Kym Vincenti on music and life
Kym Vincenti is a songwriter and vocalist who has featured in major publications and on BBC Radio. Her music draws on life experiences and the world as she sees it. Her songs are evocative and emotionally charged with lyrics that explore themes including love, loss, and self-discovery. A trail-blazing artist who is rapidly gaining wide recognition, we thought it was time to feature her and Kym graciously agreed to be the first interviewee for Platinum Mind’s new column focussing on people we feel you should learn more about.
SS- Sammy Stein
KV – Kym Vincenti
SS: Tell us briefly about your journey in music.
KV: I’ve always loved writing, and when I started learning guitar in lockdown, I was writing songs along with the chords. My first songs were very simple music-wise, as I only knew a few chords at the time. If you listen to ‘River’ you may notice that. Sharing these on social media got them noticed by an acquaintance who owns a record label, and he invited me for a meeting. He believed in what I was doing and before I knew it, my first single came out just before my sixtieth birthday, in August 2021. This musical journey is still pretty new to me, but I’m excited to see where it takes me.
SS: You have released some great singles. Will you be following these up with an album?
KV: I want to release an album, as I have so many unreleased songs I’d love to air. I’m just not sure how to go about it yet. I’m also looking for a studio closer to home as it’s a three-hour journey to the one the label owns. Consequently, I’ve not released anything new since last year.
SS: How is it promoting your music? Do you find you have positives and negatives?
KV: I come from a generation that wasn’t big on self-promotion, so it feels a bit uncomfortable for me. However, I’ve learned that treating it as a job I’m doing for someone else works best. I create a lot of content, like memes and quotes, but I know once I start gigging properly and get some video footage, I can up my self-promotion game. I think having a showreel will be far more powerful and I’ll feel like a proper musician.
At the moment, I’m both a social media manager and a musician. My right and left brain seem to be in competition, and I am juggling somewhere between them. It’s a bit of a vicious circle.
SS: Do you feel there is any prejudice or expectations of women that male performers do not have or do you feel the field is even now?
KV: I’m relatively new to this, but my gut tells me that it might be easier for male performers to land gigs. Locally, I notice more male performers than females, though that could just be the numbers. Surprisingly, I haven’t sensed any age bias, which I thought might be a factor.
SS: If you were to advise a young performer just starting out, are there any lessons you might pass on?
KV: Absolutely. Listen to advice from industry pros, but don’t let them stifle your creativity. Your unique sound comes from your individuality, and that’s a big part of your talent. If you draw outside of the lines, don’t let them use an eraser to tidy you up.
SS: Looking ahead – what would you like to have achieved in five- or ten years, music-wise?
KV: I’d like to have a couple of albums out that would stand the test of time. My dream performance goals include playing at Jools Holland’s New Year’s Hogmanay (Hootenanny), Ronnie Scott’s, and the ‘Ain’t Nothing but The Blues’ bar (Marylebone, London). Performing at a big festival is on the list and I’m sure it would blow my mind. I think, ultimately, I’d also love to be writing songs for others too.
Incidentally, there’s a film I love called ‘Paris Blues’ with Sidney Poitier and Paul Newman and where they play gives me all the feels. Just once, I’d like to somehow stumble back in time to a bar like that and take to the stage in a slinky dress, with that kind of band behind me. Maybe, the closest I’ll get is filming a video like that. That would be possible.
SS: Is it difficult to fit music in with other aspects of your life?
KV: It hasn’t been but, becoming a grandma has changed things a little. I’d been hitting the studio in Rugby to record tracks and then using social media to promote. Now I’m looking for a studio closer to home and when live gigs pick up though, things might change again. Being self-employed gives me a fair bit of flexibility though and that’s helpful.
SS: How have you found supportive critics, editors, and people who appreciate your music? Have you targeted audiences or put music out and hoped for the best?
KV: The label and its music distribution company handled playlist submissions and airplay. I managed my BBC Introducing submissions and received fantastic support. Twitter has been a great platform to connect, and I’ve used Spotify’s backend info to plan targeted marketing. While I am working on a social media plan, up till now it’s mostly been going out on a wing and a prayer.
SS: How do you find people to work with – producing, playing alongside, etc?
KV: Vampr is my ‘go-to’ app. It’s where I found my guitarist and connected with a French musician and producer who gives me tips and guidance. Locally, I actively support the Southend Jazz Festival, a fantastic community that occasionally offers opportunities for jam sessions and meet-ups. Word of mouth has been a great ally, and I got approached by a DJ in Ibiza recently, to record vocals on his tracks.
On the music industry, Kym offers the following. “Back in my day, if you had talent, being an artist could take you places. Nowadays, things are more crowded. While talent still matters, technology can enhance anyone, and computers can play instruments convincingly. Standing out is crucial; otherwise, you might end up with just a passion project. Social media skills are a must, and building an online community can be a path to making a living. However, having your songs on streaming platforms won’t fill your pockets unless you can grow a substantial fanbase. With something like 2p per stream from Spotify etc., you’d need around 20,000 streams weekly just to meet minimum wage, and that’s before sharing with a label if you have one.
We live in a digital age, so if we can approach it like a business and market it accordingly, it is possible to make a very comfortable living doing so. The problem is, creatives just want to dream and create, and rightly so. I guess the answer is to get the right support around you so that you can just keep pursuing your dream and not have to worry about all the adulting.”
You can find out more about Kym and her music by going to her website here:
You can also listen to her music and find out more about her projects by using any of the following links.
To the Moon – Single – Album by Kym Vincenti – Apple Music
We recommend you keep an eye on this emerging musician – she is definitely one to watch.
