Home By Dark, The City of Alpharetta, Fulton County Arts & Culture, and Arts Alpharetta present the latest episode of A SONG CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE podcast recorded at the Alpharetta Arts Center Black Box. Our guest for this episode is Kyshona Armstrong.
Kyshona Armstrong, a music therapist gone rogue, has a natural gift for using music to tap into emotion. She began her career as a music therapist, working in mental health hospitals and correctional facilities, writing music with her patients and using music to redirect behaviors and emotions. Kyshona soon found the need to write music independently to help her process her daily experiences with clients.
Born in South Carolina and raised in a family of gospel quartet musicians, Kyshona’s musical upbringing was swamped in a myriad of influences from Beethoven to Guns n’ Roses. Today, audiences will often find a common thread of overcoming, hope, and empowerment in her songwriting and storytelling.
Earlier this year, Kyshona released her new LP Listen, co-produced with Andrija Tokic (St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Alabama Shakes, Hurray For The Riff Raff) and recorded mostly at his famed Nashville studio The Bomb Shelter.
Billboard said, “LISTEN highlights Kyshona’s descriptive songwriting and soulful vocals alongside a versatile blend of folk, rock and R&B influences. While Kyshona sings of fear, hope, community, love and understanding throughout the 10-track project, she also finds herself.”
NPR’s All Songs Considered said, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she called it LISTEN, because she has that very real conviction that the act of listening and the feeling of being heard are fundamental human needs…there’s that sense of purpose in the language that she chooses, that sense of speaking in a collective way. There are particular songs where she will address ‘Brothers and Sisters…hear what I’m saying.’ It’s stately, noble language, and sometimes it’s optimistic, and sometimes it’s more confrontational…it’s always emphatic, but it’s also warm.”
Kyshona has shared the stage with Margo Price, Wynonna Judd, Lake Street Drive, Meiko, Even Stevens, JD McPherson, Fink, Devon Gilfillian, and many more. Deemed “One of the most compassionate and uplifting young voices in Nashville today.” by NPR Music’s World Cafe, Kyshona’s music has been heard on Issa Rae’s (HBO’s Insecure) short film series, and major prime time television shows on ABC, CBS and NBC
On this episode of A SONG CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE, Kyshona and host, James Casto, dive into her powerful song More In Common.
For more information about the Alpharetta Arts Center and its upcoming events, visit www.alpharetta.ga.us/government/departments/recreation-parks/alpharetta-arts-center
