Pynk Beard Talks About His Birmingham Roots as He Prepares to Take ‘America’s Got Talent’ Stage for National Television Debut

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

For nearly 20 years, Sebastian “Pynk Beard” Kole avoided auditioning for television shows.

After an unsuccessful audition years ago, the Birmingham-raised singer-songwriter decided he would not put himself through that experience again. But when an opportunity to audition for NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” came around, he decided it was time to give himself another chance.

“When this opportunity came around, I was like, you know what, man, just do it,” he said. “I talked to 8-year-old me and convinced him that it was okay to try again.”

That decision will be seen Tuesday night when Pynk Beard makes his national television debut on “America’s Got Talent.”

He said the experience was different from his first audition for a television show. Rather than being asked to perform someone else’s music, “America’s Got Talent” allowed him to showcase his own work and his full range as a performer.

“I feel like instead of me just trying to go and showcase a voice, I’m able to go and showcase a performance,” he said. “You know, give it a little flair.”

For him, that performance is rooted in the music that shaped him. His sound draws from R&B, gospel, country and other genres he grew up hearing. Rather than viewing those influences as separate, Pynk Beard sees them as part of the same musical story.

“I try to put that back into one big pot and just hand it back out,” he said.

That blend of influences is also a reflection of where he comes from.

A Birmingham native, Pynk Beard credits the city with helping shape him as both a musician and performer. From churches to local bars, he said Birmingham gave him the spaces to develop his sound and learn the art of performing.

“My very first stage, my very first concerts, my very first album … I either picked up at some bar in Birmingham or some church in Birmingham,” he said.

Now, as he takes that experience to a national audience, Pynk Beard said he hopes Birmingham can see its influence in his journey.

“To be able to say, ‘Hey guys, y’all did this. Y’all helped me do this and I want y’all to be proud of it,’ means a lot to me,” he said.

Pynk Beard will host a watch party Tuesday at Bar Sebastian. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with an acoustic set from Pynk Beard, followed by the airing of “America’s Got Talent” at 7 p.m. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.

While Pynk Beard is hopeful viewers will see more of him on the show, he is leaving the outcome to the audience.

“I feel like I did a good job and we’re going to see where that goes,” he said.

“America’s Got Talent” airs at 7 p.m. Tuesday on NBC.