England electrifies Ambrose students

by: maureen schulte
Staff Writer

The moment you hear the passionate melodies of Kyler England, her music makes the hair on your skin stand straight up.

England’s voice is both warm and stern, mesmerizing the intimate audience of 17 who braved the storm the night she performed at St. Ambrose University.

Like those who saw Howie Day in years past, the student audience was lucky enough to witness an artist that soon may be a household name.

"The level of professionalism and musicianship Kyler displayed was absolutely phenomenal," said SAU alumni Kyle Carter. "The range, accuracy, and tone of her voice really floored me."

Kyler England is a compelling singer/song writer, who performed at SAU on Nov. 5.

England is keeping busy since her tour schedule has her traveling all over the United States, including such locations as the Hopvine Pub in Seattle, Washington; Hendrix College in Arkansas; and The Living Room in New York.

For the North Carolina native, England always felt that music would play an important part in her life.

"I think I always kind of knew it deep down and you know what you wanna do, you just need to get the guts up," England said.

Coming from a musical family, England has been singing throughout most of her life; however, she didn’t pick up her father’s guitar until about 10 years ago.

"I was just procrastinating on homework and I decided to pick up my dad’s guitar from the closet," England said. "I taught myself an Indigo Girl’s song and the first week that I picked up the guitar, I wrote a song."

After completing her undergrad in chemistry, England decided to pursue her music more seriously and enrolled at Berkeley College of Music for three semesters.

England has won numerous competitions including first place in the 2004 Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest and the 2002 North Carolina Songwriters Competition, which have helped bring credibility to her status as a quality musician.

"It makes people take you seriously," England said. "If they don’t know you from anywhere else, and they read you’ve placed in a certain competition, than they’re willing to give you a chance."

Like most singer/song writers, England’s inspiration for her songs flows from her own experiences as well as her friends' love lives.

"It’s always something that affects me, something that I empathize with," she said. "Even if it isn’t my own life, it’s something that I really connect to."

With four albums and an on-going national tour, England feels she’s been successful on a small scale.

In hopes of landing a record label and taking her career to the next level, England recently moved to Los Angeles in search of her big break.

"At the heart of it, I’m already doing everything I want to do, but I really need more of a team," England said. "I need some kinds of label to help promote my music and I just want it to grow."