Kyle Craft

{{Infobox musical artist

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| name = Kyle Craft

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|1|9}}

| birth_place = Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.

| origin = Portland, Oregon, U.S.

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Singer-songwriter
musician

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Vocals
guitar

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| label = Sub Pop

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Kyle Craft (born January 9, 1989),{{cite web | url=http://www.spin.com/2016/04/kyle-craft-dolls-of-highland-premiere-stream/ | title=Kyle Craft Sings His Bowie-Filtered Version of the Blues on 'Dolls of Highland' | work=Spin | date=April 25, 2016 | accessdate=May 30, 2016 | author=Unterberger, Andrew}} is an American singer-songwriter and musician based in Portland, Oregon. He released his debut album, Dolls of Highland from Sub Pop records in 2016.

Biography

Craft was born in Shreveport, Louisiana.{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/kyle-craft-mn0001476358/biography | title=Kyle Craft | publisher=AllMusic | accessdate=May 31, 2016 | author=Monger, James Christopher}} First drawn to music through the Baptist church choir in his early childhood,{{cite web | url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/04/kyle-craft-the-best-of-whats-next.html | title=Kyle Craft: The Best of What's Next | work=Paste | date=April 26, 2016 | accessdate=May 31, 2016 | author=Swedlund, Eric}} Craft was introduced to rock music through a David Bowie compilation that he found in Kmart. At the age of 15, he started playing the acoustic guitar his grandmother gave him for Christmas. He began to record songs on a laptop that he bought in 2007.

Craft relocated first in Austin, Texas, where he formed the band Gashcat releasing the album, Reunion!{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Gashcat-Reunion/release/4302339|title=Gashcat - Reunion!|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-07-19}} in 2011 followed by the Devil Kid Demos EP. The band broke up in 2013 due in part to the persistent negative comparison to Neutral Milk Hotel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.e6townhall.com/archive/index.php/t-20105.html|title=GASHCAT sounds quite like NMH [Archive] - E6 Townhall|website=E6townhall.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-19}} Craft moved to Portland, where he started writing his solo debut album. After recording the tracks at the laundry room of his Shreveport home with a DIY rig and his laptop, he reconnected with Sub Pop Records, whom he has been in touch with after previously passing over a demo. The tracks were mixed by Brandon Summers and Benjamin Weikel of The Helio Sequence, and Craft released his debut album, Dolls of Highland,{{cite magazine | url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6866853/kyle-craft-lady-ark-premiere-sub-pop-sign-dolls-highland | title=Kyle Craft Announces Signing to Sub Pop, Premieres 'Lady of the Ark' | magazine=Billboard | date=February 4, 2016 | accessdate=May 31, 2016 | author=Payne, Chris}} in April 2016. He assembled a live band following its release and embarked a tour. Craft was selected as the opening act for Drive-By Truckers Fall 2016 tour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.subpop.com/artists/kyle_craft/tours|title=Kyle Craft Tour Dates|first=Sub Pop|last=Records|website=Subpop.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://events.knoxnews.com/knoxville/events/driveby-truckers-kyle-craft-/E0-001-095442999-0|title=Check out Drive-By Truckers with Kyle Craft at The Mill & Mine on Nov 3, 2016|website=Events.knoxnews.com}}

Musical style and artistry

AllMusic's James Christopher Monger described Craft as "a singer/songwriter with a robust, full-throated wail and knack for pairing Stones-ian hooks and Dylan-esque wordplay with glam-kissed pop swagger." Rolling Stone wrote that he sounds like "a swamp bar jukebox loaded with British glitter and Seventies Southern rock" and turns his tracks into a "poetic gumbo of Southern roots, electric folk and preening glam rock."{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/10-new-artists-you-need-to-know-march-2016-20160324/kyle-craft-20160322 | title=10 New Artists You Need to Know: March 2016: Kyle Craft | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=March 24, 2016 | accessdate=May 31, 2016}} His sound also features elements from alternative country and Americana.{{cite web | url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/kyle-craft-dolls-of-highland | title=Kyle Craft – Dolls of Highland | publisher=The Skinny | date=April 8, 2016 | accessdate=May 31, 2016 | author=Harman, Duncan}}

Craft cites Bob Dylan as an influence over his distinctive vocal style. His other influences include David Bowie, the Beach Boys and Father John Misty.

Live band members

Live band members as adapted from Willamette Week:{{cite web | url=http://www.wweek.com/music/2016/02/02/introducing-kyle-craft/ | title=Introducing: Kyle Craft | work=Willamette Week | date=February 2, 2016 | accessdate=May 30, 2016 | author=Lankenau, Chris}}

Kyle Craft – vocals, various instruments
Haven Multz – drums
Austin Barone – bass
Jeremy Kale Padot – guitar
Ben Steinmetz – organ
Kevin Clark – piano

Discography

Studio albums

Dolls of Highland (2016)
Full Circle Nightmare (2018)
Showboat Honey (2019){{cite magazine |last1=Stiernberg |first1=Bonnie |title=Kyle Craft Premieres 'Deathwish Blue,' Talks New Album: I Hope People 'Hear an Artist Instead Of a Genre' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8516504/kyle-craft-showboat-honey-deathwish-blue-interview |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=June 19, 2019 |date=June 19, 2019}}

Compilations