Take a look at the top ten songs on iTunes right now. What’s the common thread? They’re earworms, for sure, but wrapped up in shiny production and radio-friendliness. Where’s the heart? Where’s the honesty? It’s becoming more and more difficult to find in the revolving cycle of autotuned dance hits and reality television that positions music as a competition. Which is why Kalsey Kulyk is such a refreshing and special artist to find.
Without resorting to the cliche “little girl with a big voice,” Kalsey’s soaring melodic voice is grander than the small Canadian town she hails from. Growing up in Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan, Kalsey began performing in talent shows and singing competitions with a certainty that singing was all she wanted to do, and her dedication and ambition shows.
Her talent and passion were meant for more, with relentless drive carrying her through obstacles that fell in the way. At 17 years old, she defeated a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with a renewed clarity and spark to pursue songwriting with everything she had. At 19, in a dingy rehearsal hall, she sang for producer Richard Dashut, who, so impressed by her heartfelt lyrics and haunting melodies, invited her to move to Las Vegas on her own to work with him.
Under his instruction, Kalsey’s influences expanded beyond the country radio hits she grew up on. She developed an acoustic guitar driven sound infused with catchy pop structures and harmonies. During her three years under his mentorship, Richard shared a bevy of advice and wisdom.
“He taught me a lot,” she says, “But the major thing was to never give up on your dreams. If you’re passionate about something and you keep pushing, and keep knocking on enough doors, someone is going to listen to what you have to say. So just don’t give up.”
It’s not every day that you hear a voice like Kalsey’s. Now just 24 years old, Kalsey seamlessly evokes legendary artists of the past while appealing to today’s generation, like a ‘70s Emmylou Harris with First Aid Kit. Her songwriting packs the emotion of a woman who has lived many lives who still possesses the beautiful optimism of a child.
The best way to describe Kalsey’s music is as the soundtrack to a 20-something’s life written in real time. Some songs will remind you of your first heartbreak, others of that road trip you took with your best friends. The demos you will be hearing over the next few months capture with heartbreaking honesty what it’s like to be young, falling and out of love, and uncertain of what the future holds. The tracks are simple, many times just a girl and her guitar, and that’s where Kalsey shines.
Allow her into your heart for a brief moment and you’ll see. There’s a spark within Kalsey that cannot be faked, one that will grab hold of you and never let you go.
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