Kylin Sykes Leads the Charge in Baltimore’s New Alternative R&B Scene

Kylin Sykes is a 22-year-old alternative R&B artist from Baltimore, Maryland, known for his soulful sound, rich vocal layers, and emotionally honest storytelling. Drawing early inspiration from icons like Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars, Kylin began his musical journey after a life-changing experience auditioning for The Voice—just months after he started singing. Since then, his unique blend of R&B, pop, and alternative influences has helped shape a sound that’s deeply personal and spiritually grounded.

A former member of the BUIC choir, Kylin fell in love with harmony, vocal stacking, and vocal production—elements that now define much of his music. With roots in sketching and painting before music ever entered the picture, Kylin continues to be a creative force driven by authenticity, faith, and the belief that dreams can come true—even if they take a different form.

Poised to become a voice of his generation and a face for his city, Kylin Sykes is carving out a lane that’s uniquely his own.

How did you develop your current look and creative identity?

In elementary school, I got made fun of for having curly hair and wearing big clothes. That kind of trauma stuck with me for a while—until I got tired of not being myself. Eventually, I started going back to my roots and rediscovering my style. I’ve always been the different one in the group, but I’ve learned to be okay with that.

Do you draw inspiration from any specific eras or icons?

Michael Jackson!!! From the movie sets to the extras—even with the video quality not being anywhere near today’s standards—I still find it amazing how they were able to visualize emotion so powerfully. Without all the modern technology we have now, his work still hits just as hard today as I can imagine it did 40 years ago, long before I was even around.

Has there been a time in your life when music encouraged you through a difficult season?

Every day since I started, it’s been tough. It can be really discouraging—knowing you have the potential to go far, but not having all the pieces in place. What’s helped me get through the hardest times are two things: praying to God and listening to music.

What habits or practices help you stay grounded while exploring your identity?

A few habits that help me stay grounded while exploring my identity are constant prayer, self-affirmation, and being at peace with the world—knowing that God has a plan for me.

What was the creative process like for this project (or single) from start to finish?

My creative process is pretty straightforward. The hardest part, honestly, is choosing the right beat. But once I have the beat ready, a typical studio session usually looks like me sitting behind the computer and the mic, recording myself. I don’t usually write the song beforehand because it never ends up sounding the way I imagined. So I go into each session with a clear mind and just let the words come to me naturally.

Any behind-the-scenes stories from the studio you can share?

When I flew to Atlanta to meet Lyrical for the first time, I randomly caught a cold and lost my voice. It was the first time I ever had to sing or do anything with my voice while it wasn’t at 100%, so it was definitely a challenge. But I went in with confidence—and came out with some great records. One moment I’ll never forget was when I was singing a line, made a mistake, and accidentally flipped into my falsetto. Everyone in the room went crazy.

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