The Grand Rapids producer/multi-instrumentalist hosts a release show Saturday and performed during Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new music by The Legal Immigrants, Holloway and more.
Expanding His Sound: Norty, aka Kyle Norton, during Local Spins on WYCE. (Photo/Local Spins)
THE MUSIC: Pop-hued, indie-electronic
WHERE YOU CAN SEE HIM: 8 p.m. Saturday at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids with Epicure, Ancient Language and Rich Jones, $8 advance, $10 day of show
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As much as producer and multi-instrumentalist Norty relishes seeing fans at his shows dancing and grooving to his electronic-fueled pop music, there’s just no place he’d rather be than hunkered down in his studio crafting new tracks and beats.
Unveiling a New Recording: Norty plays The Pyramid Scheme on Saturday.
“I like performing to a good crowd, but my heart is in the studio,” concedes Kyle Norton, aka Norty, noting it’s more stressful on stage. “I would write all day if I could, but performing is important in creating the experience I would want from an artist on a more personal level.”
Armed with a laptop and other electronic gear, the Grand Rapids artist on Saturday night will aim to create a musical experience that reflects the catchy vibe of his new EP, “We Were Nearly There,” when he officially releases the seven-track recording at The Pyramid Scheme.
The album represents his sixth release, fourth on Detroit’s Young Heavy Souls label and second under the moniker, Norty (with previous releases as Nortroniks, a nickname he picked up from his roommates).
Norty (Photo/Beth Parks)
“It was kind of an internal battle for the whole time I used the alias Nortroniks. When I first started producing music instead of writing music with bands, I sat in my basement behind a computer all the time,” he says, noting the new recording represents the blending of a singer-songwriter milieu with DJ-styled beats – a “mixture of electronic music with more of an indie undertone.”
“I felt like I was always being roped into EDM too much, which was good exposure but it didn’t feel like me. My new music is me on vocals, almost no samples, and much more personal. I felt like the time to change had come when I released a three-song EP called ‘Thank You for Trying this Demo’ a few months ago.”
On Friday, Norty brought an example of that approach to Studio X at WYCE-FM for Local Spins on WYCE, performing the songs “Pockets” and “I Feel Like I’m on Fire,” and chatting about his music. Listen to the podcast here.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with Norty
A native of Kalamazoo who moved to the Grand Rapids area five years ago to attend Grand Valley State University, Norty played trumpet and guitar growing up, but didn’t really start creating his own electronic music until he started college.
“I really listen to what’s happening around me and that’s the most inspiring thing. Detroit has a killer music scene right now and it has opened up a ton of doors,” he insists. “At the moment, I’m really into Assemble Sound (a Detroit music collective) and what they’re doing. I’ve gotten to work with them a little bit, but I’m also a super fan. And (Australian electronica artist) Chet Faker. He’s the man.”
On the Air: Norty in Studio X at WYCE.
Norty also believes strongly in the mission of Detroit’s Young Heavy Souls, an artist collective and label that showcases hip hop and electronic music, including artists such as Mishigami, Ty Beat, Peace to Mateo and MC Friendly. “That label kind of chose me,” he says. “I liked everyone on the label and wanted to be a part of it.”
He reasons that he gets the best of both worlds, working in the friendly and “intense community” of music in Grand Rapids while also taking advantage of the bigger scene in Detroit.
Norty also plans to use music videos to help promote the new album, and has started incorporating rear projection of images on stage during his performances.
The 99th edition of Local Spins on WYCE also featured the premiere of new songs by The Legal Immigrants (“Folk, Yes,” the first single from an upcoming new album), Melophobix, Bradley Sinclair, Holloway and Silverstiles, as well as music from Ghost Heart, Libby DeCamp, Matt Ten Clay & The Howlers, The Bootstrap Boys and Channing & Quinn.
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