BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IT is only one year to date since she emerged on the Soca scene and, although not taking the top prize, she had wowed the audience and won the judges nod for Runners-up positions in the Soca Monarch Competition; First Runner-up in the Power category and Second Runner-up in the Groovy.
This artiste is just 18 years old and, up until a few weeks before that competition, she did not give a single thought to performing or even singing Soca.
This young new Soca artiste is Khyla Brown, who was raised, along with her sister, by her parents in Sandy Point. Her father is the well-known Soca artiste, music producer and owner of Kyss FM Radio Station, AU Brown, popularly known as Prince AU.
Reminiscing on her earlier days, Brown said she spent her spare time at "AU Brown's Mixing Lab" watching her father produce beats and songs for local artistes, including King Ellie Matt.
She said that being a young woman, she is proud to know that she has an 'old soul', growing up listening to music of the 80s and early 90s.
"I am proud to say that I know these songs; the songs of Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, Pattie Labelle, Teddy Pendergrass and Maxi Priest. It is something that I find advantageous to me because I can broaden my horizon in terms of where I want to be or see myself as an artiste. I can use inspiration from these people and I have always had it as my most prized motivation."
Brown said that she fell in love with music by being in the studio and watching her father and other local artistes, noting that "I just couldn't keep out".
"It was one of the best times of my life, watching so many people walk through that studio. Some of whom are now legends in St. Kitts. It is something that I really cherish," she said.
She revealed that it was from that experience she got her inspiration to sing, but it was not until she was well into her primary school years her talent for singing was noticed.
"I started out in the church, I was in the choir. I always had a powerful voice, so the choir director always picked me out to sing certain parts and he said: 'This girl could really sing.' But I never really paid any mind to it," the artiste said.
Brown said that from there, she moved on to sing solos, adding that she has always been in the forefront when singing.
She revealed that she first sang Soca at a Clash of the High Schools Competition when she was a fifth former at the Basseterre High School.
Brown however noted that she was no stranger to competitions, as her first was in Grade Five when she entered the Rotary Club of Liamigua's singing competition. She said she did not make it to the finals that year but did so in the following year.
She went on to state that she entered a third time and emerged victorious.
“Since then”, she added, “I had entered a number of competitions.”
Brown's older sister, Desi, is known for her amazing dancing skills and when asked why singing and not following in her sister’s footsteps, the artiste boldly stated: "Because I am a singer."
She enunciated that while she also dances, she is "a singer first and a dancer after", noting that singing is her preference and that is what she does well.
"Naturally, I am a singer! Dancing is something I do as a hobby. I like it and I am in the process of learning it, whereas singing came more naturally to me. I did two to three years maximum of vocal training. I've never had to try hard with singing," the young artiste explained.
She disclosed that Prince AU does not have a heavy influence on her singing, except where Soca is involved, as they focus on two different genres of music.
She stated that even though she performs Soca, she focuses more on R&B, adding that she intends to record her own songs in the future.
When asked if she has to work harder to stand out among her father and older sister, both of whom are very popular, Brown replied in the negative.
She said that she has already made a name for herself as a singer and that she frequently performs at formal Government functions including galas.
Her latest album is dubbed 'Rags, Flags and Waist', which is a collaboration with her father. She revealed that the collaboration was her father’s brainchild.
"It was something that he [Prince AU] wanted to do...to see that his daughter and he can actually have that type of relationship in terms of music. He actually produces songs for Carnival [and] I too do songs for Carnival. It is much easier for us to collaborate on an album rather than doing two separate albums," she explained.
Brown disclosed that she has not yet given any thought to whether or not she would continue collaborating with him or branch off on her own.
She revealed that she is indeed entering the Soca Monarch Competition this year but added that, while her Groovy song 'Tonight' has already been chosen, she has yet to decide which of the two powerful songs she would be singing in the other segment of the competition.
Released last week were her two choices - 'Independent and Proud' and 'Without Me'.
"Without Me is the one where we have the music aspect, where we are basically trying to sensitise the people about what music can do for Carnival. Without music there is no Carnival, without the [artistes/bands'] releases there is no Carnival. For myself, if no music is out for Carnival, I don't feel it.”
Brown said her second choice, 'Independent and Proud', speaks to both men and women not being dependent on anyone to fulfil their needs, adding that "both men and women can relate".
Brown said that her father produces all of her music from the beats to the lyrics and that "I don't do anything...I just go in the studio and sing".
She revealed that she has never attempted to write a song but shared that she has plans to do so in the future.
Brown explained that while she could hear a beat and words come to mind, she does not "have the inspiration to sit down and just make up a song. I have to have music".
With regards to her groovy song - 'Tonight' - and her thoughts on a song of that nature being written for her by her father, Brown said that while it came as a small shock she does not 'knock it'.
"I was a bit surprised knowing the nature of my father and his daughters. Growing up, he was a bit protective as any man will be with their daughters. I was surprised but I never looked at it in any way because that is music. You have to give the people what they want to hear...the song does not make you, the song is not who you are, it is just making music."
The artiste said that she had no intention of performing at last year's Soca Monarch Competition. She said that she had collaborated on an album with her father and it was a family friend who brought the idea of entering the competition.
Brown was the youngest to perform in last year's competition and she disclosed that the experience was an exciting one. She said that she was and still is very confident that she could hold her own on the stage.
"It was fun, it was an experience like no other and I would relive it. But knowing what I know now, I am going to do some things differently. We ended up being victorious, in my opinion, because we had no expectations whatsoever, because my team and I were new to that competition."
She said that she expects a lot more from herself this time around and intends to come out on top.
Brown is currently juggling academics and entertainment by being a student of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) and preparing for this year's Soca Monarch Competition, which she said is a challenge.
She revealed that she is also a member of a fairly new band called Genesis.
Brown elucidated that her sister and father are the ones who usually do most of the preparations, "but now that she [sister] is not here and it is only my father, it is a bit difficult".
She said that while it is a struggle to juggle school, work and the life of an artiste, she is pulling through well because she has been able to manage her time properly.
Currently undergoing studies in Science and French at CFBC, Brown said that she aspires to go into Cosmetology and "create and empire", as she is "into nails, fashion and makeup".
She said that she intends to change the outlook that people have with regards to makeup and nails.
"I don't feel that makeup is something that makes you fake. People think that you use makeup as a camouflage, but it is used to enhance the beauty that you already have and I just want to help people to realise that it is not bad to put on makeup, it is not bad to put on nails or to make yourself feel pretty."
The young artiste said that she would like to assist women in knowing how to enhance their beauty without over or under doing it.
She said that she intends to go off and study Nail Technology, Makeup Artistry and Pharmaceutics, adding that she would like to go as far as to make her own products.
Brown said that while it is no easy task managing her schooling, working, being a part of a band, and focusing on her singing career, she understands that it is only for a time and she leaves no room in her mind for failure or giving up.
"Don't waste your thoughts and time on giving up at all, because if you put yourself in it you can get yourself out of it. And you're supposed to be able to work with the circumstances that you are allowed to happen because ain't nobody put it there but you. That's just how I see it."
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