No question, actor, director, Saturday Night Live alum (2013-2022) Kyle Mooney remembers his San Diego roots. That’s not always the case when a San Diegan leaves town to embark on a legendary career in entertainment. But if maintaining an 858 phone number is any indication, then Mooney is local to the core.
“Why change something that works? I remember when we were a 619 household, up until whenever they created 858, and I’ve been there ever since.”
Adding musician to his portfolio, the avid Padres fan recently released his debut album, The Real Me, under the moniker Kyle M. The 11-track, 20-minute album is raw, earnest, and intensely creative. The day it dropped, Mooney posted a mini-doc to his YouTube in which he visits his childhood home in Scripps Ranch, along with other notable San Diego locations.
“Yeah, my friend Dave McCary (fellow SNL and San Diego alum) helped me out. It just made sense to embrace my roots. I was really fortunate to find a decent amount of archival photos and clips to use in it.” We caught up with him to ask about the album, his early days, and whether he still roots for the Padres.
The album cover has a tone that feels very ’70s-inspired, Simon and Garfunkel-ish…
Yeah, I think you’re spot on. I’m very inspired by some of the ’70s folk artists that I love. And that imagery has a warm place in my heart. The photo was taken by a man named Sela Shiloni, I think he did incredible work.
With the exception of the omnipresent drum track, are you playing all the instruments on the album?
Absolutely. Keyboards, guitar… Obviously I’m singing. But yeah, anything’s fair game, if I can grab it.
It’s an unusual lo-fi production, especially the vocals. Is it self-produced, were you in a studio?
People might be pretty surprised to hear, but it’s truly just me in the bedroom with a computer and making it all happen on my own. But I certainly showed the music to friends and people whose opinions I respect.
When did you start playing music?
I played guitar probably starting around 9 years old. My first live performance with a guitar in my hand was at the Miramar Ranch Elementary School Talent Show. I’ve seen video, and I’ve got to be honest, I feel like I was a little stiff.
The title track, “The Real Me,” is my favorite on the record. It’s so damn heavy, introspective.
Yeah, it did feel sort of all-encompassing of the project, and a way of telling my story that I’ve not shared with the world. Expectations of me, how I should act or how I should perform, and I don’t want to live by those sorts of restrictions, and so it is to some degree an announcement that I’m here, this is actually who I am, and I want to invite you into my world.
Does that world include the San Diego Padres?
Yeah, it really has been so incredible to watch them in the last couple years, and what a special start to the season. It’s one of those things you don’t want to miss.
