Simply Six: Kim Lyons

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew
they wanted  to   be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show,  to   another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later.  Is there  such  a defining moment for you?

   I don't know if there was one defining moment.  I always loved to sing.  When I was a little girl I would put on my white go go boots and sing "These Boots ArenMade For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra.  I would use a hair brush for a microphone and stomp around the house singing.  I don't think I ever stopped!  I actually still perform that song when I play out

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening   to?  Who are some of

your favorites?

  I'm a huge music buff.  I'm always listening to music when I'm not writing or performing.  I love to listen to singer/songwriters first and foremost.  Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams, Joy Lynn White, Darrell Scott and John Prine are some of my favorites.  If the average person picked up my iPod they probably wouldn't have heard of most of the artists on it.  I love discovering new music.  I want to be able to hear the lyrics and I love story songs that pull you in.  Most of mine tell a story.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record

or live?

 Gosh.  That's a hard one.  I guess if I had to pick one moment that was true awesomeness for me it would be playing in a pro writers round at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN.  I was invited to play a 2 hour show with 3 other pro writers.  You can only play there by invitation and you have to go through an audition process.  I was asked without having to audition.  We played to a sold out crowd.  In fact, I took some family and friends and there was no room for them to sit.  We didn't know you needed reservations.  I sold all of the CDs I brought with me that night.  And, I was asked back to play another pro show there.  It was one of my goals and I accomplished it much earlier than I had anticipated.

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something   to  listen   to?

How much can music influence current events?

  I absolutely think music can change the world.  It really depends on how you write it and perform it.  You can touch people through music, even if it's just one person at a time.  I wrote a song with my friend Jill Fair called "I Know".  It's a song we wrote about an abused woman who ended up at a women's shelter and the help she found.  I played it at a Festival once and a woman came up to me and say "Thanks, I'm going through that and your song made me realize there is help out there". She went on to tell me she was going to go to a shelter and I gave her information on how to do that.  I also wrote a song titled "Real Men Wear Pink" as a breast cancer awareness fundraiser.  It talks about that behind the scenes support person who is so important.  I have had many men approach me telling me they didnt know what to do till they heard that song.  It completely changed their role as caregivers to their wives.  

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected

your career as a musician?

 Technology has been wonderful for me.  I can now record a decent demo on GarageBand.  I love it!  You can copyright a song in 10 minutes.  You can get your music on Internet radio stations.  I have fans from all over the world thanks to Internet stations. Unsigned artists such as myself can finally get our music heard.  And then you have the capability to buy digital downloads.  I love that!  I discover new music all the time that I would have never heard otherwise.  And I always buy my music legally.  Even as a listener and not just an artist, I love it.  I really like going to Amazon or iTunes and pulling up an artist I like.  Then I always scroll down to the section that says "people who bought that also bought...". I have found some fabulous unknown artists that way. 

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of

shoes would you be?

This is the hardest question.  I had to think about this one.  I'm a very grounded and down to earth person.  I'm always the optimist and always trying to cheer someone else up.  However I like a little bling and frill in my life too.  So I'm going to say I'm a pair of leather yellow flats with a bow on the toe.  Is that too specific?  Ha ha.  Being the shoe freak that I am, you kind of stumped me a little on this one.  So am I ready for Barbara Walters now?  Ha ha.