Vonnie Kyle
"Where the hell did Vonnie Kyle come from?"
That's the question the residents of Portland
were asking as they all emerged from their quarantines after the long,
disquieting era of the pandemic. As venues reopened and the music scene began
to rebuild itself in 2021, a new voice was being heard amongst the members of a
longtime familial community. With this voice came a bold and distinguished
sound that had been brewing in a decrepit-garage-turned-studio for a couple of
years.
No, Vonnie Kyle didn't just appear out of thin
air, as it had seemed to those in her new milieu. Over the years, the lyrically
confessional, alternative pop-rock artist had quietly released a few EPs and
demos. Her following mostly resided in her two previous home bases -
Minneapolis, MN and Santa Fe, NM. Prior to the pandemic, Kyle spent much of her
time on the road as a touring solo artist, selling burned CDs out of a
suitcase. In March 2020, as the pandemic arrived and she prepared to relocate
to Portland, the decision to shift her focus from constant touring was made for
her; it was time to make a new record.
Imperfect Parts was an apt title for the
songwriter's first full-length album. The process from which it was constructed
was anything but perfect. Notes were exchanged between Kyle and her production
team from different sides of the country. Parts were tracked remotely.
Schedules were clumsily coordinated. What was originally meant to be a
month-long process became that of nearly two years. All of that work paid off
over the course of several months as Kyle began to release singles and music
videos leading up to the record's release.
Her debut single, The Brink of Breaking Down,
was an explosive rollout of her musical artistry. Forcible vocals and layered
guitars reminiscent of My Chemical Romance, with a discernible nod to 90s rock
established Kyle as not just a skilled singer-songwriter, but a commanding rock
performer with undeniable staying power. She had arrived and she had peoples'
attention.
This was followed by the album's title track,
Imperfect Parts. While slightly more subdued than The Brink of Breaking Down,
the pop-rock track has an anthemic energy, with a chorus supported by
ubiquitous and infectious call-and-response background vocals. Confessional
lyrics describing the acceptance of flaws (ahem, imperfections) about oneself
and their loved ones made this track intensely relatable to the many listeners
who were discovering the new artist. The accompanying music video depicts Kyle
wandering between various places with an old suitcase (the very suitcase she had
previously sold DIY CDs out of during her pre-pandemic travels), leaving small
tokens and trinkets everywhere she goes. The video not only represents pieces
of her past, but the ever-evolving path she continues to follow as a human
being with a growing self-awareness.
The entire much-anticipated record was released
in April 2022, to a rousing reception from Portland radio and online critics.
Guitar Girl Magazine stated Kyle's sound "blends alt-pop, alt-rock, and
folk-rock with her expressive voice, producing luscious sonic concoctions." The
ten-song record well-exceeded the expectations of those previously familiar
with her work, with some tracks daring to dip their toes into surprising
genres. The country-pop slow-burn, "Better Than Me," was written about the
divorce she went through just before Covid, and gave listeners insight into her
own personal struggles. The closing track, "Cereal Bowl," is an
unexpected piano ballad that conveys the trauma of a sexual assault that
occurred in 2014. Balanced out by a plethora of high-energy pop-rock tunes,
Imperfect Parts leaves listeners with the satisfaction of having been in the
passenger seat of a truly special and scenic ride.
Vonnie Kyle's "imperfect" era may be coming to a
close, but the singer has big plans for the future, including the release of a
new single and video in August of this year. The forthcoming tune, "Is It,"
encapsulates the ache of those with seemingly inseverable ties to addicts, and
the slow but steady toll those ties begin to take over time. While her love for
guitar-based rock remains obviously intact on this track, Kyle is clearly
venturing into new territory, with her sights on a broader audience. For those
with a love of Jack White, the Black Keys and Kings of Leon, now is the time to
set a new place at the listening table.
- Facebook:
- Website:
- Twitter:
- Youtube:
- Instagram: