Catch Of The Week: Kyle Cantalupo
Meet Kyle Cantalupo from Bedford, NH
Country music has long been known for it’s aching serenades. That quality over the years has been buried some in the ocean of party anthems, drinking songs, and odes to the working class.
Singer/songwriter, Kyle Cantalupo, embraces the ache and delivers his heart on his sleeve in his raw original, “Come Back To Me.”
The 22 year has been singing since he can remember and picked up guitar when he was 8 years old. The ability to convey heartache and draw listeners into your emotions doesn’t come easy, but Kyle gets the job done. A former Stonehill College football player, Kyle, has learned to tackle the storytelling aspect of country music, as well as the emotional pull. In case you were wondering, Cantalupo didn’t actually do any tackling, but he was the Skyhawks starting punter and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. That definitely would come in handy for any artist kicking off a career.
Cue Up Kyle Cantalupo
“Come Back To Me”
Connecting With Kyle
- From: Bedford, NH
- Grew up in: Candia, NH
- Current single: My current single is called “Come Back to Me”
- What lead you to music: My family has always been very music-oriented. My mom and two sisters are incredible singers and my dad is a drummer. We would print out lyrics to sing along to songs on road trips. I can’t remember a time when music wasn’t a big part of my life. My aunt was also in an all-girls punk-rock band when she was younger and when she passed away I promised to always play music to keep her legacy alive.
- How old when you started: I have been singing my whole life and started playing guitar when I was in the third grade.
- Instruments played: Guitar and Ukulele
- How would you describe your sound: I would describe my sound as country/rock. Most of my music has been country but I have recently fallen in love with 80s rock and incorporate that into my music.
- Who inspires you: My aunt is my greatest inspiration. She dedicated all of her efforts to making it big in California with her band Heidi. She passed away in 2011 and that was a tough time for me. She always told me to make music my own, so that’s what I have set out to do.
- Awards/accolades: 2015/2016 NACMAI Entertainer and Vocalist of the Year, Performing at the MFA Event at the Mount Washington Hotel
- Dream duet partner: My dream duet is either Kenny Chesney or Morgan Wallen
- All- time favorite country song: This is a tough question. I think my favorite all-time country song is Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw and a close second is There Goes My Life by Kenny Chesney.
- First country concert: My first country concert was the Zac Brown Band at the Bank of NH Pavilion and it is still the best concert I have ever been to.
- What songs do you like now on Country 102.5: Right now my favorites are Hard to Forget by Sam Hunt and Some People Do by Old Dominion.
- If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing: If I wasn’t a musician, I would be using my marketing degree at some sort of sales or promotions job around the New England area.
- Day Job (if applicable): I work at a company called Promotions in a Box out of Millis, Massachusetts. We are a marketing and promotions company that travels around New England to create brand awareness for various companies. My boss, John Chase, has created an awesome opportunity for me to use my marketing degree and also incorporate music. On the music side, our “I Love This Song Tour” features Lauren King and myself and we play hit songs from then and now. Check us out at promotionsinaboxus.com!
- Most proud moment: There are many proud moments in my career and I hope to have many more. One that stands out to me is playing at the Mount Washington Hotel last year. With everyone finishing dinner and looking over the balcony, I played a few songs before the fireworks lit off. It was an incredible experience and I timed it perfectly so the fireworks went off right as I finished my set with “God Bless the USA”. I would like to thank John Chase for that opportunity.
- Other things you like to do: I love to skateboard and ride my BMX bike in my free time. I would much rather be outside than inside and I am not a big fan of sitting still.
- Fun facts:I am an avid BMX rider and skateboarder. I also just graduated from Stonehill College and I played football all four years. I love looking at and driving cars and am pretty good at naming all the cars that drive by.
- Mantra:“It is what it is”
Catch Cantalupo
- Wednesdays- 6-8 pm at Kravings in Millis, MA
Dial Up Kyle
email Kyle at: [email protected]
(with recent Local Catch artist, Lauren King)
Every week, Kruser’s Local Catch highlights New England’s homegrown country music talent, and tells you where to catch them locally and in Nashville. Click here to view previous catches.
*Singer/songwriters with original music: Please submit for consideration on The Local Catch by emailing Kruser at [email protected]
