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Kayt plays a florentine-style Washburn mandolin as well as an exquisite octave mandolin, specially made by Peter Sawchyn in Regina.
Kayt Lucas Band or KLB, came together in 2012, and have developed an exhilarating performance experience that is diverse in style and cohesive in sound, drawing inspiration from both Kayt's writing and works by members Michael Menegon and Joel Merzetti.
Kayt is a former dancer and aerialist, her musicality originating in dance and choreography, where she began building her relationships within the music community through dance.
Kayt worked as a rigging technician in the entertainment industry until 2009, giving her the opportunity to live in the special theatrical world of the greatest performing artists in the world.
The most surprising performance I've ever given was a benefit for disabled folks, raising funds for the safety of those need it most. Much of my audience was deaf. I played my super-positive song Fifty Million, surprised when a sign-language translator appeared next to me, signing as I sang. It was so cool!
When my performance was over, the applause was marvelous, but even more heart-warming were all of the hands raised and shimmying like "jazz hands" throughout the crowd. My deaf audience was showing me their appreciation as well. I just about cried with gratitude.
When I first started doing open mics, I only had my little mandolin. A standard mando, with voice, isn't exactly a room-filling sound. Twang, twang! The bars and restaurants were kind enough to put up with me!
After a few times, the open mic hosts started to try to pair me up with guitar players who could either read my hand-scrawled original song charts or jam with me. I met some amazing people that way, but I was often embarrassed to need the support.
In the long run, I'm glad I met all those wonderful musicians. A few of them have since guested with my band, and I'm super happy to know so many talented players in my community.
My first mandolin was randomly given to me, but I really took to it! I'd been writing songs for years already, and the little instrument just made it so much easier to get to the crux of the craft. And yes, my little mando has a name... I call her "Flo", for Florentine.
After a few years, a banjo-player friend had borrowed an octave mando, and wanted to show it to me. I held it for about 25 seconds, and realized that that was going to be my instrument. Searching high and low throughout Toronto, I couldn't find an instrument quite like what I wanted, so I went online and looked for luthiers who specialized in mandolins. Stunned by the exquisite work of instrument maker Peter Sawchyn in Regina, I saved my waitressing tips for years to pay for my custom-made octave mando... whose name is "Bene", short for Benedict.
My babies are intentionally named after two delicious breakfasts: Eggs Benedict, and Eggs Florentine.
