Kwolek – Some Evenings (2024)
Singer-songwriter Kwolek was raised on a blend of 70s, 80s and 90s “alt/glam/disco/new wave/goth/punk/grunge/shoegaze/indie with a deep undercurrent of world cinema…” – really just everything bar some hip hop, country and metal. Surrounded by such a diverse musical environment, and the persistent presence of internet culture, Kwolek brings a sound both vintage and contemporary reaching audiences across about 50 years or so. The solo project of a New Jersey native now residing in Boulder, Colorado, Kwolek captures humanity in its grittiness, glory, joy and tragedy.
A completely DIY artist, Kwolek writes, composes, pens, produces, mixes and masters everything musical in his life. He admittedly “takes forever to finish a song”, but it’s always worth the wait, or at least that’s what I think taking a listen to his back catalogue. In fact, Kwolek noted that his new single ‘Some Evenings’ “gestated for a few years before I put the final tweaks on it days before its release…” The thing is, it’s released along with the B-Side ‘Pink Places’. Come with us as we spend our day (and evening) with Kwolek’s ‘Some Evenings’ – bad pun, I know.
Self-produced in Kwolek’s home studio (aka a closet in his house), ‘Some Evenings’ leans toward vintage Radiohead with a tinge of The Cranberries lingering through the melody. One thing I love about grunge is the, well, grungy distortion of sound to capture each gritty aspect of a complex society. Moreover, while insanity exists between the pounding drums, scorching guitars and bold bass, there is a soothing harmony uniting everything in an off-kilter, breath-taking, weight off your chest whole. I suppose this could be said of any genre truthfully, but the soul-stirring collision of whiplash kaleidoscopic sound in ‘Some Evenings’ rattles about your brain – ideal for grunge fans (and anyone who might be interested in discovering grunge *wink wink*)
‘Some Evenings’ elegantly shifts from a soft, soothing, simplistic lightness in the piano-led verses only to fall into the organised chaos of soul-shuddering instrumentation and intense vocals in the chorus. While Kwolek might not be Thom Yorke, his rich tones ooze vulnerability, fragility, and utter “Oh hell, who gives a damn”. Kwolek explains,“’Some Evenings’ is about a person who is bored in their day job… and has begun spending nights exploring new ways to feel a “touch more than indifference”
Find out more about Kwolek on his official website, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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