Meet Kyle Bert | Instrument crafstman

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

Hi Kyle, how does your business help the community?
The more music and positive vibrations in the world the better especially with such a healing and powerful instrument that the didgeridoo is. I love hearing from customers how much joy an instrument that I created has brought them and many have said it has changed their lives and opened up new worlds and connections. It is one of the most healing instruments and when I first rescued my dog she would only eat when I played in the key of C for her and would fall asleep in my lap when playing. Shows the power of sound and why many sound healers utilize it in their practice. It means so much to know that they are helping those that play them and those around them. I often think about all the instruments I have sent all over the world and that at this very moment one is most likely being played which is so meaningful to me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When I heard a Didgeridoo for the first time at the fourth avenue street fair it had such an impact on me. Enough so I told my friends that someday I would play it. Many years later when i was 21 I got one as a gift and was instantly hooked. I have always loved creating in many ways and decided to try and start making them myself. The Aboriginal people of Australia are the creators of the didgeridoo and make theirs from Eucalyptus trees that have naturally been hollowed out by termites and is considered one of the oldest if not oldest instrument in the world. Agave is known as one of the best materials for making didgeridoos and a local maker named Allan Shockley was the first to use agave to create fantastic instruments. I had no woodworking experience when I began and this was before youtube and the internet so I just had to figure it out through trial and error, haha, lots of error at first. The first ones were definitely not the best but they did play and gave me motivation to continue. I enjoyed so much being able to play something I made that I kept with it and got better with each one and learned so much with time. I was living in Montana so would drive back with my big Newfie Baloo and many agaves strapped to the top of my little Toyota corolla every year inspiring the name Desert Mountain. Harvesting agave is one of my favorite parts of the process as it so fun to go on adventures and have that connection with nature. I am very selective in harvesting and only collect older stalks that have dropped all their seeds and have been curing for years in the desert extremes. After harvesting I cut them to size thinking about what key and sound I want. I then begin to bore them out with extensions and a variety of wire brushes and eventually drum sanders. Many split them in half but I developed this technique after a few months wanting to keep the stalk intact. I then carve a mouthpiece from various hardwoods which eliminates the need for beeswax and play directly on wood. I then resin the inside, add turquoise inlays, and finally finish them with resin. It is a process much like ceramics with so many steps and usually takes a few weeks to finish one. All of them are so unique and I feel the joy I put into making them can be felt by the new owner. After 26 years and over 600 didgeridoos made I get just as excited for each one and what they will sound like. Thinking of an agave going from a seed, to a plant, to then flower and die from the energy required to shoot up its massive flower, and for that flower to live on as an instrument and make music with the new owner is so magical.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Whenever I have friends visit I take them to all the amazing restaurants here. I have always loved The Little One as would go there growing up. El Torero is one of my favorites too and also La Palma for its ceviche and Antojo Poblano is also a new favorite. For day trips I enjoying going out to Saguaro West area for its trails and incredible scenery and always enjoy the Desert Museum and Mount Lemmon during the week especially in summer. For nightlife I really like Good Oak bar and El Crisol.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shout out to my amazing friend Anna Early who has always inspired me with her art, kindness, wacky sense of humor, and way of seeing the world. It is so important for artists to encourage one another and share ideas and what they are working on as it can be hard at times to create for a living. Thank you Anna, you da best!

Website: https://desertmountaindidges.com

Instagram: desert_mountain_didgeridoos

Facebook: Desert Mountain Didgeridoos

Other: Documentary by Bryan Nelson about my craft: Transforming Agave: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=transforming+agave

Article: https://www.kjzz.org/2024-01-16/content-1868454-saguaro-land-arizona-instrument-maker-can-create-didgeridoos-agave-stalks

Image Credits
First image- Kendall Bert
Second-Mac Gyllenhaal