My Story

​

"I was introduced to playing music with violin at a young age - so much so that I don't remember not making my own sounds. Being born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan as the fifth child of a musical family, there were many opportunities to connect to music my siblings had already taken advantage of and pursued. As a 10th grader listening to a high school female a cappella group sing Toto's "Africa," I was in awe of what human voices could create together and I eventually joined an a cappella group in high school before using skills practiced there to audition into a Michigan State University group called State of Fifths. Serving for 3 years as a co-music director, we won ICCA awards for arranging, beatboxing and choreography and as I graduated out of State of Fifths, my hunger to create and explore the human voice persisted. 

 

Going from arranging vocals and beatboxing for a group of 15+ talented singers to feeling constrained by being one voice with a guitar was frustrating as I couldn't properly display the harmonies and expressive percussion that lived in my head. Inspired by artists such as Reggie Watts, Ed Sheeran, and Julia Easterlin (aka Hite) I decided to buy an RC-505 Loop Station made by BOSS and it was the single best investment I've made in my life.  The loop station allowed me to release all the sounds I wanted to hear in an instant and then have them build on one another like I could with room full of versatile singers. Since April 2015, I've been steadily improving my live and recorded looping style and technique to create the very best music I know how to. I'm now performing at Southeast Michigan music venues, weddings, and schools and I'm excited to keep learning, growing and sharing what I like to create with the world. 

​

The next step for me, Kyler Wilkins aka Ki5, is to turn what I do into lessons for other artists of all kinds. I want to be brave enough to be seen to the benefit of people who aren't sure if they can be that brave. I want my music to go further and enhance other art forms such as film and television with the hope of reaching more people my music would resonate with.

 

It's a journey filled with uncertainty, but in stories about others we always call those adventures. Thanks for looking into my adventure - Hope to see you along the way." 

-Kyler

​

​

A Favorite Quote

​

"As we let our own light shine,

We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others."

-Marianne Williamson

​