NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Kayla Calabrese
Photo Credit: Melinda Norris
By Bob Doerschuk
© 2014 CMA
Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.
You
can thank the CVS drugstore chain for getting Kayla Calabrese excited about Country
Music. After all, she was born in Pine Beach, N.J., far from the nearest ranch
or honky-tonk. Her family is pure Italian-American. Though she definitely enjoyed
singing, Calabrese grew up dreaming more of being a doctor than a Country crooner.
can thank the CVS drugstore chain for getting Kayla Calabrese excited about Country
Music. After all, she was born in Pine Beach, N.J., far from the nearest ranch
or honky-tonk. Her family is pure Italian-American. Though she definitely enjoyed
singing, Calabrese grew up dreaming more of being a doctor than a Country crooner.
All of that changed when she and her mother took part in
a scavenger hunt for tickets to a Martina McBride concert in Reading, Pa. Amazingly,
they beat everyone else to the CVS pharmacy where the prize was hidden behind
some greeting cards. With that, a new dream took shape.
a scavenger hunt for tickets to a Martina McBride concert in Reading, Pa. Amazingly,
they beat everyone else to the CVS pharmacy where the prize was hidden behind
some greeting cards. With that, a new dream took shape.
At
17, Calabrese made the pilgrimage to Nashville. There, she earned a nursing degree
from Belmont University, worked at Baptist Hospital and taught gymnastics. She
also met Kent Wells, who mentored her as she began writing songs and produced
her as she recorded her debut EP.
17, Calabrese made the pilgrimage to Nashville. There, she earned a nursing degree
from Belmont University, worked at Baptist Hospital and taught gymnastics. She
also met Kent Wells, who mentored her as she began writing songs and produced
her as she recorded her debut EP.
The self-titled
results were released digitally by Go Time Records in September. As co-writer
on all six tracks, Calabrese shows that she knows how to come up with a hook and,
as a singer, drive it home. With McBride and Carrie Underwood evident among her
influences, she shines against powerful instrumental backdrops.
results were released digitally by Go Time Records in September. As co-writer
on all six tracks, Calabrese shows that she knows how to come up with a hook and,
as a singer, drive it home. With McBride and Carrie Underwood evident among her
influences, she shines against powerful instrumental backdrops.
On the power ballad “Kiss Me,” which she wrote with
Tami Hinesh, the message rolls out over muscular guitar arpeggios. It’s Calabrese’s
buoyant delivery that bats this single all the way from the Jersey shore into the heart of Country.
Tami Hinesh, the message rolls out over muscular guitar arpeggios. It’s Calabrese’s
buoyant delivery that bats this single all the way from the Jersey shore into the heart of Country.
IN HER OWN WORDS
MUSICAL HERO
“Martina McBride.”
ALBUM ON YOUR PLAYLIST
“Right
now, it’s Sara Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest.”
now, it’s Sara Bareilles, The Blessed Unrest.”
DREAM DUET PARTNERS
“Martina
McBride and Idina Menzel.”
McBride and Idina Menzel.”
MOMENT YOU WISH YOU COULD RELIVE
“I
don’t really believe in regrets. Everything happens for a reason. I am where
I am today because of the decisions I have made.”
don’t really believe in regrets. Everything happens for a reason. I am where
I am today because of the decisions I have made.”
TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY
“Believe. It’s my favorite word.”