Meet Kyle David Park | Music Instructor, Writing Mentor & Multi-Instrumentalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyle David Park and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle David, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born and raised in Nu’uanu, a valley neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, which is uniquely situated just minutes from both lush rainforest waterfalls and the vibrant downtown metropolis. From an early age, I was immersed in music, influenced by my parents—my mother, a classically trained pianist and vocalist, and my late father, a jazz and popular music improviser. Following in their footsteps, I began piano lessons at age seven and later expanded my musical interests, entering into a hard rock and heavy metal era during my adolescence, which compelled me to pick up the drums. In high school, I also added guitar and cello to my repertoire.

Although Hawaiʻi is often associated with idyllic, island-inspired music, I sought broader musical horizons. As a teenager, I played drums in an alternative rock band with my high school classmates, and was involved in the local underground punk and metal scenes. It wasn’t until I attended UC San Diego for college that I unearthed a passion for folk music, inspired by a hiking trip to Northern California’s redwood forests, which led me to take up the banjo.

Through the banjo, I uncovered a rich tapestry of American and global musical history. The instrument’s inimitable sound of strings humming over skin, paired with folk music’s historical focus on community, resistance, and resilience, resonated deeply with my punk and rock sensibilities. While performing with my banjo on the streets of San Diego, I connected with a kindred spirit named Cameron Royce, who introduced me to Irish folk traditions. Together, we formed The Greasy Wheels, an Irish-Americana folk duo. Since 2017, we’ve recorded and released a full-length eponymous album, toured Oregon and California multiple times, and are preparing to release a second EP, with a tour planned for New Zealand in March.

As a fourth-generation Korean American from Hawaiʻi, I’m often asked why I gravitated toward folk music and the banjo. To me, it’s all part of the evolving musical journey of my life. Just as I continue to grow, my musical exploration will expand, embracing new influences and creating a more intricate and dynamic story. Life, after all, is meant to be lived expansively—rooted in one’s heritage yet branching out into new, richer experiences.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a multi-instrumental performer, I relish the opportunity to wear different musical hats, so to speak. In addition to my passion for folk music, I am a founding member and active performer in the San Diego jazz ensemble Rat Pack Reborn, where I play drums in a group specializing in Frank Sinatra-era swing and 50s-60s popular music.

I initially met our bandleader Jefferson Schildgen at a local open mic one night, where I was performing folk music on my resonator guitar. After witnessing Jefferson’s jazz vocal performance, I connected with him and we discussed forming a jazz trio with our mutual friend and guitarist Brandon Dominguez. Though my background was in alternative rock drumming, I offered my percussive services for the project and embraced the challenge of revisiting the drums with a jazz-oriented perspective.

After recruiting and rehearsing with local musicians, Rat Pack Reborn debuted in February 2023 and has since gained a steady following in San Diego, performing at the Piazza della Famiglia in Little Italy, restaurants, wineries, hotels, corporate events, private parties, and even the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar.

Through this ensemble, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with the highest caliber of musicians I’ve ever known, deepening my appreciation for jazz, and fostering a strong camaraderie with my bandmates. And whether independently performing folk music or drumming in a jazz setting, I’ve also honed my skills as my own publicist and agent, consistently seeking new opportunities to connect with others and promote my work.

A notable example of this is how my current role as a music instructor for the Youth Arts Academy in Carmel Valley came about. After I performed one evening with the jazz band in Little Italy, a prospective employer witnessed our performance and reached out to me via our bandleader in order to fill a vacant teaching position. After expressing interest and interviewing, I ultimately accepted a job offer to teach private drum, guitar, and piano lessons, as well as coach youth rock band ensembles. This auspicious sequence of events reinforced a valuable lesson: opportunities often arise serendipitously. As Carl Jung once said, “No matter how isolated you are and how lonely you feel, if you do your work truly and conscientiously, unknown friends [and in my case, employers] will come and seek you.”

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego offers a quintessential Southern California experience, and I would take visitors to my favorite local spots to showcase its unique charm, all without the congestion of LA traffic. Having spent nearly four years as an undergraduate at UCSD in La Jolla, I would begin with a hike along the La Jolla coastline, specifically at Blacks Cliffs, where I spent countless sun-soaked afternoons enjoying its panoramic coastal views.

Next, we’d enjoy a hearty brunch at either Harry’s Coffeeshop or Franco’s Flapjacks, or perhaps grab fish tacos at Bahia Don Bravo’s in Birdrock. As an art and history enthusiast, I’d be sure to take them to Balboa Park to explore its museums, timeless architecture, botanical gardens, and vibrant street performances.

A stroll through Normal Heights would also be on the itinerary, where its pedestrian-friendly pace conceals a wealth of local cafes, markets, record stores, and vintage clothing shops like La Loupe.

For dining, I would introduce them to San Diego’s diverse culinary scene, including Italian at Civico 1845, Japanese at Wa Dining Okan, Mexican at El Borrego, Thai at Banh Thai, Chinese at Ju Feng Yuan, Indian at Himalayan Sherpa Cuisine, and Vietnamese at Pho Van, as well as late-night favorites like The Friendly for pizza and burgers.

For live music, we’d visit the Tower Bar for punk or metal shows, or head to Panama66, Prohibition, or Seven Grand for jazz, funk, or blues, each offering a drink to match the ambiance, whether it’s a cold tallboy of PBR or a handcrafted Old Fashioned.

Finally, to explore San Diego county’s expansive regional beauty, I’d take them on a day trip to the Anza Borrego desert, passing through Julian for apple cider, or venture to the US-Mexico border to enjoy live folk music under the stars at the historic Jacumba bathhouse.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am deeply grateful for the support and encouragement of my family, particularly my mother and late father, whose financial support made my music education possible.

I would also like to acknowledge my bandmate, Cameron Royce of The Greasy Wheels, for his steadfast collaboration as we’ve recorded, toured, and explored the West Coast together.

Furthermore, as a San Diego live entertainment grassroots movement, DharmaDen Sessions, run by Eric Neilson, deserves recognition for showcasing local independent artists such as myself.

Lastly, I extend my gratitude to Jefferson Schildgen, my jazz band leader in Rat Pack Reborn, for providing me with the opportunity to relaunch my drumming career in San Diego, develop my musical brand, and expand into new professional ventures.

Website: https://thegreasywheels.com/

Instagram: kylethekorean

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kylethekorean

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kylethekorean

Other: Kyle David Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YXbiGeK8keMpJ0lXozH4C?si=gTIdH6UrQrGN0pJajV977A

The Greasy Wheels Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7pE8SUOPqTNXIAZtu9qRVN?si=_EXluioRQqKoalvmdUr40w

Image Credits
Olivia Lane West, Joubin Anthony Zade, Nolan LeVine