Twenty-year-old South Carolina native and current University of Southern California pop-music student Kyle Lux grew up singing in his church’s choir and has loved music since a young age. Over the years, he has crafted his own unique style, blending classic R&B with alternative genres to create a soulful sound that he describes as “autumn transitioning into winter.” From gospel to jazz to rap influences, Lux charters into sonic territory. His lush R&B vocals blend the upbeat pop groove of Khalid with the honest storytelling of Frank Ocean and are as smooth and nostalgic as they are raging and powerful. 

Catching the attention of Lyrical Lemonade, Complex and Ones to Watch, Lux’s debut single, “Rollin’ Stone,” has amassed near one million Spotify streams and has helped him gain a loyal fanbase of almost 6,000 Instagram followers (@kylelux_). He released his debut EP, “No Roof Access,” last Friday, a project that places listeners inside his subconscious and is inspired by his struggles with love. He compares his inner battles to being stuck in a stairway with no roof access. It doesn’t have a locked door that keeps you from going up, the door just isn’t there, leaving you with nowhere higher to go and no chance to experience the feeling of flying that he believes is love.

The Fordham Ram spoke with Kyle Lux about the inspiration behind his music and his life as an artist.

Q: Who are some of your biggest inspirations? Why?

A: Solange, for her ability to fuse comfort and empowerment in her music. Frank Ocean for obvious reasons. James Blake because everything he releases pushes new boundaries. He has his own unique sound and still manages to expand that with every release. Gabriel Garzon-Montano because his music and melodies are amazing. There’s so much to explore there.  

Q: What’s your creative process like? How do you write and record?

A: I normally work in sessions with producers, writing songs from scratch. I start with the first line and build on top of that. I never really head into the song knowing what it’s gonna be about but rather understand it as it manifests itself. 

Q: What are your thoughts on collaborating with other artists?

A: I think it’s the best way to work honestly, at least for the period of artistry that I’m in right now. Having other people to bounce ideas off of really strengthens the product and makes the process more enjoyable. 

Q: What do you think is the best song you’ve ever made?

A: It’s an unreleased song I wrote and produced named “Tears That Don’t Fall.”

Q: How’d you get started making music?

A: I begged my mom to buy me a Sound Electronics recording bundle from Sweetwater one Christmas, and she made it happen because she’s amazing. So that gave me the means to record and flesh out my ideas which I started doing in my room while in high school. I actually made “Tears That Don’t Fall” like that.

Q: Do you play any instruments? Are there any others you would want to learn?

A: Piano. I’d want to learn cello. I feel like it’d help me understand my voice better.

Q: What would you say has played the biggest role in developing yourself as an artist?

A: Believing in myself. As cheesy as it seems, nothing I was doing was intentional before I started doing that. 

Q: What would you consider the biggest milestone in your music career so far?

A: Definitely dropping my debut EP “No Roof Access” which just dropped last Friday. Releasing it feels like closing a chapter of my life so I’m really excited for this next one. 

Q: Where do you see your career going in the next few years?

A: I’d wanna drop an album within the next three years. That’s the only expectation I have for my career right now. 

Q: What’s your dream venue or festival to play?

A: The Met Museum because the architecture is insane or Flog Gnaw Festival.

Q: Who’s your dream collab? Dream artist to open a show for?

A: James Blake or Solange. I would love to open for Frank.

Q: Do you have an all-time favorite song or artist?

A: It changes but it’s consistently “Lindisfarne I” by James Blake. Recently I’ve really been into Khruangbin.

Q: What was your first concert?

A: Chance the Rapper at the Fillmore in Charlotte, NC.

Q: What do you do when you’re not making music?

A: I mainly just do the whole being-a-student shebang- classes rehearsal, work. But I’m in school for music, so it never really ends.

Q: A fun fact about yourself? 

A: I used to eat Kraft cheese squares as meals as a kid. 

Q: Is your real name Kyle Lux?

A: Yes … no it is not. It is Bartholomew.

Q: Who are some other under the radar artists we should be listening to in your opinion?

A: Chase Ceglie (his Instagram is @chaseceglie), Hether (his Instagram is @paulishether) and Kid Hastings (his Instagram is @kidhastings).