Meet Kennedy Kyle: Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kennedy Kyle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kennedy, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?
Choosing myself. And it’s a decision that I still struggle with today! When I say “choosing myself” I mean in terms of what I want for my life, my future, my career, my happiness. You would think its an easy choice, but when you begin to weigh how much familial/friend influence, circumstances, environment, doubt, etc., affects that choice, you wonder if you really are choosing yourself. I know I particularly have a problem with people pleasing, which in my opinion, is one of the largest hindrances to ‘choosing you’. I had to come to a point in my life where I stopped entertaining choices that didn’t positively serve me. And thats not to say that it’s at the expense of someone else, it just isn’t at my own expense. I’ve recently had to make some decisions that left me wondering what was going to happen next in life, but I find the most comfort in knowing that no matter what, where I am right now is because of what I decided and God made possible. Everyday, I try to wake up by choosing things that make me better, make me smile….make me happy to be alive. Because thats what it’s ultimately about. Choose yourself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
So I am a singer from East Tennessee, living in Atlanta and gradually growing my music career! When people ask “what genre?” I tell them R&B/Pop with some hip hop influence and 90’s nostalgia (a combination of my favorites). I’m still learning how to master combining all 4 sounds, but the more I create, the easier it gets. I’ll also mention that I adore country music! At some point I plan to tackle that genre with my own twist, and thankfully more black artists are being granted exposure and opportunity in the world of country, paving the way for many including myself.

I’ve been singing all my life, but professionally pursuing my craft began back in 2019. Just in a short year and half, I’ve accomplished much more than I even imagined would happen. Some of my most memorable milestones to date are like reaching 200,000+ streams on Spotify, getting a shout out from Tank (R&b Artist) on my most recent EP, and working for the Love Renaissance Label. But I can’t lie, all of these accomplishments took a lot of hard work. Nothing worth having comes easy right? But for me it’s 100% worth it.

I think the largest lesson I’ve learned while on my journey is to never stop. You hear all the time “never give up on your dreams!” from all kinds of people. Well I’m here to reinforce that sentiment and tell anyone reading this to not give up. I remember many nights of tears, frustration, and a spirit of quitting, but if I had, I wouldn’t be here doing this feature! Surround yourself with supportive people, be consistent in your craft, and do not ever give up.

One thing I would like my platform to be remembered for is being “for people”. I have a lot of ideas, initiatives and plans to give back and support communities in need. I always talk to people in a collaborative way using words like “we, us, together” because this is a collective effort. My success and survival is not solely dependent upon me. There are too many people that have and will contribute to my success for me to not pour back into them or create more/better opportunities for everyone.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am guilty of being a pretty outgoing person! Constantly finding something to do. Whether friends are in town or not, Kennedy will probably be exploring the city. I suppose I could describe what a standard day out for me would be. Fair warning, most of this is going to be food places because that’s all I do lol.

Starting the day with brunch is a must. Usually we will hit Kaleidoscope Bistro and Pub in Brookhaven, Red Pepper Taquiera in Buckhead, or a couple hours at 55th and Park in Downtown! If we were to maybe bar hop I would take people to one of three places: Ponce City Market. Edgewood, or Buckhead. I live for convenience so if I can go to one place and explore several then I’m a happy person. Some of the places in these areas I like are Fin & Feathers, Buckhead Saloon, Dive Bar, and 12 Cocktail Bar.

As the day gets later I’d probably hang out on the rooftop of Ponce City Market or go to Piedmont Park. The Beltline is also somewhere I spend a lot of my time as it runs right by my apartment and on into some of the places I’ve already mentioned. For dinner you’ll probably find me at a Mexican restaurant with good drinks: Tacos & Tequila, La Parilla, or No Mas Cantina are my top places. And as we get in to the night I would probably stick to my old faithful spot Cru Hookah Lounge also down on Ponce!

There are just so many great places in Atlanta and surrounding areas its nearly impossible to highlight everything I’ve experienced in my short time here! Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow! There’s just so many people who have supported me on this journey so far. More than I probably even know, so I want to first say a HUGE thank you to anyone who has ever attended a performance, streamed a song, posted on my behalf, or anything! But someone I would like to highlight on this occasion, is someone who has put in just as much as musical, emotional and financial labor as I have to get to where I am now. My producer Lance. From the first time I met him it was a kind of support and belief in me that I had never experienced. And it showed in his actions not just what he said to me. I am forever grateful to him for being the reason I got started in studio music and making me believe I was destined for so much more.

Website: kennedykyle.com

Instagram: @thekennedykyle

Twitter: @thekennedykyle

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQDRwBGinenAb2tg1H03ng

Other: Tik Tok: @thekennedykyle

Image Credits
Tristan Rice – IG @plaqueychan IG – @lifesamovie__