Posted in: News, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | Posted on July 28, 2010 by ShareTheMic Admin

Kyle Cousins Interview- 7/15/10

KYLE: Hi my name is Kyle Cousins and I share the mic, and I’m on SharetheMic radio. Be discovered, make a difference.

NEDA: Welcome to ShareTheMic radio.

KYLE: Thank you, great to be here.

NEDA: Thank you. Well I wanted to… you know, it’s funny… I sit here and I’m going over some background on you and your music and some of the things that you’ve done. And I wind up highlighting some things and I’m realizing there’s so many things I want to talk to you about that all my pages are yellow with highlight. So everything I want to talk to you about is important. Hope you’re ready.

KYLE: Yeah.

NEDA: Excellent. Well I guess I should start by asking you a little bit about yourself- if you can tell me a little bit about your career up to date, and who you are, and tell me more about your music.

KYLE: Well I guess for the past two years, I have been writing and producing and recording my original music, trying to get it noticed, and… I’ve already put out a full-length eleven-song album, “Spectrum,” and then I also have a ten-song EP called “Next Level,” which was released both on CD and on Internet. And then I’ve been really establishing myself with a strong Internet presence on Myspace, Facebook, iTunes… basically all the online networking sites.

NEDA: So they can go there and get a chance to buy your music and learn more about you through these sites?

KYLE: Absolutely, yeah.

NEDA: Excellent. Tell me a little bit about your music and how you got involved in music, and I’m gonna also tie it in with this important message that you have, this global issue, this cause that you are such a strong fan for and I want to get into that. But first I want to get a little more about you and your music background.

KYLE: Well I mean I’ve really been into music basically all my life. I’ve only been writing songs since my senior year of high school. My main global cause is autism awareness, and that really is because I have autism myself. And… some of my songs are really influenced… a very huge influence with my own experience being an autistic person.

NEDA: It is so fascinating because I learned this about you, and first of all I know you’re for the most part just getting started but your music is so powerful and the message, and the soul in your voice when you’re singing, it just seems like you’ve been doing this for so many years. So I can only imagine how you’re gonna blossom and how you’re career’s gonna look for the years to come. But you know, it’s fascinating because- one of the things I heard you say in one of the interviews, was that you were quick to point out was that “I’m just a singer and that’s all.” So I guess–

KYLE: Yeah.

NEDA: –make it clear that you are an artist that has autism, not the other way around.

KYLE: Yeah. Exactly. I really am just a singer. I’m not trying to be like a politician.

NEDA: Now I know that you have teamed up with ShareTheMic, and there’s a very important cause that you have teamed up with, which is Autism Speaks. Obviously as you mentioned, it’s because it’s a personal relationship that you have with it, and being an artist living with autism. I want to learn more about that. And I guess first I want to know, how is it that you connected with ShareTheMic?

KYLE: Well Autism Speaks licensed one of my songs, “Everybody Wants To Be Heard,” which is also the most popular song on my Myspace. It has the most plays…

NEDA: I love that song.

KYLE: …And they licensed it for their annual walks that they do for this cause. And then Autism Speaks hooked me up with ShareTheMic. And the first thing I did was this video competition… the Head 2 Head video competition. And I made a video of “Everybody Wants To Be Heard.”

NEDA: So Autism Speaks basically licensed out your song “Everybody Wants To Be Heard,” and I understand it’s now their national campaign song?

KYLE: Yes. Exactly.

NEDA: That’s amazing.

KYLE: It really is.

NEDA: And I know that you have a pretty impressive fan base, and they’re very supportive of you- not only because of what you’ve accomplished, as someone who is recognized with autism. But with your amazing talent as a musician, and you have a great connection with your fans. They must be very excited to see the music that you’re working on, and I’m sure everyone wants to know what’s next for you.

KYLE: Well y’know… I’ll still be writing, recording and performing on a regular basis. Y’know, I’m pretty sure the fans can highly expect that from me.

NEDA: I think just about a month ago you performed at the walk now for Autism Speaks in Connecticut. Tell me about that.

KYLE: Mmhm. It was great… There was like a 6,000 total people at the event. That was really incredible.

NEDA: What was that like for you?

KYLE: It was really something to behold. I mean, just the incredible sight of all these people coming for a cause that’s really important.

NEDA: And you’re talking about your partnering up with Autism Speaks for that program. How does that influence- now that you’ve partnered up with ShareTheMic and also with your initiative now with Autism Speaks- how does that influence you in your writing?

