Recent Berklee Graduate Kieran Rhodes Takes the Blue Stage at Boston Calling 2024

Photos by Payton Cavanaugh

By Payton Cavanaugh

“It’s definitely this full circle moment because I’ve been in Boston the last four years and this is a big deal to the city,” exclaimed Kieran Rhodes. “It feels like the closing of a chapter.”

Kieran Rhodes has had a wild ride throughout his career thus far. From America’s Got Talent to graduating Berklee College of Music and now playing the Blue Stage at Boston Calling just after receiving his diploma, Rhodes is a growing star in the industry that just keeps burning brighter. 

“I was originally supposed to play baseball in college, and my whole life took this crazy shift to music all of a sudden. It felt like… destiny,” said Rhodes. “I’ve only been in music for the last like nine years, so it just happened in a short amount of time… I think everytime something like this happens, I just don’t really have words for it because it’s really special.” 

After making a huge shift into music, Rhodes began sharing his art with the world. As a contestant on America’s Got Talent’s 17th season, he certainly tugged on the heartstrings of many by performing his song “Disengage.” Rhodes shared that he wrote this track during the school year while dealing with depression. His hope was for it to resonate with others, and it absolutely did. 

Rhodes has a unique ability to dig deep within his own experiences to tell stories in his music that touch the lives of others. He finds inspiration in many artists who do the same, specifically citing Billy Joel, Ben Folds, and Randy Newman as his main inspirations. 

“His storytelling, lyrics, like that type of songwriting, is really, really fascinating,” Rhodes said about Newman in particular. “That’s what I strive to put in my own stuff too.” 

It was clear to the audience when Rhodes took the stage that he has an innate ability to truly engage with all who listen. His Boston Calling performance captivated the crowd for many reasons, but especially because of the tight knit connection he has with his band. 

While he has since left the Boston area, Kieran is now taking his music to Los Angeles where he will continue releasing and performing.
You can follow along with Kieran at his Instagram here.