Tag: Kyle Lionhart

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“The Silence of You” – Kyle Lionhart

I knew before pressing play that I was going to love Kyle Lionhart’s sophomore album The Silence of You. I’d already fawned over the singles “Chemical Heart” and “Lighthouse,” highlighting Kyle’s personal lyrics and heartfelt delivery. But I wasn’t prepared for just how much this collection of songs would move me.

When you release a few exceptional singles, they often become the highlights of the album. That’s not the case here. Every song is a standout, a powerful and personal revelation. Perhaps the pandemic has something to do with that. With the exception of “Locked to Towns,” penned during the songwriting sessions for his debut album, Kyle wrote every song during lockdown.

While we were all reflective while stuck in our homes, the period was especially telling for Kyle. Near the end of 2019, after more than six years of constant touring, he started feeling like pursuing his career came at the expense of his most important relationships. When the pandemic forced him to take a break from the road the following year, it was time to start working on those relationships and himself. These songs stemmed from that period of self-reflection; they’re powerful, sometimes confronting, and always authentic. Kyle admits that he cried every day in the studio singing these songs; that emotion really comes through. You can hear it in his voice, but make sure you listen to those lyrics to really understand the powerful experiences and feelings that shaped these songs.

While these songs deal with some heavy themes, The Silence of You isn’t a dark album. Kyle’s voice has a beautiful warmth that lifts you up as you listen. There’s also an undercurrent of optimism that brings lightness to the material. This album celebrates human connection and love. While that exists, we can never stay down for too long. Kyle will play shows in the new year to support the album’s release.

20 January 2023 – Milk Bar, Boorloo/Perth
21 January 2023 – Jive, Tarntanya/Adelaide
27 January 2023 – The Factory Theatre, Eora/Sydney
28 January 2023 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
3 February 2023 – Mos Desert Clubhouse, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
4 February 2023 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane
10 February 2023 – Solbar, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Sunshine Coast
11 February 2023 – The Northern, Cavanbah/Byron Bay

Images used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kyle Lionhart Wows Me With “Chemical Heart”

Folky, acoustic guitar-driven music is my kryptonite. Needless to say, I’m powerless to resist “Chemical Heart,” the latest track from Kyle Lionhart. He wrote the song after reaching a crossroads in his musical career.

“Being away and constantly on the road chasing something – that hungry ghost of needing to be validated through music – was so powerful that I was willing to just ruin the rest of my life to get it,” he explained. “I hit this point at end of 2019 – after touring relentlessly for more than six years – when I realised that my family was gonna leave me and I hadn’t spoken to my friends in years, and it took its toll on my mental health. I knew it was getting bad, but I ignored it to chase a ‘successful’ music career. And it worked, but almost every other facet of my life was suffering and falling to pieces.

“Then when I had to stop, because the pandemic forced me to, I realised everything was so turbulent. And I had to start working on myself and my relationships. It was kind of like, ‘Alright, I’m ready to get to work.’ I wrote the song Chemical Heart about that; it’s a song that was very much about everything I had just experienced.”

“Chemical Heart” comes from Kyle’s new album The Silence of You, which drops on November 18. After eating up his singles, I can’t wait to listen. He’ll also play the following shows next year to support the album release:

20 January 2023 – Milk Bar, Boorloo/Perth
21 January 2023 – Jive, Tarntanya/Adelaide
27 January 2023 – The Factory Theatre, Eora/Sydney
28 January 2023 – Corner Hotel, Naarm/Melbourne
3 February 2023 – Mos Desert Clubhouse, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
4 February 2023 – The Zoo, Meeanjin/Brisbane
10 February 2023 – Solbar, Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country/Sunshine Coast
11 February 2023 – The Northern, Cavanbah/Byron Bay

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Kyle Lionhart Releases Powerful Single “Lighthouse”

Singer-songwriter Kyle Lionhart will have you reaching for the tissues with his moving new single “Lighthouse”, a heartfelt song penned in the face of tragedy.

“I wrote “Lighthouse” with one of my best friends Paul Ruske, we wrote it as somewhat of an ode to our children. Paul lost his seven-year-old son to a brain tumour in 2017 and expressed to me once that one of the hardest parts of his son’s illness was not being able to protect him from it. This broke me; as a father I think one of our highest primitive callings is to protect & provide, the thought that this could be taken away from me, the thought that there were going to be a lot my boys will have to endure on their own and I won’t be able to guide and protect them from scares me more than almost anything in this life,” he explained. “This is where the song was born; in that emotion, in that fear of the unknown, in the realisation that much of life is out of our control. With this song we both wanted to express to our children that no matter what happens in this life, our love for them will travel further than just this physical realm.”

This song has totally broken me. It’s heartbreaking but so beautiful, a powerful message to special people left here and a reminder of those who aren’t. Listening to it on Father’s Day just gives it that extra bit of gravitas. If you’re lucky enough to have your dad still here, or you’re a dad with your own kids, perhaps it’ll inspire you to hug your loved ones a bit closer today.

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute