Kyle Lionhart, a singer, songwriter, surfer and plant eater from Byron Bay, began recording his debut album in November 2018. Now, he has released the first single ‘So Close’, drawing inspiration from Jeff Buckley, Ben Howard and Bon Iver. From busking on the streets of Byron Bay to releasing multiple EPs, Lionhart has grown into his own as an artist. “So Close” gives listeners their first taste of his distinct folk-derived pop sound.

The introductory bars and first verse set the slow, downbeat pace and emotionally driven tone of ‘So Close’. The distant synths, backup vocals and acoustic guitar put all the emphasis on Lionhart’s gentle singing. With a soft voice, he delicately pushes into the higher register, teasing the song’s crescendo with the first chorus. This opening sequence is a stripped back and simplified rendition of the rest of the song, that kickstarts with a heavy drum, chugging bassline and strumming guitars. Lionhart’s emotional performance also switches gears, from being soft and distant to strong and powerful. Where he gently hit the smooth high notes in the opening sequence, he now bellows. This has the crucial effect of matching the performance’s energy with the emotionally charged lyrics. These lyrics are the song’s real standout, balancing pace and rhythm with depth and storytelling. When he strips everything away but the guitar to sing the final chorus, this melancholic tale ends as Lionhart, emotionally exhausted, proclaimed “we were so close to walking down the same path.”

"I wrote this song in the midst of chaos. I was lost, I didn't know what my next step was, what direction I was heading or why. Everything was bubbling up, all my past decisions, mistakes, we're haunting me again, everything I thought I had built a solid foundation under started falling apart. And it all started with an argument with someone I love and look up to," stated Kyle Lionhart.

Kyle has announced a mammoth 14-date headline tour spanning capital cities and regional towns, kicking off in Newcastle on Wednesday, April 24 and finishing in Fremantle on Sunday, May 26. Tickets are available here: http://www.kylelionhartmusic.com/tour-dates