Most musicians take steps throughout their journey as an artist. Whether it be taking on a new audience, separating themselves from a single instrument or taking on numerous projects to expand their creativity. For leading Knoxville musician Kevin Hyfantis it’s all of the above and more. Hyfantis has taken what once was an ordinary musical career for most, and has put his own spin on the diversity of making music. Fronting his band Hyfantis and The Bishops, sharing the stage with an acoustic harmony driven duo of Leo and Lauren, and his charismatic and driven solo career, Hyfantis is not your typical laid back musician. It seems as if this local artist has no boundaries when it comes to making everything work. With the unveiling of his amazing talents as a front-man and lyrical songwriting prowess, I sat down with Hyfantis to delve deeper into how he is making music work in every avenue.
This is indeed a pleasure my friend. I’ve been excited to see how your career(s) have been gaining so much momentum in the past few months! For our readers, and myself included, give us the back-story on how you initially got into music. Was it at an early age?
I was actually a late bloomer when it came to music. I didn’t start playing piano and guitar until I was a freshman in college. Interests change as you grow and up until that point I was really concerned with sports and what I was going to do in college. Once I was in college at the University of Tennessee I floundered academically, but I realized that my true passion was writing songs and playing music. So I worked hard to develop those skills. Thankfully, I did get my public relations degree, which has proved useful as I find myself more and more involved with the music business.
When you started your career as a musician, did you have an influence or a personal role model that inspired you to be creative musically?
Elton John was the reason I first started playing. I was a senior in high school, and I had grown up listening to his music along with the Beatles, The Doors, etc. But something about Elton John’s music, the melodies and the way he touches the piano, struck me. I decided I had to learn how to play that instrument. I had to learn how to play those songs. I put this off for another year, but when I started, I dove right into songs like “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Rocket Man.” There was a guy who played piano at the church and he showed me how to play the chords and I took it from there. So in a lot of ways I approached the instrument like someone learning to play the guitar. You know, forget all the music reading nonsense, I just wanted to play the chords and sing the melody.
Did you take lessons or have any formal training as an artist?
I have always gone to friends who are more knowledgeable and asked questions and I still do that, but I don’t have any formal training.
Do you remember your first experience performing with a band or on stage?
The first time I remember was with a band called “Thinking Blend.” It was the first rock band I was in and my job was playing keys. We opened for a band from Nashville at Barleys. It was a great crowd and I was pretty nervous but all and all I think we played pretty well. I do remember that we covered “Lucy and the sky with diamonds” and the guitar player never memorized the lyrics so he had them taped on the back of his guitar and was reading them instead of playing his part.
Instrumentally I know that you’re a very skilled guitarist. How often do you work in the keyboard into your repertoire?
I started on the keys, but somewhere along the way I got really sick of being chained to them. You are pretty immobile behind that instrument so I really started to quit playing them live for a while. Lately though, I have been working them back into the shows.
How do you feel about what’s going on in the music scene in Knoxville and where do you fit in that picture as an artist?
I think the Knoxville music scene is incredible. It’s just a matter of time before some of these bands start busting out onto the national scene. A lot of people don’t realize how diverse the scene here is. The problem is, it’s a small city so there are a limited amount of venues to play and if you play to often people lose interest in what you are doing. So for me, I try to limit my gigs in town and concentrate on other markets like Nashville, Asheville, Athens, Atlanta, etc…
If you could perform with any band on any stage…what band and where?
The Rolling Stones in Madison Square Garden!
Let’s talk about what you’ve got going on…it seems like you’re everywhere with a few different projects as an artist…with that said…tell us about Hyfantis and The Bishops Band…how you got involved with that project?…and what it’s all about?
Hyfantis and The Bishops Band was my first opportunity to put my songs out there for people to hear. We started out as a piano-based trio and later added guitar and saxophone. At one point, all of the guys in the band were trained jazz musicians except for me. So the sound switched directions from piano pop to more of a jazzy or jam-based sound. We are currently going through more changes and want to take it in other directions. It is a very free musical project with no restraints.
How is the Bishops Band different from what you do as a solo artist? Are there distinct differences in the music, etc.?
As a solo artist I am more concerned with crafting good lyrical songs. There is more structure in this.
Honestly I had no idea you had so many projects going on…but I’m most intrigued by your duo work with Leo and Lauren. I saw your performance on 105.3’s Homegrown at The Disc Exchange and really enjoyed it. Tell us about that project and its background?
Leo and Lauren is my latest project which was started early in 2010. I always loved folk, country and Americana, and this project gives me a chance to explore some of those genres. I’m also obsessed with vocal harmonies, especially between men and women. The songs for this project are written with a second vocalist always in mind.
Is Leo and Lauren something you will continue to pursue or is your main focus on The Bishops Band?
Both are a main focus. It is difficult to juggle two projects, but it opens up more doors. Leo and Lauren can play in places where the Bishops Band cannot.
Tell us about your song writing process. How do you go about writing songs…do you write them initially on an acoustic guitar?
Usually I sit down with the acoustic guitar and a piece of paper and wait for something to hit me. I try to make writing a discipline by setting aside time every day, but I have to admit the best songs come when you are least expecting them or when there is some underlying emotional turmoil.
The rules change a bit when you’re a solo artist with a band…how have you dealt with that responsibility? Do you work collectively with your band to create new ideas and music?
Lately, The Bishops Band has been helping more in the writing process, whereas before it was usually me coming in and presenting finished songs to them. So this is part of the evolution of the Bishops Band, collective writing.
Tell us about the background and recording processes of both “Blueprints” and “Carnival Authority”…
“Blueprints” is a 5 song EP that was recorded at Rock Snob Records here in Knoxville. We recorded as a 3-piece and went back and layered different guitar or keyboard parts. I like the songs on that EP a lot there is a big shift from the sound of that record to “Carnival Authority,” which was recorded a year later in Nashville. This was a full-length album recorded at Water Works Recording Studio. At this point, we were a 5-piece and we sat down in a room and played. There are still overdubs on this record but there is a more organic feel to it. I should mention too that both of these records are available on iTunes, CDbaby, Amazon, etc…
Any other recordings or EP’s that we should know about from you?
Leo and Lauren are recording their first EP as we speak and we will have 5 songs to distribute by the end of this month!
I believe that every artist has their favorite original song to either sing or just play…What is yours…the song that makes you feel free when you perform it?
That’s a tough one… I really enjoy playing “Inside Voices” with the Bishops Band because no matter how old it might get for us, the audience always seems to connect with it. That song is very catchy. As far as covers, the Bishops Band has occasionally done Paul Simon’s “Diamonds on the souls of her shoes,” which is one of my all time favorites. I could never get sick of singing that song.
What’s next for you as an artist?
I am going to keep working hard and try to push some doors open.
Where can we plan on seeing you perform next?
Leo and Lauren will be performing at the Indiegrrl Music Conference here in Knoxville August 19-22. Please check out the conference website for more information. http://www.indiegrrl.com/conference.html
The Bishops Band will be performing August 28 at Preservation Pub in Knoxville!
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KEVIN HYFANTIS GO TO:
http://www.myspace.com/kevinhyfantisandthebishopsband
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