By Matt Chrystal
"And if you thought that one was sad, the chorus to this next song is 'I don’t love you anymore,'" Colton Kayser says playfully from the stage as he segues out of "Miss 4th of July" and introduces the audience to his newly penned song "Anymore."
Don't let his youthful appearance fool you. This sharp-tongued, handsome devil is spitting venom wrapped in sweet melodies as he lets loose lines like, "I'm not your family nor your insecurities. I've just become your scapegoat when I use to be your raincoat."
This is Colton Kayser 2.0!
Ok, he really isn't that venomous. This is still the Colton Kayser we know and love. And, while his performance at this particular show, may have briefly taken on a slightly more truculent tone when compared with the usual vibe of his laid-back-feel-good sets; the songs on his recent release, Place to Settle, continue where his 2014 self-titled debut left off with themes of optimism for life, love, and relationships.
But that does not mean it's just more of the same.
We are seeing Colton Kayser 2.0, in that his songwriting has gotten stronger and more contemplative. On record, Colton has a knack for making folk music that sounds polished and accessible. Underneath the almost pop exteriors are reflective lyrics which convey raw and honest sentiments about the nature of human relationships.
His stage game has also grown stronger too. Colton has always appeared at home on stage; but, now, his repertoire of tunes has been road tested and battle hardened thanks to a relentless schedule of tour dates that have placed him in different venues up and down the East Coast on almost any given day of the week. Whether alone with his guitar or backed by a full band, Colton has a gift for connecting with audiences as he continues on his journey to find a place to settle in our hearts (oh, see what I did there!).
I recently caught up with Mr. Kayser to talk about his music, life on the road, and playing at home in New Jersey…
CoolMattyC: Your self-titled debut album and the recent follow up, Place to Settle, both explore themes of love and relationships… Place to Settle seems, to me, to go even further into the realm of reflection and is perhaps a bit more introspective. And while the production is smooth, the sentiments in each of the songs are pretty raw. What was the songwriting process like for this album?
Colton Kayser: I wrote this record at a time in my life where there were a lot of variables. I had just gotten out of school, experienced my first heavy breakup, and had my house flooded by Hurricane Sandy within a pretty short time span. Needless to say, I was a wreck; and a lot of these songs are the result of me trying to find some stability. Looking back, I definitely think I used songwriting as a coping mechanism. I find that if I put my thoughts onto paper, I can digest situations much easier.
During pre-production, I wrote with Jon Leidersdorff [who also produced this record] and wrote the song "Love of My Life" with Joe Parella.
CMC: You wear your heart on your sleeve on recordings and during live performances, which I assume has to be one of the reasons you really seem to connect with your audiences. When I listen to the debut record, I sometimes think, "Damn this dude is a hopeful romantic!"… and when I listen to Place to Settle, I sometimes think, "Damn, this dude is a hopeless romantic!"
Do you think these are fair or warranted assumptions about you?
CK: Well, I definitely had more life experience by the time Place to Settle was tracked. I'm sure that changed my writing a bit. I don't think my optimism has changed. I think my view on what a healthy relationship entails has evolved a bit. In a sense, a good chunk of the songs on Place to Settle are me figuring those things out. I definitely still have hope haha.
CMC: What changed and/or stayed the same for you from album to album?
CK: My work ethic has quadrupled since the first record. I work incredibly hard at this, and it's become more rewarding every time the fruits of my labor appear. Things I now do regularly seemed like very daunting tasks two years ago. I also have a better understanding of how different facets of the music industry work due to working with different people and being around it a lot more. I now have friends all over the country due to touring.
I think the way I listen to and approach music is different, too. My songwriting and analytical skills have grown. I now know where an unfinished song needs to go musically speaking and how to get there, if that makes sense. The points I'm trying to make in my songs are definitely stronger, and I think I'm starting to write from less obvious viewpoints. I've definitely become more proficient in a studio setting, too.
CMC: I have noticed that many of your songs can take on different lives from performance to performance… tunes from the first album can be upbeat rockers with an almost reggae tinge at one gig and then their next incarnation can see them become folk songs with a slower tempo. Does this depend on your mood that evening, depend on whether you are solo or with your band, or is this just you keeping things fresh?
