GET familiar with the name Kye De Vere, because you鈥檙e going to be hearing it a lot more.
The versatile singer and songwriter was recently described by entertainment website www.worldmusicviews.com as one of five artistes shaping the next generation of Caribbean sound. After a whirlwind 2024, which involved business meetings with hit makers in New York, a performance at the New Orleans Music festival and having her song 鈥淢oon鈥 placed in the third episode of the BET drama, Family Business: New Orleans, Kye is gearing up for the release of her first EP which will most surely be a fusion of R&B, soul, jazz, reggae and alternative.
鈥淜ye鈥檚 voice captured me instantly. Such a unique tone and vocal ability,鈥 said Grammy award-winning songwriter/producer/music supervisor Rico Love who has produced and wrote for Beyonce, Usher and Chris Brown. 鈥淚 believe she is what the world needs: sultry, soulful and modern. I鈥檓 glad to say that I鈥檓 in some way a part of her story.鈥
Kye was born in the UK to a British mother and Trinidadian father. Her family is a musical one; her father plays musical instruments and her sister sings. Her mom was the one who introduced her to back- in-times, reggae and lover鈥檚 rock. From very young, Kye would annoy her family, singing out super loud.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 really seem like there was anything else that I enjoyed as much as music and because everyone in my family loved music, I was exposed to different genres all the time,鈥 she said.
Singing is not just entertainment, it is Kye鈥檚 main form of self expression; in her 20s she got into songwriting, turning her fears and vulnerabilities into music. There was never any doubt that Kye could sing, she spent years mimicking the voices of her favourite artistes. But like most singers, it took her years before she found her own voice and was able to communicate her feelings and emotions through music.
There were moments when stage fright took over and peoples鈥 expectations, along with fear and anxiety made her second guess whether she was even cut out to be a singer.
Her 鈥渂ig break鈥 happened in 2023. Just when Kye was deciding whether to go full 100 with her music career, she had a performance in Trinidad and months later the doors of opportunity began to swing open, one after the other.
鈥淭iming is everything,鈥 said Kye. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 as if I hadn鈥檛 had opportunities in the past but I probably was just not ready. But this time around I am ready to accept what the universe is giving me. Things do have a way of working out.鈥
The singer/songwriter, painter and jewelry designer who has dual citizenship is more creative in Tobago which has been her home base since she returned to live there in her 20s.
But the opportunity to travel and work with like minded musicians in New York and New Orleans has been life changing.
Kye knows that there are many who would die for that type of exposure to music and the business of music. In years to come, she hopes to gain as many tools and resources to help local artists develop their craft and prepare them for the music industry, at home.
鈥淓xposure has taught me that there are many moving parts of the music industry, you may not be the one who becomes a mainstream artiste, but you may be the one who writes music for movies. But because of a lack of exposure we don鈥檛 know and that鈥檚 something I would like to help people tap into,鈥 she said.
When Her Magazine last caught up with Kye, she was in the development stage of her first EP which she hopes to release soon.
She鈥檚 working with Grammy calibre producers and songwriters including Gordon Chambers who worked with Whitney Houston and Anita Baker, Zach & Rogers who produced music for HER and A$AP Rocky and producers Shy Boogs and Irvin Mayfield who wrote songs for Fetty Wap, Frank Ocean and others.
For someone who has had her share of crappy stories about the music industry, Kye has found her niche and is excited to work with musicians who she enjoys creating with and who are helping her turn her dreams into reality.
She hopes to follow in the footsteps of musical icons like Bob Marley and Donny Hathaway and continue telling stories with her music.
鈥淲e are writing history,鈥 said Kye. 鈥淢usic is a reflection of humanity, the stories reflect who we are and the conditions that we are in mentally, socially and emotionally. We have a responsibility to be honest with ourselves and our art.
鈥淏ob Marley鈥檚 鈥楴o Woman No Cry鈥, Marvin Gaye鈥檚 鈥榃hat鈥檚 Going On鈥 were just that. Also, genres of music like soca that are based on escapism and freedom are necessary. It鈥檚 all necessary. Music is so very powerful in that way.鈥