Kylee Phillips and Kyle Joe, both renowned Michigan artists who have been creating music for much of their lives, will perform on April 18 at The Ark. They will perform individually and collaborate.
“I’ve been singing a long time,” Kylee Phillips said. “We joke that I sort of came out of the womb singing, and I started writing around the age of 12 or 13, with varying degrees of success, and it’s sort of grown from there. I started learning piano when I was six years old, but I really consider voice to be my primary instrument. It’s definitely the thing that gives me the most joy, and I sort of play to have a reason to sing.”
Some music critics have placed Phillips in the “sad girl” genre, defined by stars such as Lana Del Rey (who actually has a song titled “Sad Girl”), Billie Eilish, and Olivia Rodrigo. The genre is often characterized by melancholic beauty and female perspectives.
While Phillips considers herself part of the “sad girl” genre, she also hopes to push its boundaries. “I hope to infuse a little experiential wisdom into my songs,” she said. She describes her music in other ways as well.
“My music is definitely pop music,” Phillips said. “I think pop can get a bad reputation, and sometimes people treat it like a dirty word. But I really love good, smart pop music. And so I try to make stuff that is fun to listen to the way pop music should be, but I really love the lyrics above all else. I try to create music that is enjoyable to listen to but also says something.”
Phillips’ Michigan roots run deep. She currently lives in Milan, was born in Ann Arbor, and has lived in various parts of Southeast Michigan her whole life. She appreciates the opportunity to connect with the vibrant community of musicians and artists.
“I’ve made more of a point of stepping into the music community that is here,” Phillips said. “Before, I was sort of an island, trying to do a lot of things on my own. In the past few years, I’ve prioritized collaboration and community more.”
Her concert with Kyle Joe is emblematic of that kind of collaboration.
“Part of why I’m doing this show with Kyle is because he and I have formed a friendship over the last couple of years,” Phillips said. “It’s been cool. Every time I’ve gone to a music conference or a competition, there’s always a ton of Michiganders there. So there’s clearly something really special going on here.”
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Phillips added that Kyle Joe’s style and tone are similar to her own, and they are both from Michigan.
“Music is such a cathartic thing, that having sadness or despair find its way into your music is not an inherently bad thing,” Phillips said. “But I think that I like to inject at least a little bit of hope into my songs. The songs become an outlet for those feelings, a place where I can lean into them instead of hiding from them. I try to leave things on a hopeful note. But I definitely think facing those feelings head-on is a good thing, and music is a good place to do it.”
For Phillips, music is as much about personal expression as it is about reaching others.
“I feel like I’m writing the songs for my own sake,” Phillips said. “But then, when somebody else says, ‘I could really relate to what you were talking about,’ that is even more special.”
This marks Phillips’ second time headlining at The Ark. She and Kyle Joe will perform separate sets during the evening. Kyle Joe released a new album, “Take It Easy,” in February and will be playing many songs from that project. Phillips will feature tracks from her October EP “Good Parts.”
“But then we’re going to do a few collaborations as well,” Phillips said. “I actually sang the title track on his album. It’s a duet between the two of us, so we’re going to do that one together, and there will be a few other little collaborations.”
As for what fans can expect from the joint concert, Phillips offered a preview.
“It’s going to be a really cathartic experience,” Phillips said. “I think Kyle and I have a similar approach to songwriting, and we want to create a special place. When you do a show, you’re sort of creating an atmosphere. We want it to be a place where people can come and let their guards down for a while. But I’m going to do a bit of a loud pop set, so it should be fun. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Phillips’ partner, Chris DuPont, is a highly respected local singer-songwriter who produced Kyle Joe’s latest album. He will also be playing with her that night.
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.