CK: When I'm solo, that definitely depends on what mood I'm in, and how I'm reading the room. I also like to try different ways to approach a song occasionally. I like to play with dynamics a lot when I'm acoustic, so I'll make parts super soft to emphasize a point. You wanna make a room quiet? Just play quietly haha.
When I'm playing with the band, we generally stick to the arrangements on the records because it's easier to have a reference point for practice. Although, we still do let it loose from time to time.
CMC: Speaking of playing with a band… you have played many a show with just you and your guitar, sometimes with the sparse accompaniment of a "slap box"… but, as of late, you have been doing more gigs with a full back up band. Is it a full time band or a cast of rotating players? And what has that experience been like?
CK: I absolutely love playing with the band. It's a lot of fun, and I love riding the energy that we build up. I have small, but consistent, group of players who I'll rotate depending on availability.
CMC: You have been pretty relentless with your touring schedule, does "the road" ever get to you or do you miss sleeping in your own bed?
CK: I did miss sleeping in my bed, but then I got a Coleman portable cot. I'll never sleep on a floor again.
You go through cycles. The first time I did a monthlong tour, by day four I was like, "Holy crap, there's three and a half weeks left," but now I feel stagnant if I'm not moving. You also get into a certain rhythm when you're on the road, and it just becomes part of the daily routine. A five hour drive to me is nothing anymore. You also get addicted to playing every night. You get a room full of people who've mostly never heard you before, and your performance chops improve big time. It's definitely a lifestyle, and it's not for everyone, but it feels right for me.
CMC: In addition to playing gigs and reading fascinating interviews on CoolDadMusic.com, what do you do to keep entertained while on the road?
CK: I listen to a lot of music. One of the best parts about touring with another act is that you're exposed to their taste in music pretty regularly. Some of my favorite bands, including Lake Street Dive, Robert Ellis, and Vulfpeck, were shown to me on tour. My favorite is when I stay with someone who has a killer record collection. We'll hang and listen to music after the gig for the rest of the night.
I also read a lot. I'll also check out the local arts district of wherever I'm playing if there's time. I go to a lot of record stores. I also try to eat food that a town is famous for. Go get a crab-mac-dog from Stuggys in Baltimore. It'll change your life.
CMC: You had told me once that you felt that one of the many positives of touring was that it opened you up from feeling like more than just a "New Jersey artist"… that you became connected to an "East Coast circuit" of musicians travelling up and down, and back and forth from gig to gig. Can you talk more about that connection?
CK: There is a network of D.I.Y. touring artists all over the country, and I trade shows with them regularly. I think what you're referring to is how this has changed my view on music scenes. I see other artists who live three or four states away pretty often, and we all work together on a regular basis. So in that sense, there is definitely a "scene" of bands from different states playing together. I think more regionally now than local in the way I approach booking.
CMC: So let's get back to good ol' New Jersey…You recently had a very successful album release party for Place to Settle at the Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, NJ, an area that is like home base for you. What was it like putting on and playing that particular event and what was it like for you to have such a reception in your home state?
CK: It was a lot of fun! I put a lot of work into that show. I made the band and me rehearse one day a week for eight weeks in a row. I don't think I've ever promoted something that heavily in my life. It was awesome to see everything come together (releasing a record, building a band, etc.) at the Wonder Bar, and I'm grateful that so many people came out to the show.
CMC: What are you up to currently and what can we look forward to in the future from Colton Kayser?
CK: I'm writing pretty heavily at the moment, so more songs are coming. I also started writing on piano, and that has opened up my world drastically. There are things I'm writing that I could have never come up with on a guitar. I'm hitting the road again in November with my friend, Ragged Lines, and I'll be announcing dates shortly. I'll be playing a free full band show with my buddies, Toy Cars, at Asbury Park Yacht Club on Oct. 21st at 9PM.
Place to Settle is available now.
Colton Kayser will be performing a FREE show at the at Asbury Park Yacht Club on Friday, October 21st.
For more info go to www.coltonkayser.com.
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