Interview: Kole Plays Off the Art of Song

Kole is an incredible singer/songwriter from Los Angeles who wowed the crowd at the Songtradr Showcase.

Satya Fuentes: We’re so excited about the release of your upcoming EP! You have such a unique sound that is reminiscent of classic songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon while also incorporating elements of R&B and funk. Could you speak a little about how you would describe your genre and what artists have influenced your writing style?

Kole: Thanks! I’m inspired by so many artists, musicians, and writers — artists like Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon introduced me to the “art of song,” and really kickstarted my love of lyrics. After starting at UCLA, friends of mine showed me artists like Hiatus Kaiyote, D’Angelo, and James Blake — and that led me towards legends like Etta James and Billie Holiday. The sound for this project was heavily influenced by artists new and old, from Prince and Michael Jackson classics to contemporary artists like Daft Punk, AlunaGeorge, Sinead Harnett, Tom Misch, Jorja Smith — I could go on and on!

SF: You’ve also mentioned you work as a songwriter for other artists. How does your approach to writing for other people differ from how you write for yourself?

Kole: When I’m in a room with another artist, I make sure to synthesize and absorb as much as I can about their story, what’s going on in their life, and their voice — (Where does their voice fit comfortably? Is there room in the song for their voice to cut through and shine?). I always ask about their influences, musical heroes, and what they’re listening to at the time of the session. I try to keep those main ideas in mind during the session, referencing back to the identity of the artist as much as I can. At the end of the day, a good song is simultaneously entirely relatable and extremely personal, so rather than putting myself in “someone else’s shoes,” I find a common, emotional ground (two people’s experiences can be completely different, but they often experience similar emotional responses) and play off of that as much as I can.

SF: As you continue to develop your career, how do you think sync and licensing will play a role in how you approach future writing and projects?

Kole: I believe that sync and licensing are two of the most important components of an independent artists career. It is such a powerful tool for marketing, growing, and introducing songs and artists to the public, and in some cases, a beautiful example of combining two forms of art. I’m a huge proponent of pushing for finding a place for songs in sync, whether as promotion for a single or as a home for unreleased songs. I know that I’ll be working to find homes for my songs in sync as long as I keep writing them!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO KOLE!