Show Notes
Episode Notes
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Kylie Kay Anderson was raised in Utah, United States. Her first musical mentor was her dad, who first started teaching her to play the guitar at the age of 9. At 13, Kylie was introduced to the mandolin through her childhood best friend. She took several lessons from her friend, and bluegrass mandolin has been her focus ever since. Through the years, Kylie has been able to earn several awards, including 2012 Utah State Mandolin and 2017 Utah State Flatpick Guitar Champion.
From 2010 to 2013 Kylie studied mandolin (and occasionally the guitar) with guitar master and multi-instrumentalist Jake Workman. During this time, she was kept busy writing music and playing regionally with her youth bluegrass group, Stringshot. After graduating high school, Kylie chose to attend Utah State University and was accepted into the renowned music therapy program there. The curriculum included many courses in music theory, aural skills/ear training, music history, group ensembles, and private guitar instruction. Through these private lessons, Kylie embraced the opportunity to explore guitar styles such as fingerstyle and some jazz and blues.
After spending a few years in the music department at Utah State University, Kylie decided to transfer to East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, where she enrolled in the Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music Studies program. These studies provided incredible opportunities to receive instruction from some of the best bluegrass musicians in the business, including Adam Steffey, Wyatt Rice, Sally Sandker, and more. In addition to educational opportunity, Johnson City’s bluegrass scene presented several opportunities to play music all over the Eastern United States.
In 2019 Kylie relocated from East Tennessee to Cork, Ireland, together with her Dutch husband, Owen Schinkel. They spent 3 years there, experiencing Ireland's music culture and performing regularly as “Long Way Home Duo” around the country and at many festivals across Europe. In November 2022, the duo relocated to the Netherlands. In 2024 Kylie completed a Master’s in Arts and Culture from the University of Groningen, which included a research process that gave Kylie a chance to become even more invested in the bluegrass scene in Europe.
In recent years Kylie has been particularly invested in several projects: King Springs Road, (a band first formed in East Tennessee in 2017), No Man’s Land (a cross-European band with an all-female lineup), and Long Way Home Bluegrass Band (the 5-person version of the duo started in Ireland). She also has been busy with various teaching responsibilities, including teaching mandolin in Kathmandu, Nepal with the Bluegrass Journeymen at various points throughout 2026.
In October 2026, Kylie will release her debut album, Crosshaven, a collection of tunes written throughout the past several years.
**Kylie Kay’s Links: **
Website
*Link to Paul Vanvlopdrop*
Songs featured in this episode:
****Kylie Kay Anderson’s album is available to pre-order HERE!
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Episode Notes