Biography

Kaylie Turner is an americana vocalist and lyricist from Ojai, California. With influences including The Chicks, Sara Bareilles, Taylor Swift, and Lucius, Kaylie strives to keep vulnerability at the focus of her work. She often writes about mental health as her struggle with depression and anxiety has greatly shaped her music. ​

At the age of 6, Kaylie begged her parents for a guitar. She had just seen her favorite band, the Chicks, for the first time, and wanted to be just like Natalie Maines. Her parents denied this request, claiming her hands were too small to hold that big an instrument or to even form the chords properly. They compromised on the violin, and Kaylie has been passionate about music ever since. 

In highschool, Kaylie began studying classical voice. She worked with Rebecca Comerford, co-founder of the Ojai Youth Opera program. Studying music throughout high school, she was selected for the 2018 Southern California Vocal Association Honor Choir and the 2019 California Conductors Association All-State Choir. She graduated from Nordhoff High School with honors. 

While Kaylie is passionate about singing and writing, she also enjoys teaching. During the summers of 2017 to 2022, Kaylie vocal directed the youth musicals at the Ojai Arts Center. She was selected for this position by respected director Gai Jones. 

After high school, Kaylie spent time refining her voice with Santa Barbara City College’s music program. She also began writing her own songs. The covid quarantine allowed her to focus on her craft and write many more songs. It was at this point she applied to Berklee College of Music.She began her studies at Berklee in the fall of 2021. She is expected to graduate in the spring of 2025, with a Bachelors in Professional Music with Performance and Songwriting concentrations.

 While at Berklee, Kaylie has continued to strengthen her skills, while also achieving high academic honors including recognition on the Dean’s list. In 2023, Kaylie received the Professional Music department’s Divisional Spring Award. She has studied with a wide range of talented professors including Janie Barnett, Cass McKinley, and George Woods. ​Kaylie is currently working on new music while finishing her studies at Berklee. She plans to continue writing songs, and to start private voice lessons in the future.  .