Guitar player likes indie and reggae music
Utah Statesman: How did you end up in Logan, Utah, from Vancouver, Washington?
Kyle Wright: That’s a good question. I went to school for a couple of years at Western Washington University and was going to go into chemistry. I took a couple years of chemistry and decided I didn’t like that. I decided to change my major to engineering and I heard about the engineering program here. Also, one of my best friends was going here at the time and the idea of going to Utah sounded pretty cool.
US: What was it about chemistry you didn’t like?
KW: Basically O-chem. I was not very good at it. The labs were super hard and they wouldn’t give us any advice. They would just say “do an experiment that has this end result” and you’d have to make it up on your own and record it.
US: What do you do when you’re not crunching numbers?
KW: That depends on whether it’s summer or winter.
US: This time of year, mid-summer-winter-spring?
KW: This time? Usually soccer. I’m doing intramural soccer, it’s pretty fun. Rock climbing occasionally up in Logan canyon, hiking of course. Just kind of hippie outdoorsy stuff.
US: You’re from Washington, I bet Real means nothing to you. What’s your soccer team?
KW: Not a whole lot, but I actually don’t follow soccer much in Washington. We have a little local team in Portland, the Portland Timbers. I don’t follow local soccer too much, just play for fun. I’ve played since I was little.
US: Let’s talk about food. What food do you love?
KW: Sweet pork burrito from Costa Vida.
US: That’s very specific.
KW: Yeah, those are pretty good. I actually just ate at Last Samurai in Salt Lake, it’s pretty dang good, too. Angie’s is always good.
US: It’s where the locals eat.
KW: I just ate at Aggy’s a couple weeks ago, they actually have way good burgers.
US: Let’s go back to engineering. We don’t often get to this end of campus, we should.
KW: Well, all we do is math. Not too interesting.
US: Obviously I don’t mean for you to boast, but how smart are you? I mean really, lay it on the line.
KW: When it comes to English I’m not that great. I took AP English back in high school just for kicks and it was fun. Socially, I’m about an average engineer. Mathematically, I’d say I’m about an average engineer as well. I don’t know how smart that makes me. I think I’m a pretty smart guy.
US: You’re a junior in mechanical. Do you want to build things, design things? What is it you’re going to do?
KW: Ideally, I’d like to do more on design. Go back to Seattle possibly and maybe work at Boeing or some larger company. Maybe go to Salt Lake and work for a larger engineering firm.
US: Do you like cars?
KW: I do like cars.
US: So let’s say, you graduate, you get that job. In five years you are “the man,” you have endless amounts of money from that amazing thing you designed. What car do you buy? And I mean, let’s not be practical here. You’ve got money to throw around.
KW: Not practical?
US: Not practical. Let’s get as outlandish as possible.
KW: Over spring break I went back to Seattle and they have these Teslas. They’re electric cars and they can supposedly beat a Ducati off the line. So, if I was not to be practical I would go for something like that. It’s an electric car, too, so you don’t have to pay for gas.
US: Let’s say you’re making a slideshow of “Things that I love.” Without kittens and your family what would some of the pictures be?
KW: Poetry and Scotch. No, don’t write that down.
US: It’s already written down.
KW: Let’s see, all those outdoor activities I just mentioned. Playing guitar. Grading stuff.
US: You play the guitar?
KW: Yes.
US: How long have you been playing?
KW: I’ve played for about four years.
US: Give me a taste of what kind of music you’re into.
KW: I kind of like indie as well as reggae. I like just chill, acoustic music.
US: Are you a concert-goer?
KW: I like the occasional concert, yeah.
US: What was the best concert you’ve ever been to? Or, one that stands out in your memory.
KW: Emery was a pretty good concert. Maybe Yellowcard, they put on a pretty good concert. Electric violinist doing backflips off of the amps. Pretty hardcore.
– b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu