By: Joshua Kellem
Montgazette Staff Writer
On Saturday, March 19th, Ventura, California rapper Kyle Harvey performed at Electric Factory in Philadelphia as part of the Happy Camper Tour. Better known as Super Duper Kyle, a name he acquired in high school, Harvey came to promote his second album, “Smyle.” Harvey’s “Smyle” depicts the self-dubbed “happy rapper” doing just that: smiling. The album’s title and its cover displays his smile which includes his snaggletooth. Harvey’s popular track, “All Alright,” brings the album’s simple message: smile, no matter what you’re going through, just hit play and it will be all alright. With his rapidly growing fan base with over 140,000 followers, performing for Electric Factory’s nearly 2,500 fans and following headliners like popular rapper Hoodie Allen has given Harvey a notoriety he couldn’t gain any other way. Rolling Stone, a world-leading music magazine, dubbed Super Duper Kyle one of ten new artists you need to know in May 2015. This accolade came after shortly his debut album, “Beautiful Loser,” and first national tour, “King Wavy Tour.” In November 2015, “The Fader,” another popular music and lifestyle magazine, dubbed Harvey and his Super Duper crew of photographers, designers, managers and friends, one of eight creative collectives that are changing the way music is made. After his performance, I got a chance to talk with Super Duper Kyle.
Q: What inspires you to write the music you
make? Who are you writing it for?
A: I’m writing music I make for myself. And
what inspires me is life events I go through.
Q: You’ve been to Philly before, most
recently at Trocadero Theatre. What’s the
crowd reaction when you come to Philly and
why do you keep coming back?
A: Every time I come to Philly, people are
excited for the music. They’re not excited for
the night, just to be out, they’re excited to come
to a Kyle show, and relate to the song, which is
why I [mess] with Philly. Philly is ready for that.
Yeah, I love Philly.
Q: So, how does it feel to go from trying to
break into the industry to finally gaining some
traction and some mainstream appeal with
“Smyle” and the Happy Camper Tour?
A: It feels good. I feel I’m working steadily,
but surely. And I feel like I’m not outgrowing
myself, you know? It feels good, it feels like I’m
moving at the right pace, like, “Beautiful Loser”
was my intro and “Smyle” is my follow up. It’s
been a very calm, really amazing, pace.
Q: When you come off the tour, when can
your fans expect the newest project and what
will it entail?
A: The newest project is definitely going
to be the best work of my whole career and I
can’t tell you when to expect it, but probably sometime this year.
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