Kolas Experiment

The Cornice Show invited Kolas Experiment in their studios to the discuss their upcoming album "Instincts", their history, and of course for a live performance. - CJLO // The Cornice Show

Kolas is a singer/songwriter who presents himself as a one man band. Inspired at the young age of 8, Kolas began his first guitar lessons which led to the creation of his own music, influenced by John Butler Trio, Jeff Buckley, Eddie Vedder, Ben Howard, John Lee Hooker, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. His principal instrument is a hand crafted Dobro by Gilles Lacombe and a Cajon Kolas built himself. His songs dance a tango between Folk and blues. Singing about deep emotions, his music serves as introspection. With his distinctive vocals and instrumental artistry inspired by southern souls, Kolas’ music appears to be a gratifying journey for the soul.

His songs reflect the depths & strength of emotions, related through his own personal experiences. His travels include an independent road trip to California which gave birth to “Song About A Road Trip” off his first EP “Presence” released in 2014. Kolas is destined on this musical highway, including Canadian and U.S. festivals and dream to perform with legends in Louisiana. - Music Inform

We are excited to bring to the online pages of Junior’s Cave Online Magazine the music of Kolas who is a singer/songwriter who blends Folk and Blues into a harmonious combination. Kolas is a one man band who uses as his principal instrument a hand crafted Dobro by Gilles Lacombe and a Cajon that the talented artist built himself. It is his compositions of between Folk and Blues that resonate with this online publication. Kolas has a talent of singing about deep emotions which gives his music that special authenticity. Here is a recent interview with Kolas that explores and reveals the man behind the music, his musical influences, and where he sees himself in the music industry 10 years from now.

Isaac: I would like to ask you for the readers of this online publication who have never heard your music, explain your sound in 5 words:

Kolas: A raw and honest blues.

Isaac: With respect to musical icons, who would you consider to be your most significant musical influences?

Kolas: To begin with, Johnny Cash. For the honesty of his soul and music. A lot of names come to mind… Jeff Buckley for his heart and his voice, Eddie Vedder for his words and his voice. Lately, it’s mostly been Ben Howard, his music just speaks the truth and he stays true to himself, I admire that. And of course John Butler Trio, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, John Lee Hooker and so many others…

Isaac: Do you have a favorite song to play from your collection so far?

Kolas: I would say Song About a Road Trip, because it reminds me of a time where I learned a lot about my mistakes. A lot of challenges came across my path, and this song helps me keep in mind that we all grow in our own way, and that we don’t have to be afraid of change.

Isaac: I am interested to know who you are listening to at the moment. What bands and artists should we have our ears on right now who you think deserve the spotlight?

Kolas: Ben Howard’s latest album – I Forget Where We Were – has been playing over and over for 2 months now. It’s a really mature record, and has a lot of beautiful inspiring tones. Shakey Graves is also one of the artists I listen to the most theses times. His first album Roll The Bones and all the videos on YouTube featuring him are just awesome, great artist. And also Charlie Winston, who just released a new album. This artist is the bomb, all his albums are different universes, always reinventing himself, and he is a must.

Isaac: Since you write your own music; where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favorite part about the process?

Kolas: Most of the time, the writing comes when I feel something profound. I try to write it down in the truest form. For example, the song Presence off my debut EP explains a feeling I had over and over again for a year. And throughout the song I paint moments of when I felt that feeling, and what it did to me. As though this is the most frequent type of moments that inspires me, it can also be triggered by a book, a movie, a thought, an article, a picture – pretty much anything that can generate an emotion. My favorite part would be the writing itself. Because it is always different. Sometimes I take my time to put my ideas and feelings into words, but it can also be in an urge and I try to find something to write on the fastest way possible. The moment where the words hit you is the most unpredictable, honest and enjoyable one.

Isaac: If you could go open up for any artist on tour right now who would it be?

Kolas: Ben Howard, without hesitation.

Isaac: So, what’s your favorite thing to do when you aren’t writing/producing/playing etc?

Kolas: Haha it depends of the season. In summer it would be to go outside, ride my motorcycle, do some slackline, yoga, bike, etc. But a four season activity: go to the movies, buy a popcorn and just sit there in the dark and space out into another universe.

Isaac: Now for our non-music question: Name five things you can’t live without?

Kolas: My girlfriend haha, cheesy I know… the sun, food, movies, travel.

Isaac: What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into when you are performing or on the road that you can let us in on?

Kolas: In one of my last shows in Montreal, the technical problems just kept piling on. It began with my Simon & Patrick acoustic guitar. During the sound check, the pickup battery died. So in a rush, I ran to the closest store where I could buy a new one and that was still open. Fortunately, there was one two blocks away. Then, in the first act of the show, where I played solo, one of my strings happened to break at the second song… Which is a common thing, but still, it had to happen at the beginning… Then later on, in the second part of the show, when I took out my Simon & Patrick guitar, it started distorting for an unknown reason to a point where I couldn’t use it anymore. So I had to cut my set short of four songs. I was so mad haha. But you know, things happen, and the show must go on.

Isaac: Knowing what you know now, would you do it again?

Kolas: Absolutely, because I learned how to manage those kinds of obstacles that can always present themselves along the way.

Isaac: If you were not performing, what do you think you would be doing professionally and why?

Kolas: There are multiple things I’d like to try out. I would love to be an outdoor guide. I love being outside into the nature and love to have a contact with people. But I’ve always wanted to be an actor, theater has been a great part of my life during my teenage days. Also I find myself attracted to film music. I would enjoy to record tracks especially for movies. Like Arcade Fire did for the movie Her.

Isaac: What’s your motto or the advice you live by?

Kolas: Live free, do what makes you happy, seek happiness. But still think long term and work hard to achieve your goals.

Isaac: Ten years from now you will be….

Kolas: I will be making music full time, I will have achieved my current goals, and working on my next projects!

Isaac: As a great send off, tell us about one of your greatest moments as a performer.

Kolas: My greatest moment was when I first felt the connection between the public and my music. It was while playing in duo with my drummer, our bassist couldn’t make it so we improvised without him. It was so unpredictable and fun, we had a blast and the crowd had such a great reaction. That’s when I learned how to fully get myself in my music while performing, without minding what the rest of the world thought. I think that’s when you reach the most honest performance, and the public can feel it. A chemistry is then created. - Isaac David Junior from Junior's Cave Online Magazine

Kolas is a dobro player from quebec who injects a little bit of the deep south into his sparse sound, despite being from the great white north. His tunes are arranged simply with cajon, harmonica, dobro, and tambourine, played one man band style, in the tradition of jesse fuller, abner jay and medicine head, leading to a stark modern folk/blues feel. Despite his mastery at playing several instruments simultaneously, Kolas' fingerpicking on his handmade dobro is the star of the show. - The modern folk music of America

‘From their first notes, the audience is won, and the enthusiasm is doubled when the singer launched his first notes. We find ourselves somewhere between blues, folk, indie rock and laid-back rock, very brilliantly mixed crowned equally powerful as softly. Twenty five magical minutes with harmonica, percussion, guitars and bass, which is sad to see the ending so quickly. Hats-off Kolas!’ - Actuconcert Emergenza