aaamusic | On 20, May 2011

Kyla has already attracted huge blog and press interest for her extraordinary voice and epic sound, and ‘Been Better’ confirms her as mistress of the savagely passionate, twenty-first century torch song. It begins with her husky, almost snarled put-down of, “tell me none of your longings, I don’t need them, or you” and soars to a Phil Spector-indebted wall of drums and guitars that’s vast enough to match her voice.

The B side is the brooding, bitterly poignant ‘I Could Be’, another song whose chorus will sweep you up and wash you away.

Kyla grew up in Watford and has been writing songs from the age of five, but it was only while studying philosophy at Cambridge that she began taking her musical talents seriously. A former boyfriend played her Cat Power and Elliot Smith and on hearing them she decided to start performing her own songs. After putting in dazzling performances at Notting Hill Arts Club’s Communion nights and at this year’s SXSW, she is due to support Wolf Gang on their UK tour before embarking on a string of festival dates. She is currently working with producer Brett Shaw on her debut album.

Kyla’s debut single ‘Walk Through Walls’ has already been streamed over 13,000 on Soundcloud.

2011 Tour dates

17 May – The Attic, University of Kent, Canterbury
18 May – supporting Wolf Gang @ Birmingham Rainbow
20 May – supporting Wolf Gang @ Leicester Sumo
28 May – How The Light Gets In festival @ Hay
1 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Stoke Sugarmill
2 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Newcastle Cluny
3 June- supporting Wolf Gang @ Dundee Beat Generator Live
4 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Glasgow King Tuts
7 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Leeds Cockpit
8 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Hull Fruit
9 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ Sheffield Fusion
16 June – supporting Wolf Gang @ XOYO, London
8 July – Lounge on the Farm festival, Kent
12 July – Chess Club single launch party at the Lexington, London
22 July – Secret Garden Party festival, Cambridge
13 August – Firefly festival, Ludlow
14 August – Summer Sundae Weekender, Leicester
9 September – Bestival, Isle of Wight