Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalysta Sylvester.
Hi Kalysta, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been singing since I was a little girl. My family has roots in Detroit and so we grew up listening to Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin etc. Big band, such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, and of course, classic R&B and Rock from my parents era. I started joining choir and musicals, and my performing blossomed from there. I had extreme nervousness when it came to performing in front of a crowd, but with my parents encouragement and love, I never stopped and it became easier. It started to be the one time my brain would just relax, shut off, and focus on what I loved to do. Almost as if it were therapeutic. Feeling the energy in the crowd exchange was addicting, and I have been performing ever since. I loved and continue to love moving people with my voice and songs. To see somebody cry because they are so moved is the biggest compliment to me. I started a band in Auburn/Bay City (my hometown) with some cool dudes, and eventually moved my way near Detroit. I was introduced to way more musicians from there, and that became my favorite part of music. Meeting the people who have your back in the studio and are the glue to your own songs. I had to go through quite a few rough experiences of navigating the industry as a young woman in a male-dominated field (as far as production). Managers that have screwed me over, producers, etc. It taught me to grow up earlier on and how to deal with red-flag situations in the future, so I would say it was all worth it.
Finally, now being able to say I am releasing my own album – is crazy! I feel as if I have been at this for ten years, and there have been lulls, distractions, setbacks and more, but we made it. I can’t wait to share my music (made with so much love) which I created with so many wonderful people, including my good friends, Michael Bermudez and Cullen Emadrey and Red. Now I have created a following in Detroit and it comes full circle. I am where I want to be for now, and it only goes up from here, all because it was authentic, I had to hustle, and nothing has been handed to me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think meeting people and working with people who don’t have the same morals that align with your own. Some people are just in it for the money and what they can get out of you. I first had my rough experience back at home with a “manager” who would take cuts of my gig money and not tell me how much. I’ve had a once well-known manager of another MI-based band try to sue me even though he went to jail in our time together. That one hurt the most as he became close with my family as well. I put my all into that one and I was 20 years old when that all went down. I had to get lawyers for my first time and send defamation letters. This guy tried to ruin my name and life.
After that, it was just producers and teams molding me into what THEY wanted. I even got sat down and told to my face that I was not a good singer and STILL worked with him for a year. He was inappropriate and just using me for the money I had. Studio staff claimed they would help me get to that next level but I needed to do more and hustle and have a “story.” That showed they truly didn’t know me because I already had a story, and I was ready to share it. But, I was not going to be lead on any longer. No more giving money just to be disappointed in what they were doing with my art. I drove my producer around, gave him money, $10,000 later, and with three songs in a year, I was cheated out of a good experience. I was devastated. Nothing came out of that studio helping me after that. It was just blown over as they continued on helping their next big band. So, I moved on, again. All of this has been done without management. Every show booked, band put together, music and set lists, has been myself. I had never had a team to help me with those things. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like I have a story to tell!
It caused me to have a lot of distrust in not only music industry personnel, but people in general who said they wanted to help me along the way. Ultimately, it taught me the most valuable of lessons and lead me to GOOD hearted people with good souls who actually are in it for the love of music. I met Michael Bermudez who was a breath of fresh air. He helped me love creating music again, and Cullen Emadrey was the cherry on top. He knew what I went through and wanted to be on board as a trusted person. He is like family to me. I NEVER would have met him if not for the bad experiences I had. They were all stepping stones to get me to the good parts. 🙂
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a professional vocalist and I love to perform all over Michigan and beyond with my band. I would say what sets me apart is the pure soul and heart in my vocals. I truly love music and “SANGING” my heart out. I feel there is a lot of focus on the next big hit and how many social media followers people have, whereas I want to bring back music that moves people. I am the most proud of how far I have come even though I am just dipping my toes in the music industry. Since I was performing at 14/15, I dreamed that I would have my own band playing iconic Detroit venues, and here we are. I am proud of the friends I have made along the way as well. I have met some amazingly talented people here. Forever grateful for them. Most people don’t know, but I am also a pianist as well, and that is how I create most of my songs.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Of course! I have definitely taken risks that have felt major in my life. I left my little town to come to a place where I knew absolutely nobody and lived on my own for the first time, just so I could be closer to the music scene in Michigan. Detroit was the place to be to meet musicians and artists.
My belief, as corny as it seems, is that you truly have ONE life. Risk it now, because you OWE yourself a chance to follow your dreams and obtain them. I ask myself, how good COULD my life get? Instead of, what if I fail? At least I would know I tried very very hard, and I would live with no regrets. If it was EASY, everybody would be doing it. I think to truly not fail, you just have to keep going. Don’t quit. Persevere and be persistent and good will come if your heart is right. Now, this is something I still practice. I think it’s pertinent to be humble and know that you might not get it right all the time and fall flat, but getting up and continuing on is where the real strength is.
Whether it be going back to school for a masters, moving, starting a family, trying a new career, do it the best you can and go from there. We can always be uncomfortable for a bit for one day to have no worries anymore. Most musicians I know and even some Broadway friends of mine go paycheck to paycheck, yet work their booties off every night 7 days a week for the same big show. They do it for the LOVE of the craft, and they feel they are living the dream. They took the risk of uncomfortable financial stability for a bit so they can do what they love. That is what I want to do, especially if it’s necessary to get to where I want to be. How much do you want it, ya know?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/kalystaofficial
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kalystaofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalystaofficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM1Zp4Ig1ys
Image Credits
Marissa Dillon
Ali Folster
