Irish R`n'B artist Kaya T has released her debut single, Flight Mode. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
The 24-year-old Dubliner has been performing since she was five and taught herself how to play the guitar aged ten.
She cites her father as her biggest musical influence. "My dad was always the musical influence in my life," Kaya says. "He showed me all the best bands and we would often sit and play guitar and drums together for hours singing our favourite songs".
Speaking about Flight Mode, she says, "It’s about the detrimental effects of social media to someone who is struggling mentally. I wanted to write a song that gave my experience and how it can be a scary place when you're not sure where your life is going.
"Seeing people only post the best versions of themselves can be hard to watch when you feel like you're stuck in a rut or not feeling good about yourself.
"The lyric `I hope the stars hear me calling up above and they say what’s up don’t sigh now we’ve got your dreams on file now you’ll be alright’ is me picturing the stars having a filing cabinet of everyone’s dreams when they `wish upon a star’ and that feeling of relief to know they had my dreams in their files now and that things would essentially be ok.
Tell us three things about yourself?
I love making people laugh, I was the class clown in school and I love to watch stand-up comedians like Ricky Gervais and Lee Evans. No matter where I am, if a lyric or a melody comes to mind I have to take out my phone and record it (even if I'm in a supermarket. LOL). I love fashion and look up to women like Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber for style inspo!
How would you describe your music?
My music is a mix of pop, R&B and a sprinkle of jazz!
Who are your musical inspirations?
My musical inspirations are Ariana Grande, Jorja Smith and Amy Winehouse.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
The first gig I ever went to was to see Beyonce in the 3Arena. I cried the entire time!!
What was the first record you ever bought?
The first record I ever bought was Whoa, Nelly! by Nelly Furtado. I used to dance around my room to I'm Like A Bird for hours and hours pretending to be her!
What’s your favourite song right now?
My favourite song right now is either Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd or Good Love by Lucy Pearl or anything by Ariana Grande.
Favourite lyric of all time?
It would have to be a lyric from a Pink Floyd song called Shine On You Crazy Diamond. 'You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon'. Or from Wish You Were Here, there's a lyric I love 'We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year'. They wrote the most beautiful songs.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would be a song called Bless Ur Heart by Serpentwithfeet. He has the most beautiful voice and the song is just stunning!
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can find me on Instagram under kaya_t__ and also on Twitter, TikTok and Spotify under Kaya T.
