Interview with Kyla Hope Cusick
We recently interviewed teen singer/actress/songwriter, Kyla Hope Cusick
Read the interview between Daania S. and Kyla
Kyla: My full name is Kyla Hope Cusick but my stage name for my music is Kyla Hope. I just turned 16 on June 3rd. My hobbies are singing, writing songs and musical theater.
Daania: Happy belated birthday!
Kyla: Thank you!!
Question 1: Which did you get introduced to first: singing, writing songs, or theatre and how?
Kyla: I started singing at the age of three. I have always had a passion for singing since then.
However, I started doing musical theater when I was 7 years old. My first show was Dear Edwina at a local theater company. After that I was in many musicals. Some of my favorite roles were Annie (Annie), Cinderella (Into the Woods) and Sandy (Grease). I also sang at Carnegie Hall twice in PCI’s Broadway’s Next Generation. I was also in two original off-broadway shows. I have always enjoyed singing all types of music. Two years ago I started going to The Loft Sound Studio which is a recording studio in Syosset, NY. I started writing songs many years ago but I decided I wanted to start recording them. I work closely with my producer Donnie Klang (winner of MTV’s Making the Band). My first original song that I wrote and recorded is “True Love Does Exist” which was released in October 2017. In March 2019 I released my first original EP “Consider This” which took over a year to write, record and produce. I had a release party at The Stage in Syosset and performed my songs live for my audience. On the first day of summer June 21st, 2019 I released another original single “This Summer” featuring Donnie Klang.
Question 2: What was the initial push that made you go to the recording studio? Who supported you most as you made that decision?
Kyla: I have always dreamed of recording my own music. At the time I was listening to Madison Beer. She is a musician that started out at the Loft Sound Studio when she was around my age. My parents supported my passion and decision to follow my dreams. They started taking me to the studio when shortly after I turned 14 years old. This summer will be two years since I began recording.
Question 3: Which musicians/singers/actors inspire you and what is it that they do that you look up to?
Kyla: My biggest inspirations are Ed Sheeran, Madison Beer and The Jonas Brothers. Not only do I like their lyrics and style of music but I feel I can relate to them. I look up to them because they all started off small. I also love that they write their own music.
Question 4: Does music and theatre ever get in the way of school? Have you ever had a fallback or hiatus? If so, how have you manage to overcome that?
Kyla: No, it has never interfered with school for me. Music helps me concentrate on my work.
Daania: Wow! So you must have great time management skills. Do you think those skills existed before your interest in music, or after?
Kyla: Definitely after since my interest in music started at a young age. Music has definitely help me with time management. It allows a balance to occur between all my schoolwork.
Question 5: What’s the dream? Has music and theatre opened any career goals in the future?
Kyla: My dream is to pursue singing my own music for people that can connect to it. My goal is to attend the Long Island High School for the Arts for music next year. I would like to go to college for music recording and music performance. Then continue with a career in music.
Question 6: Could you talk about the process of making your debut EP “Consider This”. What was the process of the creation of any of the tracks? You said the entire EP took over a year, so typically how long did each track take?
Kyla: Sure. Each track took anywhere from 4-6 studio sessions. First I write the lyrics and come up with a melody. From there I sing it the way I feel it should sound to my producer Donnie Klang. He then starts developing the music. Together we decide if we are going to use piano or strings and other electric instruments. Once that is complete I begin to start recording in the sound booth. After that we make edits to how I would like to fix the song.
Question 7: What is your favorite song from the track? (either that one that was fun to write or the one you just love to listen to)
Kyla: I really like all of the songs from the track. My favorite is Moment. It was a lot of fun to record. I also just really like the way the song came out.
Question 8: That was the one you made a music video for correct? How was that experience?
Kyla: Yes that was the song I did the music video for. It was a lot of fun. We got to spend the whole day on set and it was an amazing experience. No one really knows but it was freezing that day and we were out filming for 6 to 7 hours.
Question 9: What qualities do you think a good singer/songwriter should possess?
Kyla: It is definitely hard to write songs. You have to be able to create good lyrics and put your imagination into it. You should be a good role model too.
Question 10: What advice would you give to someone following your footsteps?
Kyla: I would say to follow your heart. You should pursue your dreams and never give up. Don’t be afraid of what others will think and you should just take the risk.
Question 11: Now, what advice would you give to teens about just life, school, friends, etc in general?
Kyla: I would say the same thing. No matter what you are pursuing never give up on your dream. If you never try to make it happen it won’t but you never know what you can do if you just try. Always remember to believe in yourself.
Question 12: That concludes our interview. Any last things you want to add?
Kyla: I don’t think so. I just wanted to thank you so much to take the time to do this interview. It means so much to me!
Daania: Thank you so much!
Kyla: Of course!
Check out Kyla's Instagram: @kylahopecusick
Press button below for one of her songs!
Daania: Happy belated birthday!
Kyla: Thank you!!
Question 1: Which did you get introduced to first: singing, writing songs, or theatre and how?
Kyla: I started singing at the age of three. I have always had a passion for singing since then.
However, I started doing musical theater when I was 7 years old. My first show was Dear Edwina at a local theater company. After that I was in many musicals. Some of my favorite roles were Annie (Annie), Cinderella (Into the Woods) and Sandy (Grease). I also sang at Carnegie Hall twice in PCI’s Broadway’s Next Generation. I was also in two original off-broadway shows. I have always enjoyed singing all types of music. Two years ago I started going to The Loft Sound Studio which is a recording studio in Syosset, NY. I started writing songs many years ago but I decided I wanted to start recording them. I work closely with my producer Donnie Klang (winner of MTV’s Making the Band). My first original song that I wrote and recorded is “True Love Does Exist” which was released in October 2017. In March 2019 I released my first original EP “Consider This” which took over a year to write, record and produce. I had a release party at The Stage in Syosset and performed my songs live for my audience. On the first day of summer June 21st, 2019 I released another original single “This Summer” featuring Donnie Klang.
Question 2: What was the initial push that made you go to the recording studio? Who supported you most as you made that decision?
Kyla: I have always dreamed of recording my own music. At the time I was listening to Madison Beer. She is a musician that started out at the Loft Sound Studio when she was around my age. My parents supported my passion and decision to follow my dreams. They started taking me to the studio when shortly after I turned 14 years old. This summer will be two years since I began recording.
Question 3: Which musicians/singers/actors inspire you and what is it that they do that you look up to?
Kyla: My biggest inspirations are Ed Sheeran, Madison Beer and The Jonas Brothers. Not only do I like their lyrics and style of music but I feel I can relate to them. I look up to them because they all started off small. I also love that they write their own music.
Question 4: Does music and theatre ever get in the way of school? Have you ever had a fallback or hiatus? If so, how have you manage to overcome that?
Kyla: No, it has never interfered with school for me. Music helps me concentrate on my work.
Daania: Wow! So you must have great time management skills. Do you think those skills existed before your interest in music, or after?
Kyla: Definitely after since my interest in music started at a young age. Music has definitely help me with time management. It allows a balance to occur between all my schoolwork.
Question 5: What’s the dream? Has music and theatre opened any career goals in the future?
Kyla: My dream is to pursue singing my own music for people that can connect to it. My goal is to attend the Long Island High School for the Arts for music next year. I would like to go to college for music recording and music performance. Then continue with a career in music.
Question 6: Could you talk about the process of making your debut EP “Consider This”. What was the process of the creation of any of the tracks? You said the entire EP took over a year, so typically how long did each track take?
Kyla: Sure. Each track took anywhere from 4-6 studio sessions. First I write the lyrics and come up with a melody. From there I sing it the way I feel it should sound to my producer Donnie Klang. He then starts developing the music. Together we decide if we are going to use piano or strings and other electric instruments. Once that is complete I begin to start recording in the sound booth. After that we make edits to how I would like to fix the song.
Question 7: What is your favorite song from the track? (either that one that was fun to write or the one you just love to listen to)
Kyla: I really like all of the songs from the track. My favorite is Moment. It was a lot of fun to record. I also just really like the way the song came out.
Question 8: That was the one you made a music video for correct? How was that experience?
Kyla: Yes that was the song I did the music video for. It was a lot of fun. We got to spend the whole day on set and it was an amazing experience. No one really knows but it was freezing that day and we were out filming for 6 to 7 hours.
Question 9: What qualities do you think a good singer/songwriter should possess?
Kyla: It is definitely hard to write songs. You have to be able to create good lyrics and put your imagination into it. You should be a good role model too.
Question 10: What advice would you give to someone following your footsteps?
Kyla: I would say to follow your heart. You should pursue your dreams and never give up. Don’t be afraid of what others will think and you should just take the risk.
Question 11: Now, what advice would you give to teens about just life, school, friends, etc in general?
Kyla: I would say the same thing. No matter what you are pursuing never give up on your dream. If you never try to make it happen it won’t but you never know what you can do if you just try. Always remember to believe in yourself.
Question 12: That concludes our interview. Any last things you want to add?
Kyla: I don’t think so. I just wanted to thank you so much to take the time to do this interview. It means so much to me!
Daania: Thank you so much!
Kyla: Of course!
Check out Kyla's Instagram: @kylahopecusick
Press button below for one of her songs!