Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Koala Bar

Introduction of the project

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

I remember when I was 5 years old and my mom played “They Don’t Really Care About Us” by Michael Jackson, and how my body just couldn’t stay still. That feeling of how groovy music could make your whole body come alive has really stayed with me.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

My passion for creating music started as a kind of gut feeling — a need to create something, to express what’s inside through writing and making music. I’ve loved singing ever since I was very young, but being able to use my voice in a way that also carried a sense of purpose really made me want more.

I wrote my first song in my bedroom, lying in bed in the middle of the night. It was a really cool feeling.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

The story behind our latest project came from one of the best creative places there is — simply starting to write songs together and then not being able to stop until we had finished twenty of them. Sometimes creativity just flows, and certain songs almost write themselves. It’s rare, and definitely not the case with every project or track, but when it does happen, there are few feelings that can compare.

Before we started, we also made a conscious decision to let the songs come without holding ourselves back, even if it risked feeling overwhelming. And sure, looking back, there have been moments of that feeling during the production phase and when putting everything together. But overall, it felt like a kind of wave — or even a wall — of creativity that was allowed to create itself.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music

before?

Describing our sound is always a bit tricky, but it should be possible to put into words. I’d say our music sits somewhere within the indie spectrum, with strong dreamy elements.

At times it leans toward more delicate indie rock, at others it becomes more stripped-back, singer-songwriter oriented, and occasionally there are touches of folk as well. But there’s more to it. I guess it’s up to the listener to decide. 

It’s a bit fluid and hard to pin down, but hopefully still something you can get a sense of.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

One thing that has changed the way I see making music is actually a bit scary, but also comforting — and that’s how I can love something in the moment, only to completely dislike it the next time I hear it. In other words, I’ve learned never to close the door in any direction until we’ve landed on something together. That’s also why it feels so good to create as a group.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

It can actually vary — different things can be essential depending on the song — but I’d say the guitar is often a kind of foundation, since that’s where we usually start when writing.

Then of course we have our favorite plugins in Logic that we use to shape the sound, but those are, naturally, top secret.

Our producer (Jonatan) has this ability to turn things that might not have felt obvious at first into something that sounds both great and interesting. He’s our own sound wizard, and we’re deeply grateful for that.

This just in: Jonatan’s favourite plug-ins reveal. Soundtoys Decapitator, Logic’s FET Compressors, Waves Magma Lil-tube, Softube Saturation Knob, TDR Nova – and of course, the one and only Airwindows Stonefire (!)

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

It depends on who you ask in the band, but for me personally (Axel), I’ve been listening a lot to Ásgeir’s latest album Julia. The song “Smoke” in particular meant a great deal to me during a more difficult period.

His earlier work is also well worth checking out, so I’d definitely recommend exploring this Icelandic artist if you haven’t already.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

Very much so. Everything we write about and create is, in some way, a reflection of what life has to offer. It can be introspective stuff, but also about the world around us and how it slowly (or quickly) comes to understand itself in a broader sense.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

There are no expectations placed on the listener in that sense. We always approach it with the idea that the listener creates their own interpretation and experiences their own emotions from our music. For us it might mean one thing, while for the listener it can mean something completely different — even though there is, of course, sometimes a certain level of consensus about a song’s energy or meaning to some extent.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

The most important thing — and the main reason we’re still making music together — is that we genuinely love doing it. That’s the foundation: our love for the music and for each other.

Streams, validation, or success are never the driving force, even though those things can sometimes make certain parts of the journey easier, and it’s always meaningful to connect with or move someone along the way.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

Malmöfestivalen

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Sofia Härdig because she´s cool. 

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/02sCxbUYaJAGbqMxTPhba5?si=5x77yR99RI6TpYbZYFijUQ

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/se/artist/koala-bar/975993634

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koalabaren/

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical

journey?

Actually, this summer we’re about to do our first international tour in the UK — 8 gigs in 8 days across different cities all over the country. It’s not guaranteed we’ll survive it, but we’re still really looking forward to it.

There will also be new music in the form of a single on the 22nd of May called “I’m The Creator,” followed by an album in the fall. So there are definitely exciting things to come.

A more long-term dream would be to be able to live entirely off music, and to be free from some of the less enjoyable parts of being an artist.

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

Hopefully, it’s noticeable that we always strive to be ourselves—whatever that means. It may sound lofty, but there’s a lot of superficiality out there, especially in the world of music. And even if we don’t always succeed, we’re always aiming for something that feels genuine. Fingers crossed, that comes through if you get to know us and our music.