Getting to Know… Kylolus | Interview 🎤

In the 349^th Q&A in our Getting to Know… series, we get the inside scoop from the musical project of Oxfordshire-based songwriter, Murray Edmunds, titled Kylolus.

“I’m a songwriter, and not a performing artist, but I take songwriting very seriously and to make high-quality recordings of the songs, I need to collaborate with others.” So, 🎙 Kylolus is not a band, 🎙 Murray Edmunds? “[It’s] not a band, but at the same time it’s more than just me.” Interesting 🤔! Like our many other Getting to Know Q&As, we get the inside scoop on this music project: the genesis, goals, musical influences, and of course, current, and future musical endeavors. The Oxfordshire-based songwriter answers our burning questions regarding the musical act. So, without further ado, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… Kylolus: Interview No. 349!

For those who may not be familiar with you, what would Kylolus say makes you distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

Well, first and foremost, Kylolus is not a band, but at the same time it’s more than just me, 🎙️ Murray Edmunds! I’m a songwriter, and not a performing artist, but I take songwriting very seriously and to make high-quality recordings of the songs, I need to collaborate with others. So, for a few years now I’ve been working with Andrew James, who’s a professional singer and producer, and guitarist Steve Skidmore (“Skidders”). ‘Kylolus’ therefore represents the results of our informal collaborations, and I regard Kylolus as the platform that gives life to my songwriting. So, I suppose that way of music making is relatively unusual.

In terms of the music, the output is quite varied. Melody is important to me, so I like to think everything is melodically very strong, but the songs vary from rock to piano ballads, quite often with ethereal or folky vibes. I also think lyrics are very important and spend hours on these. I try to make the lyrics thought provoking and emotionally relatable. I really hope listeners will find value in the lyrics.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Kylolus materialize and what were some of the goals or visions you had early on?

Well, as explained, Kylolus is not really a band, but Andrew, Steve and I work together very closely and have a great understanding and working relationship. I first met Andrew about 10 year ago when I began getting my songs recorded and was searching for a male session vocalist. I thought his voice was superb, and he’s been singing most of the Kylolus songs ever since. When he set up his own studio locally, it became so easy to collaborate as we really ‘got’ each other. Andrew is a musical polymath who also writes and records his own stuff, so we bounce ideas off each other and this really benefits the production of the songs. Andrew introduced me to Steve, and he too has had a really positive impact. Andrew and I are both piano players, so to have a guitarist on board to draw different ideas from is fantastic and opens up so much scope. Steve is a very versatile player, and as ‘Skidders’ he also puts out his own music. We’ve never intended to become a band, but we have great fun collaborating and just enjoying making music.

Let’s talk more about goals.  Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

The goals haven’t really changed. For me, it was always about enjoying songwriting, writing the best songs that I could, and (with help) working these up into the best possible recordings we could make. I find the whole process so wonderfully creative – from piano stool to studio, and it’s a passion that I know will endure for a lifetime. Songwriting can be amazingly cathartic too. So, the goal is just to carry on enjoying making music and having fun in the process.

If anything has changed, I’d say it’s that I set higher standards for the production now, and I’m less precious about accepting the advice of others and making changes. I don’t expect fame and fortune, as Kylolus is not a touring act, but it would be lovely to find an online audience who appreciate the songs – their messages, and what’s gone into making them.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Whom would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

Well, I learned classical piano from a young age, and there’s no doubt you hear that influence in my music: nearly everything I’ve written starts out as a piano composition, and a lot of piano survives into the final mixes. As a teen, I discovered and fell in love with prog rock, so I was raised on bands like Genesis, Pink Floyd, Camel, Fleetwood Mac and so on, and again, I think you can hear the influence of that in my music; some of the tracks are quite lengthy, with different sections, and I love to include melodic instrumental passages. And then I also discovered singer-songwriters like Al Stewart, Chris Rea, Ricki Lee Jones, Suzanne Vega and Jackson Browne, and these guys taught me how powerful lyrics can be, so I agonize for hours over lyrics now, trying to make them elegant and worthwhile.

Ah, the fun stuff.  What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance?  Feel free to be creative.  

‘Kylolus’ is actually a made-up word and was originally a computer password I was given at work! When I first uploaded music to Soundcloud, I was asked to give an artist name, and as I didn’t think ‘Murray Edmunds’ sounded very ‘rock’n’roll’, I gave my old password as a temporary solution, expecting to replace it with something better at a later date. But every name I could think of was either already in use or didn’t really fit the vibe of my music, so in the end I just stuck with it. I know it’s not the easiest name to remember (which is why all my websites feature the name as a logo in big capital letters!), but at least if someone does remember ‘Kylolus’ and Googles it, they will easily find my music! I also like to think it is a bit enigmatic, and maybe reminiscent of something like ‘Vangelis’!?

Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

That’s a hard question. Nearly all my songs have been inspired by life events, so they all carry memories. I tend to be most enthusiastic about whatever I’m working on currently, but if I had to pick an earlier one, I might choose 🎵 “The Words Left Behind”. I’m especially proud of the lyrics of this song as I think they are quite deep. The song deals with bereavement, and one friend of mine told me that it moved her to tears, so that is the ultimate endorsement for me as a songwriter – to write something that is affecting, and which can make such a connection with a listener. The song is also musically dynamic building from a quiet poignant start to a finale with a searing lead guitar solo played by Steve. Another personal favorite is 🎵 “After The Tears Are Gone” because it’s a really strong, anthemic song that carries a positive uplifting message about recovery.

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?  

Well, I have two passions in life – one is songwriting, obviously, but the other is… paleontology! I’m actually a bit of an expert on Jurassic ammonites and have published several scientific papers on the subject. So, when I’m not at the keyboard, you might find me searching for fossils under the cliffs on the Dorset Coast, or up on Skye.

Closing out, what is … currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure. 

So, the first album, 💿 Uncharted Territories, is now out (and available on all good streaming services), but we’re well underway with my second album, which will probably be called Tears Run Dry. I’ve got a back-catalogue of more than 40 songs, and I’m always working on a few new ideas, so there’s plenty to come, and I’ve already got the next two albums mapped out in my head. The first album is a collection of 11 songs that all deal, in one way or another, with the subject of moving from one situation or phase of life to another, unfamiliar, one – hence the title. The next two albums will also have a ‘theme’, in terms of a broad concept covered in the lyrics. Oh, and I’m releasing a single called 🎵 “When” in mid-April.

Getting to Know… Kylolus: Interview No. 349 [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Kylolus; Tumisu via Pixabay]