KYLE: I kind of think of it as a great source of hope and inspiration for the autism community. Because basically, I’m just saying to the families of autistic people or maybe autistic people coming of age like myself- I’m 21- I’m just saying, y’know, “Here I am, now. How are you? I have autism. How do you get through your life?… Y’know and really, there is hope.”

NEDA: And you really are… I saw in one of your interviews, you were talking about looking for the voice of hope. And now, Kyle, you are actually that voice of hope… Maybe at one time you were waiting to hear the voice of hope but today you are the one that is powerfully carrying this voice of hope for others and showing people what is possible. So I mean… I think that is such an incredible and such a powerful message that you are portraying out there.

KYLE: And I don’t know if I’d be jumping the gun here, but I’d probably compare myself to the autism equivalent to John Lennon, and “Everybody Wants To Be Heard” kind of being my own “Imagine.”

NEDA: I love it, I love it and I see it. I’m curious to hear about your songs, your music. Now what is your writing process? If you could pick a song that is one of your favorites, and tell me the process, tell me your writing around it, and explain that to me?

KYLE: My favorite song out of the many songs I’ve written, if I had to pick one, would definitely be “Yesterday’s Words.” And that’s a bit more of a hard rock sort of song. And basically that song started off with- the main riff is [hums the melody]. That was like the first thing that I came up with. So basically, it started with the music first- the main riff, the verse, the chorus, the slow section, the bridge. And then much later, the lyrics came. I come up with a little musical idea in my head, and then once I try and develop it, then I try to think of some sort of concept for the song. And then if I feel it fits the song, then I just go with it.

NEDA: Sure. Tell me about some of the influences- some of the artists, the other bands that have inspired you. I know that you love Queen. So tell me about that.

KYLE: Oh yeah, favorite. Might be the greatest rock band of all time. Queen is a huge influence on me, in particular the late Freddie Mercury, god rest his soul. Some of my songs have the Queen multi-harmony style vocals, which I absolutely love.

NEDA: Who else are you influenced by, what other music or musicians are some of your favorites?

KYLE: Meatloaf, from “Bat Out of Hell.” Journey, absolute classic. Billy Idol, the Police, the Cars- big 80s new wave band.

NEDA: You’re talking about these bands, and I want to talk about ShareTheMic but since we’re talking about musicians I want to ask you: if you had the opportunity to work with other artists and share the mic with them, who would it be?

KYLE: Probably Journey… they really seem like the kind of band that would be a cause band… “Don’t Stop Believing”, that’s really a song about hope and holding onto that feeling.

NEDA: Let me ask you- I understand, were you born in Houston, Texas, or is that where you’re living now?

KYLE: No, I wasn’t even born in this country. I was born in The Hague, Netherlands.

NEDA: I didn’t know that.

KYLE: But I was raised in Houston ever since I was two and a half. So yeah I’ve lived in Houston most of my life.

NEDA: You’ve been there. And have you had the opportunity to perform live for some of your fans there?

KYLE: I don’t think they really know that I have a music career over there.

NEDA: Well not yet they don’t know. They’re gonna know pretty soon.

KYLE: They will, yeah, they will know pretty soon.

[Laughter]

NEDA: They’re gonna know, I have no doubt about it… I want to talk about your choice of- obviously we know that you are really a fan for Autism Speaks. And I want to talk about your relationship with them, and how you can use your relationship in bringing awareness to this important global issue and how you share the mic with them. What is it… on what level do you work with them and how do you work together?

KYLE: Any certain walks that come up that they think would be a good opportunity for me to perform there, I just go over there and perform some of my music for them over there.

NEDA: Has working with ShareTheMic- and obviously your partnership with Autism Speaks- has that made a difference in the way that you write or perform your music? How does that make you feel?

KYLE: Yeah, Kevin Patrick from ShareTheMic approached me about producing a single, and he’s gonna fly me out to New York sometime this month or in August- we don’t know yet, he’ll let me know eventually.

NEDA: I heard about that. I heard him say that they’ve got some big plans for a song that you’re gonna write and produce together. So I’m excited to hear that when it’s finished.

KYLE: Yeah I’m really looking forward to it.

NEDA: Do you like to work with other musicians and other writers, or do you prefer to work on your own?

KYLE: Either way, I really don’t care. When you’re writing on your own, you know exactly what you want and you know how the music sounds and what lyrics you want to have in the song… if you’re having trouble coming up with something, then someone else will have something that maybe you were trying to think of but you just couldn’t, and that’s very beneficial.

NEDA: I know that you were in Los Angeles collaborating with other people. Who have you worked with?

KYLE: Well I did work with this guy named Trevor Johnson… and I wrote “Everybody Wants To Be Heard” with him. And then I worked on “Love Myself,” one of my songs, with Trevor Lawrence, who was the guy who wrote The Pointer Sisters hit “I’m So Excited,” at Blue Palm Studios in LA. That was really a good, quick session as well. That came together.

NEDA: So that was a good experience, to be able to work with them in California.

KYLE: Mmhm, oh yeah.

NEDA: I understand that Dianne and Eddie, your parents, are probably one of your main supporters who were there for you from the very beginning and were supporting you and your music from day one. Have you written any song about them or your family?

KYLE: I do mention my parents in one of my song that I had written about a few months ago but I haven’t recorded yet, “Things That Never Change.” It’s kind of an autobiographical song. I kind of mention about when I was first diagnosed.

NEDA: Well what’s interesting is that… I keep going back to what you said, “I’m just a singer and that’s all.” And I can imagine you being such a powerful voice in music right now and such a powerful advocate for your cause. Does it sometimes become too much to carry? Does it become a heavy load that sometimes you just wish that you didn’t have to talk about it, and just only talk about the music?

KYLE: Well OK see, that’s why I have partnered up with ShareTheMic, because yes it’s great to be a part of autism charities. But that’s not all I want to do. I got started in the music business because I wanted to be famous. I wanted to have a successful music career. I didn’t one hundred percent of the focus to be on the fact that I have autism. I wanted to have a successful career.

NEDA: Well I have to tell you, I listened to your music. And whether your listener, if your fan is listening because of autism and the message in that– but to me, when I listen to your music, you’re giving hope regardless of what it is. I’m hearing hope for everybody… Everyone can relate to your music. Everybody can hear, which is so important because we need people to give us hope now, and your music is one of them.

KYLE: Well I’d like to think that anything that I’ve ever done has touched so many people, because that just shows that they agree with my own perspective and my own struggles that I’ve went through throughout my life. And that they can see for themselves, here is someone who went through such a troublesome time, and has yet overcome it in such a dramatic and powerful way, and is happy now.

NEDA: Kyle I feel like I want to continue talking to you because I think you’re gonna have so much more to offer and I think you’re just starting, and if this is the kind of music that you’re writing right now and the work that you’re showing us right now, I can’t wait to hear more from you. The music is wonderful, your voice is great, you’ve got this great sultry voice. This message that you have is so important, and I’m so happy that you gave me a chance to talk to you for a few minutes today. And I think I saw on your page, on your website, that you have a couple live shows coming up in October.

KYLE: Yeah, those are both in New York. One of them is an Autism Speaks walk in Long Island at the State Beach Park. And then the next day on the fourth, I’m playing a private party at a place called Cipriani for all the famous TV chefs. So you’re talking Emeril, Rachel Ray. And get this- they’re working on trying to get John Legend to play piano on one of my songs. That is incredible- a current music celebrity playing one of my songs.

NEDA: So people can come and learn more about you, they can go to sharethemic.com to learn more about Kyle Cousins, and the important cause that you’ve chosen to share your mic with, which is Autism Speaks. And I can’t wait for you to come here, and- if I’m in town I want to come and see you up close and hear your music and give a quick hello to you.

KYLE: Oh absolutely yeah.

NEDA: And I know that everyone’s gonna come onboard and try to find out more about your upcoming single coming up in September.

KYLE: Oh yeah I hope so too.

NEDA: Kyle I’m so happy to have met you, I am so happy to talk to you. I think we’re going to be hearing a lot about you. I don’t have a doubt about this. So I hope you’re writing, and I hope you’re getting ready. Because you teaming up with ShareTheMic some incredible things are gonna happen.

KYLE: There’ll definitely be surprises, yeah.

NEDA: And I’ll be looking forward to see some of that. I want to thank you Kyle so much for taking the time and talking to me, and really making music matter again. And I want to end this off with one of the quotes from your song “Everybody Wants To Be Heard,” which is “Everybody should be heard/Heaven shouldn’t be the only place to hear my words.” I was really moved when I heard that.

KYLE: Well I actually said, “Everybody needs to be heard/Heaven shouldn’t be the only place to hear my words.”

NEDA: And they do. And you are part of the voice. You are helping people. By you sharing the mic and getting your music out there and using the power of the microphone to share your voice out there, I think you for one started this movement. So I’m happy to hear more about it.

KYLE: Oh yeah. Well there will be lots more in the future to come.

NEDA: Again Kyle, thank you so much. Have a great day. I can’t wait to see you in person. I can’t wait to hear your music. And see and hear that next single that you’re gonna work with ShareTheMic.

KYLE: Thank you. Great talking to you too.