The Irish duo dive into the making of their instant club anthem, ‘Lights Out,’ sharing insights on their creative process, what it was like working together, and whether more collaborations are on the horizon.
For some producers, it takes endless studio sessions, scrapped demos, and lots of trial and error to finally land on a sound that truly ignites the dancefloor. Let’s be honest; creating a track that becomes an instant club favorite is no small feat. Yet for Irish power duo Marty Guilfoyle and Kyla Belle, it took just two collaborations to strike gold.
With nearly a decade of genre-defying releases under his belt, Marty Guilfoyle carved out a space that’s entirely his own. When he’s not commanding the airwaves on Spin FM, hosting six shows a week, he’s touring festivals across Ireland and beyond, bringing his electrifying energy to crowds live. On the other side of the booth stands Kyla Belle, a multi-talented force as a singer, songwriter, and pop artist. Whether she’s busking on Dublin’s iconic Grafton Street, lending her vocals to RTÉ’s Cór Linn choir, or lighting up Irish radio, her presence is undeniable.
Together, the duo has created ‘Lights Out,’ a pulsating, feel-good summer anthem that’s already shaping up to be a club mainstay. Built on a sultry, driving beat and lifted by Kyla’s falsetto-led vocals, the track delivers a perfect storm of dancefloor energy and emotional pull. Whether you’re dancing under strobe lights or driving with the windows down, ‘Lights Out’ captures that euphoric feeling of being completely lost in the moment.
With their second collaboration now lighting up playlists and dancefloors alike, we caught up with Marty Guilfoyle and Kyla Belle to dive into the making of ‘Lights Out,’ their creative chemistry, and what the future might hold for this exciting partnership. From behind-the-scenes stories to talk of what’s next, there’s plenty to uncover.
TFword: ‘Lights Out’ is being called a “feel-good summer dance anthem.” How would you describe the vibe of the track in your own words?
Kyla Belle: Energetic, electric and golden!!!
Marty: I’d call it an absolutely bop and agree with Kyla on ‘Golden’. It’ll help you get ‘lost in the moment’.
TF: What does ‘Lights Out’ mean to each of you personally, both lyrically and sonically?
Kyla Belle: It’s the most high-energy, bold track I’ve released so far, and it captures a side of my sound that I’ve been wanting to explore!. Sonically, it’s intense but still polished, with that dancefloor edge that hits hard without losing emotion.
Marty: For want of a better word, I’m going to say it has a ‘saucy;’ meaning, I can’t believe I said that but it kind of does. You’re with the person you like, you turn the lights out and then ‘let it go’.
TF: This is your second time collaborating after ‘Wrap Up Christmas.’ What made you want to reunite creatively for this new project?
Kyla Belle: Marty and I just click, we get each other’s vibe and flow really naturally. That makes working together easy and fun, so coming back for “Lights Out” was a no-brainer.
Marty: Kyla was so incredibly easy to work with. She clearly has an amazing talent and is destined for stardom. I knew when ‘Lights Out’ was written, there was only one person I wanted to sing it and that was Kyla. Thankfully, she agreed and she smashed it!!
TF: You both clearly have great chemistry. What’s it like being in the studio together? How do your individual strengths complement each other?
Kyla Belle: Would you believe we haven’t even met yet!! I recorded the vocals in London and with the power of technology, this song came to life!! which is incredible!!
Marty: Kyla is right, we haven’t met but, to be fair, we do keep in touch a lot. Not everything has been about music, we’ve chatted about all sorts. It’s mad to think you can go from colleagues to friends and still haven’t met yet. The modern day world, eh?
TF: Marty, you mentioned it was an honor to work with Kyla. What stood out to you most about her during the making of this track?
Marty: Her attitude, for sure. Everything was so upbeat and she was open to all suggestions. On top of this, she’s also in college and balancing a tonne of college work and somehow managed to do this for us as well with zero delay. It shows how much of a grafter she is.
TF: Kyla, how has your experience been collaborating with Marty again, especially on a track that’s so different in tone from your last?
Kyla Belle: Marty is just incredible and has such a great, infectious energy! Every step has been so much fun and enjoyable. Having the “song of the summer” with him is such a buzz.
TF: How did you approach blending that groovy, sultry beat with the emotional pull of Kyla’s vocals?
Marty: As Kyla mentioned, the track was already made but the vocalist on it just didn’t fully do it for me. When Kyla sent her version and we layered it over the instrumental, we got so excited!!
TF: Were there any creative roadblocks or surprising moments during production that shaped the final version of the track?
Marty: To be honest, the initial vocal that I mentioned above. It just didn’t feel right to me. I had others listen and everyone was kind of split 50/50. Once I played them Kyla’s version, it was a 100% yes from everyone.
TF: With the summer sun finally kicking in, where do you both picture ‘Lights Out’ being played the most; clubs, road trips, or festivals?
Kyla Belle: “Lights Out” feels like it would absolutely be a hit on all of these occasions, but if I had to choose, it’s a festival stage anthem.
Marty: I’m spending the summer on tour, so you best believe it’ll hit all of these spots!!
TF: Marty, with your radio shows and touring schedule, how do you find balance between performing and producing?
Marty: Working evenings and nights frees up my days. I’m very lucky to have an incredible team around me with both touring, radio and producing. Conor McEvoy and Christian McDaid are two guys who have been incredible to bring my ideas to light while I’m on the road. With radio, I’m lucky that I can do it as I go. I love recording my live sets and using them for my radio shows on RedFm, Spin and iRadio.
TF: Kyla, you’re a familiar voice on the streets, radio, and even in the RTÉ Cór Linn choir. How has your journey shaped your approach to pop and dance music?
Kyla: My musical journey started in choirs and musical theatre, where I received great classical training and built a strong foundation. Then I moved into folk and busking with my guitar on Grafton Street, Dublin, this time that really shaped me as a songwriter. Since then, I’ve developed into a pop and now dance artist! I still love all genres and like to bring a bit of everything into my music, whether it’s storytelling, emotion, or energy. I’ve been releasing music only the last 18 months, so I feel I’m only starting but I’m loving every step of this journey and can’t wait to see where it takes me!!
TF: Given the success of your two collaborations, can we expect more joint projects in the future?
Kyla Belle: I really hope so! What do you think, Marty?
Marty: I’m glad Kyla said yes because I’d jump at the opportunity to work with her again. It could have been awkward if she said no?
TF: Are there any dream collaborations (individually or as a duo) you’d love to make happen next?
Kyla Belle: Omg, so many! I’m open to both
Marty: I think as a duo we’d do really well with David Guetta in the studio
TF: What’s next on the horizon for both of you; new music, performances, or other exciting ventures?
Kyla Belle: All of the above! I’m always plotting something hahah and my next release will be soon!!
Marty: I am dying to release another Drum & Bass track, so that may be in the pipeline. The summer will be spent touring so I’m excited and feeling very fortunate to get to play my releases to crowds over the summer months. Maybe Kyla could join me for a live performance.
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