Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Colour by Numbers
Colour By Numbers, Winnipeg’s self-professed nerdiest alt-rock band began when Alex Kozub (vocals/bass) and Jared Adams (vocals/guitar) started jamming in the early 2010s. After releasing the folk-inspired Colour By Numbers EP in 2013, they rounded out their sound by adding Mike McDermid (drums/vocals) and Jesse Millar (guitar/synth/vocals). Songwriting became a group effort, with everyone chiming in to flesh out arrangements. More anthemic than the first, CBN’s second EP, Among the Stars, was released in 2017 and followed by a western Canada tour.
Next, CBN started their most ambitious project yet: a rock opera trilogy about a Winnipeg punk-rocker, Thaddeus. Volume 1 was recorded at No Fun Club with Rob Hill and Aaron Bartel (Apollo Suns), who also mixed the EP. Its release in March 2025, marked Millar’s amicable departure from the band. CBN continues as a three-piece, powering ahead with volume 2 in the trilogy.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
For me, Jared (vocal/guitar), my earliest memory is probably listening to children’s music, artists like Fred Penner and Raffi with my mom.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
My passion for creating music started when I was 15, I learned to play guitar after getting into some Canadian alt-rock bands like Our Lady Peace. Basically from the time I started playing guitar, I was writing, I’ve always had a passion for creating things.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Our current album “Thaddeus Vol. 1” is the first part in a three part rock opera about a punk rocker from Winnipeg, named Thaddeus who dreams of making it big. This project has been in the works for years, in 2022 we started recording the first of the three EPs which came out last year, in 2025. We are currently finishing up part two with a release planned for later this year.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Indie rock/alternative with hints of Ben Folds and Death Cab For Cutie.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
Edited and revising are powerful tools and to not become too attached to ideas as it’s always best to make decisions that service the song.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
I don’t know if we have any tools specifically that are essential in the creation of our music (aside from editing and revising) but collaboration is something we lean heavily into when writing because you never know what cool or interesting ideas someone else will bring to your song.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
I’ve really been digging another Winnipeg band, The Haileys right now, definitely worth checking out!
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
I think it’s hard to keep personal experiences out of our music, our music is so much of who we are, especially with this Thaddeus project that may or may not be somewhat autobiographical since it’s about a fictitious musician in Winnipeg.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
Thaddeus tells the story of someone who dreams big and I hope our listeners are able to relate to the character of Thaddeus, though maybe learning some lessons from him about things not to do as he doesn’t always make the best decisions.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
I don’t know if there’s a specific lesson I’ve learned from music but music has taught me about the power it has to connect people and I think that’s something we always pursue in our music, that connection with the audience.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
As cheesy as this sounds, I don’t think there’s any specific festival or venue, we just want to play to packed houses with audiences that are into our music and sing along to all the songs.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
For me, personally it would be David Bowie but for the band, I’m not sure who we’d want to collaborate with, Alex (vocals/bass) and Mike (drums/vocals) really like Vulfpeck, so maybe those guys.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
http://colourbynumbers.ca
https://www.instagram.com/colourbynumbers
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
We’ve got parts two and three of the Thaddeus rock opera coming out over the next couple years and we really hope that as more of these songs get released, they will resonate with people and we’ll be able to welcome some new fans into the fold!
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
I hope that they’ll discover the love we have for music and fun we have playing together as a band, and maybe come out to a show or two and share in that fun with us.
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