Kyler Wilkins, better known by his stage name Ki5, has a voice that doesn’t just sing—it builds entire worlds. At 34 years old, Wilkins is a performer, teacher and program advisor at the Neutral Zone in downtown Ann Arbor. He’s also a proud Ann Arbor native who has made his city the centerpiece of his creative journey.
“It’s been a lot of fun to perform around here after doing college at Michigan State then moving away to Springfield, Illinois in 2014 for a bit over a year. Then I lived in Royal Oak for a few years and made my way back to Ypsilanti in 2018 and finally moved back to Ann Arbor in 2023.”
His deep connection to Ann Arbor fuels both his artistry and his commitment to community engagement.
A unique musical style
Wilkins’ music stands apart from traditional singer-songwriter performances. Known for his vocal looping, he layers his voice into complex harmonies and rhythms that transcend genre boundaries.
“I would describe it as a cappella that you hear piece by piece getting built up, and I can build into different genres,” he said. “So, I can do like R&B and pop and soul and kind of mixes of all of those. But it starts as usually something simple, like some simple beatboxing or a little vocal line … and together, all the sounds make a vibrant vocal soundscape.”
Every show is its own creation. “Every single time I perform a song, it’s a little bit different,” Wilkins said. “That’s been a beautiful part of performing for me—seeing the differences that can come in.”
Performing across Ann Arbor
Wilkins has performed at many of Ann Arbor’s most beloved venues.
“In the Ann Arbor area, I perform at The Ark a couple times a year, perform at Blind Pig, and I’ve played at a few different bars, including The Grotto, 734 Brewing.”
While he doesn’t have upcoming shows on the immediate horizon, he is excited about what’s next: “I’m going to be releasing some music at the end of this year, an EP called ‘Mind.’ I’m pretty excited about it.”
Behind the name: Ki5
The name Ki5 is as layered as his music. It came from both technology and family.
“The loop station I use is a Boss RC-505, and that has five tracks on it,” Wilkins said. “So the first thing that I thought was that it’s kind of like I split myself into five different pieces, so Ki5. And I spelled it K-I-5. I liked that that hadn’t been used anywhere that I could see.”
The number also carries personal meaning. “Serendipitously, I’m actually the youngest of five kids, so it kind of represents, like, all of my siblings, and also kind of my place as when we’re all together,” he said. “So, I really liked that aspect of the name.”
Still, Wilkins moves fluidly between identities. “I went back and forth for a while on whether or not it would be good to use a moniker or just use my actual name. I really like having a stage name, because it kind of helps separate me from … the persona that I build Ki5 into as I go on. I actually will be releasing more music under the name Kyler Wilkins, so that’s exciting, but yeah, it’s going to be an adjustment.”
Influences and inspirations
Wilkins’ inspirations are as wide-ranging as his soundscapes.
“My biggest musical influences are Reggie Watts, because he uses a loop station and practices a lot of freedom. Bobby McFerrin, Bon Iver. I really like the songwriting of Hozier. Stevie Wonder.”
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Like his influences, Wilkins strives for emotional depth and universality in his work.
“I hope listeners take inspiration from my music. I hope they get the message that they’re not alone,” he said. “I really want my music to connect people. I want people to get connected to themselves, get connected to others further out, and connected to something bigger, something that’s more universal.”
Teaching and mentorship
In addition to performing, Wilkins shares his craft through teaching. He offers lessons that blend technique with artistry.
“I offer one-on-one loop station lessons and beatboxing lessons,” he said. “I’ve done voice and guitar before as well.”
As a program advisor at the Neutral Zone, Wilkins channels this passion into youth mentorship, helping young artists in Ann Arbor discover their own voices.
Audience connection
Since debuting as Ki5 in 2017, Wilkins has found that audiences respond not just to his technical mastery, but to the humanity behind it.
“Basically, since 2017, audiences have responded really well to my work,” he said. “To see me do a lot of live creation of music—I think it’s rare to be using technology, but to kind of show the humanness through it. And I love showing the energy of the human spirit. That’s what I love to do with my work.”
For Wilkins, music is more than sound—it is shared emotion. “I hope to create music that gets people excited and reflective and again inspired. And I hope that sometimes I can make people dance, but I also want to make people feel so emotional that they cry.”
Looking ahead
With his EP “Mind” on the way and a growing reputation in the Ann Arbor scene, Wilkins’ journey is one of both evolution and grounding.
“I just want people to keep on paying attention. I want people to keep on looking for what sparks them,” he said. “I hope to create music that gets people excited … and inspired.”
Whether performing on stage, mentoring at the Neutral Zone, or layering a song into a soulful crescendo, Kyler Wilkins—Ki5—is building soundscapes that are both intimate and universal. In every performance, he extends an invitation to connect, reflect and feel.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
