Life & Work with Kyle Joshua Trask

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Joshua Trask. 

Hi Kyle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was born in Augusta, Maine from my mother who was a multi-instrumentalist, and my father who was a singer. As a toddler, they swore up and down I couldn’t speak full sentences; all I’d do was sing the Barney theme song and “Dirty Deeds Done Dirty Cheap” by AC/DC. My father was in a cover band who’d play a lot of classic rock and 70s/80s pop so we’d go to see them as often as we could. Alice In Chains and Journey still ring in my head. 

After my parents split when I was still really young, my mother moved me and my two brothers down to Delaware for more opportunities. Fast forward through me learning how to harmonize on road trips to the radio and building drum sets out of empty bins and lids, I settled in with a cheap guitar at twelve years old that made my fingers bleed. I fell in love with the songwriting styles of what I consumed as a child such as Paul Williams, Jackson Browne, Queen, Linda Rondstadt, Billy Joel, and Elton John to name a few, and began writing. My dad later would buy me a small 4 track to record my demos onto. I taught myself piano, bass, and drums over the next few years, eventually recording and performing in bands starting at 14 years old. 

At 16, I wrote and recorded my first full length which would transition into more indie/prog/pop-punk over time. This led me to receive opportunities to perform alongside with major and independent artists in my late teens/early adulthood such as Circa Survive, The Front Bottoms, The Deer Hunter, and many more. Although an incredible experience and I wouldn’t change a thing, eventually I realized I placed myself in a hole I didn’t want to be in. The music I was writing started to be for others and I stopped using my songs as a sense of communication and healing for myself. I eventually fell into isolation after being diagnosed with chronic depression that would end any plans of music I had for a few years. Instead, I hid in my bed and held onto the dozens of new materials I’d write, hoping someday I’d muster the courage to record again. 

Since moving to Nashville, I’ve been met a community who loves and supports me and my family. Lately, I’ve been working with two of my biggest supporters and great friends, Keith L. Harris and Thomas Dulin, on my latest release set to come this May and I couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out. Because of folks like them and the new friends, I’m surrounded by, I’m finally ready to get back in the saddle and continue the story I had put on pause. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In the beginning, things were kind of rough, but they got easier as I got older. I didn’t have a lot of money when I was younger, so I had to borrow gear from other bands and artists during shows and recording. I remember one time another band that I considered good friends told a management company not to work with me because I didn’t have any equipment of my own to use. I remember feeling like I wasn’t allowed to do music on a serious level or I was less important than others because I couldn’t afford a quality guitar, amp, or pedals in my teenage years. There have been many other struggles, but I mostly write about them in my songs. 

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?
Being an Americana artist has this funny “catch-all” to it that I feel encompasses a lot of what makes me who I am as a songwriter. Heavily influenced by artists such as Jason Isbell, Yola, and Brandi Carlile, I like to keep things as honest as I can. I try to form my stories into songs that feel nostalgic and remind me of days where you’re riding in the backseat of a car listening to a mixtape of your favorite bands playing on the stereo across the country; just like how I grew up listening to music. My songs help me relay my stories since I struggle a lot with one-on-one conversation. I’ve always been excited about the personal experience and intimacy that music can bring to any space. It’s always on the forefront of my mind to try my best to engage the audience in what I’m singing or doing so we can hopefully connect and find that backseat together. I think that’s why I admire new Americana songwriters today – we’re all just trying to connect with one another. 

What were you like growing up?
I was always the first one out of my brothers to try to stop the other one from doing something that would potentially hurt them or get them in trouble. Naturally, I took on the tattletale role. I always liked structure and rules when I was a kid; I was always scared of finding out what consequences would happen if I ever did “stray from the path.” Eventually, my older brother convinced me it was a good idea to skateboard in a filled pool at The Holiday Inn down the street from my neighborhood. After that, I don’t think I did anything “bad” for a few years. Otherwise, I was happy being the normal indoor kid playing video games, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and designing myspace layouts. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://kylejoshuatrask.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/kylejoshuatrask
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/kylejoshuatrask
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kylejoshuatrask
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbkbD-DdiNpCX5NOU2ErZRQ
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kylejoshuatrask

Image Credits
Libby Danforth
Alice Nickels