NEW MUSIC: Kyla La Grange

Photo by Siausiau Suzuki

Here's a brand spanking new face for Rarities, an emerging talent who is sure to be a name on everyone's lips by 2012.

Kyla La Grange may look like a sweet and sugary bubblegum pop princess, but this 26-year-old ex-Cambridge student has an angsty sound and an indie sensibility that signals the exact opposite. With a bewitching and icy-clear belter of a voice that sounds like a brewed concoction of Lykke Li and Bat for Lashes with a sprinkling of Cathy Davey, and soaring, infectious self-penned tunes, Miss La Grange is a musical force to be reckoned with.

Born to a South African mother and Zimbabwean father, Kyla grew up in Watford (just outside of London) and started playing open mic nights whilst at university in Cambridge. She then moved back to London and formed a band, getting together with musicians and throwing out tunes being something that she had always wanted to do. She eventually began making a name for herself on the live circuit with the Communion Flowerpot Takeover club nights in London, which were founded by Ben Lovett (Mumford and Sons), former Cherbourg bassist Kevin Jones, and acclaimed producer Ian Grimble and have seen artists such as Mumford and Sons, Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale all grace the stage in the early days of their careers.

Kyla is currently busy promoting the latest song from her debut EP, a dark yet beautiful track called 'Vampire Smile', which you can download for free from her official website here (Kyla wrote this pre-Twilight hype- this girl certainly ain't no Cullen-obsessed teenybopper!). 'Vampire Smile' is the follow-up to the EP's first single, an upbeat and catchy number with a booming chorus called 'Walk Through Walls' (included below). You can check out 'Walk Through Walls' and Kyla's stunning and enchanting track 'Courage' (my personal favourite) on her MySpace page here.

She will be appearing at venues all over the U.K. in the coming months, including the Firefly Festival and the Summer Sundae Weekender Festival in August and Bestival (with Noah and the Whale, The Cure, Primal Scream and PJ Harvey) in September. A full list of tour dates are available here.

Kyla La Grange is a great talent; a unique and intelligent singer-songwriter who produces dark and beautiful indie-folk tracks that will have you hooked. Check this lovely lady out.

Kyla La Grange - Walk Through Walls by Stayloose