Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Kevin J.B. O’Connor
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
One of my earliest memories connected to the style of music I play now is when I first heard the Smashing Pumpkins song “Disarm” at my friend’s house. I grew up in a small town (Hornell, New York) and led a relatively sheltered life. For most of my life, music was something that I heard on the radio (I especially liked Whitney Houston, Seal, and Jon Secada, among others). This was the first time that a “rock” song resonated with me and made an immediate impact. I ended up stealing the CD from my friend (it was actually his sister’s) and for years I only listened to “Disarm.”
How did your passion for creating music begin?
When I got to college, I began downloading tabs and learning songs—everything from Neil Young to Velvet Underground to Oasis. For a long time, I only played covers on guitar, but then one academic break, back in my hometown, I heard my younger brother playing guitar and writing his own songs. It was then that I asked myself why I wasn’t doing the same thing, and soon after, I began trying to compose my own original work. My first songs were far from perfect, but they got me started on the long journey of creating music.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
My newest album Zephyr was written and recorded last summer in Florida, near Tampa. I was visiting my parents and decided I’d try to record some recent songs (as well as an older one called “Soviet Boy”) in the studio. I ended up recording in two studios, one in Cape Coral, and one in Tampa. Except for one midi organ on “Comet,” I wrote and recorded all the instruments on my own! This was different than playing with more collaborative groups like Coral Collapse and Violet Viola (two bands I’m a part of that are based in Buffalo, New York).
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
I would describe the sound in the same way that Bob Dylan described his music, not as folk, but as “vision music.” But if you pressed me further, I’d say “indie folk,” or a mix of shoegaze, folk, and indie influences. I’m trying to sound like Velvet Underground if Lou Reed had grown up listening to Oasis.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
One thing I’ve gradually learned over the years is that too much reverb can be bad. I used to love reverb and put it on everything, to the extent that you couldn’t even really hear the song anymore. But I’ve learned that my music may not need as much reverb as other bands I admire. A second, lesser thing I learned—primarily from bands like Pavement—was that a song doesn’t have to be good to be a song! You can just write it, and it can exist, and not every song has to be a chart topper.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
Google Drive (for lyrics), Tascam digital recorder (for mumbled ideas), and an acoustic guitar. That’s about it!
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I really love the song “Masquerade” by Cardinals right now. I also like a song by The Beths called “Metal” (although that was more last summer)
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Without getting too personal, music has been an outlet for expressing and processing a lot of disappointment and pain in my life. Also, as a creative writer, I think it offers me something to think about besides just writing. I frequently swing between the two activities in different seasons. But overall, my artistic vision has always stayed close to my personality, or personal vision—I try to write and express what feels most true or interesting to me at the time I’m composing.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
I hope listeners take away the idea that something new can be created…you just have to dream it up, do the work, and make it!
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
The most important lesson music has taught me so far is that no one owns it, and anyone can make it, even if they don’t have an instrument (although a guitar or piano is definitely useful). You can write a song as you walk down the street. You can compose a song no one will ever listen to, and that’s OK. I think of one of my heroes, Nick Drake, just writing his songs in his bedroom at night—these transcendent songs that one day I would come to love.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
I’d love to perform at the Primavera Sound festival in Spain. They always seem to book great bands. Or some other outdoor festival in Europe.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
I would collaborate with Lou Reed, just because he was such an enigma and interesting character.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
Website: www.kevinjboconnor.com
IG: @kevinjboconnor
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7dxS0SmsUJxBapnhFE3dba?si=8jlMHco6QYCmLQfcHV8khg
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
My dream is to continue being creative and to play local shows with my band. I’d love to move back to Buffalo, NY, so I could collaborate more with my friends Joel and Gandi there. We formed a group called Violet Viola a few years ago, and we’re planning on releasing our debut album in the near future.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope they will discover my poetry as well. For example, yesterday I just got a poem acceptance! I’m hoping to publish a book in the next year, and I plan of promoting that along with my music.
If you want here you can add a representative Youtube video to insert below the interview 🙂
This is “Follow Me” —a single I released last year:
