Kyle Watson has been busy over the past year, working until the crack of dawn on his aptly-named debut album, Into the Morning. He recently dropped a breakfast-sized sample of what’s to come, with the release of ‘You Boy/Chomp‘ last month.
He was also one of Shambhala Music Festival‘s early artist reveals for this year, alongside REZZ, The Glitch Mob, and DJ QBert. His set during the first night of the festival was part of a Dirtybird takeover at the festival’s Pagoda stage, with Watson playing right after fellow Dirtybird artist Fisher that evening.
Just before his set, we had the pleasure to sit down and catch up with Kyle, particularly regarding his upcoming album, and how the overall season has been for him.
I can start writing in the afternoon and nothing happens. And then, it ticks over to 11, 11:30, and straight away *snaps finger* the ideas just start flowing.
–Kyle Watson
Where did your love for music come from, and how did that lead you to where you are today?
My father was in the music industry his whole life, and so I grew up listening to all kinds of good music.
And what would you consider “good music”?
Fleetwood Mac, and the like – good ol’ stuff. He actually bought me my first program to write music on, and that must have been when I was about 10. I started messing around with 4/4 beats back then, just for fun, and it all just kind of balled from there.
You’re currently affiliated with multiple different labels! Not too many artists get to release under such a wide variety, what’s that like?
I’ve always tried to not lock myself down to one particular label or anything like that, but I have found really good homes at This Ain’t Bristol and Dirtybird. I don’t really like to write music that’s done [for] one kind of avenue, and my album will show that. I like to write a track, not for any specific kind of reason, and then I think afterwards: “What label will this fit on?”
Having the feeling of not being locked down to a certain label allows me to approach different people and be like, “Do you want this song?” So, I’m able to find the right homes for the music.
Would you say that you have some songs which haven’t been made for any labels, and if so, what have you done with them?
I would actually say yes – mainly the album, because it’s so different. Luckily, This Ain’t Bristol has quite an open mind with regards to music, and they signed the track listing off the bat. I mean, I do mess around a bit, but if you don’t have an outlet for the music, then it’s not really worth writing.
Speaking of your debut album, what can you tell us about the project?
The name comes from me writing all of the tracks into the hours of the morning: starting at 10pm at night, and then just working until 2 in the morning – getting very little sleep, just getting these tracks done. I worked on the writing process for about a year, going back and reverting and everything. It’s a project that I’m most proud to have achieved in my whole career, which has been over a decade. So, it’s a pretty big step for me.
Is there a reason you chose to work during those specific hours?
I find that my best ideas come to me after 11 o’clock at night. I can start writing in the afternoon and nothing happens. And then, it ticks over to 11, 11:30, and straight away *snaps finger* the ideas just start flowing. I dunno, there’s something psychologically weird about it. But the best ideas come to me at that time.
Do you have a particular favourite track while working on the album?
I have multiple favourites. There’s a track on there – it’s a hip-hop track I wrote with a South-African rapper called PHFat. It’s so different for me, but it’s come out so well and it’s probably my favourite, when I’m listening to the album, to flip back to. There’s cool house stuff on there as well (obviously), but for me, I was able to jump out of that house music mindset and really focus on different stuff; the track with PHFat is the result of that.
You’ve been affiliated with Dirtybird for almost 4 years now – have you done a Dirtybird Campout in your time with them?
I have not.
With that being said, what do you hope to gain from such an experience?
I’m super excited for Campout! It’s something I never really thought I would actually get the chance to play. So, it’s pretty exciting for me, and I know that Barclay‘s wanted me there for a couple of years now. So, it’s actually really cool to know that as well. It’s gonna be the first time that I’m in amongst the whole crew, which is pretty rad.
Well, technically, I live in South Africa, so it’s winter there. *laughs* But, I think the highlight was probably playing Electric Forest, in June. That was EPIC – one of the coolest festivals I think I’ve ever been to.
And what’s so amazing about that?
I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Forest, it’s just – the whole setup, and everything, is incredible. I’ve never seen a festival look like that – so many lights and colours, and all these places you can go into, and the crowd was amazing! I played a sunset set, and it was magical. Forest was awesome.
And going forward, what else would you like to accomplish by the end of the summer/winter?
I think I’m pretty much accomplishing it already – I do want the album to obviously do really well. I just want the album to come out now, and I want to hear what people have to say about it. And then, I’ve got another tour coming up in October, throughout the U.S., where I’m gonna be playing Campout and a bunch of other shows in Seattle, Portland, Denver. I’m also gonna be debuting in L.A. – so I’ve got all of that stuff to look forward to.
Kyle’s album, Into the Morning, is set to drop next week, on the 24th. In the meantime, check out his accompanying tour schedule below, as well as a minimix for the album!
Picture included in the interview courtesy of PicJer Photography. Check out his extensive Shambhala 2018 album!
