lean towards. I am the type of person that could keep it real without making you feel inferior,” Simone said. Being raised by her grandmother is the reason for the welcoming, caring characteristics, thus explains the comparison. “When people see me, they hug me,” Simone said.  “I’m a very loyal person.” It is shown through the music, with raw emotion producing the most sincere thoughts and sounds.

Recently publishing her first literary work, titled ‘One’, with a focus on betterment, the ideals reflect becoming one interpersonally. ‘One’ is a 5 chapter journey to experience becoming one with someone, the ability to break away from someone if the feeling arises, along with emphasis on realization in all these aspects or areas of anyone’s life. “My understanding of becoming one; it means success. It means, you know, a new direction,” Simone said. “I speak about understandings, my relationships, particular journeys that I’ve experienced in my life.” The work sites a number of issues, with the intent on creating knowledge amongst individuals.

With her grandmother as the inspiration, the music takes on the same welcoming tones. Music has been there forever, with her mother being a singer as well. “There is a difference between knowing what you want to do and doing what you want to do,” Simone said. “Coming from the West Indian background, music isn’t as important. Education is the thing. I heard a recording of myself that I don’t even remember recording. As long as I can remember, I could sing.”

Though her music may sound different to the ears in the U.S., there have been widely accepted sounds. However, this sound falls differently to the ear. “If you lived in the UK, there are sounds that aren’t like mines either. We have artists over here that are apart of the soul circuit and are really good artists,” Simone said. “Everybody sounds different though. I don’t know what it is about my sound, but I have my ear and that ear is different from everybody’s ear. I like what I like.”

Be sure to check out www.lulu.com/kyrasimone for the literary work, ‘One’.