Local artists are always finding a way to get their name out there. That's why 89.1 The Point offers The Starting Point, where we play music from local artists, featured during the 8, 10, and midnight hours.
Lia Kowalski is a local musician from Rochester, New York who sent in her single "GONE TOO LONG", and we haven't been able to get enough!
Lia was kind enough to talk to us about the song, and her work as an artist. Here's what she had to say about her upbringing, "GONE TOO LONG", and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: First, I wanted to start by getting to know Lia a little more. Have you lived in the area for a long time? Where did you get your start in music? Could you just give us some information about your background?
I grew up in Webster, New York, which is about twenty minutes outside of Rochester. My parents enrolled me in violin lessons at Hochstein Music School around age 3, so I've always been around the music scene in Rochester and, let me say, it is very lively. Rochester has always seemed to appreciate and encourage the cultivation of music. My early violin teachers emphasized learning by ear instead of relying on the sheet music. This seemingly small difference in teaching, I think, made a huge difference in how I listen to and create music.
Q: What kind of music do you tend to make? What genre would you consider it? What instruments are often used in your music?
It's funny because I love lots of different genres of music and usually can easily pick out what specific genre of music I want to listen to at any specific time. But, with my own music it's almost like thinking about what genres of music I want to make isn't an option. Ideas for my music come into my mind with no label. Picking what genre “GONE TOO LONG” fit into was something I didn’t even think about until I had to when putting it on different platforms like Spotify. Maybe this is how it should be? Maybe it's good to have a general direction of your music? I don't think one is necessarily better than the other, but that’s definitely how it works for me. As far as instruments, there's the typical guitar, bass, and drums, but in future pieces I'm really trying to expand upon all the awesome ways that you can make music today.
Q: So, we heard your song “GONE TOO LONG”, which is great by the way. What is “GONE TOO LONG” about? What inspired you to write it?
First of all, thank you! It means a lot to me that something I created is enjoyed by other people. It's such a special experience. As far as what “GONE TOO LONG” is about, it's about society, really. Recently I have had this feeling that, even though I am constantly interacting with people, no one is really here; really present. Sometimes, I would be having a conversation with someone and then I would walk away and think, “did we even talk about anything”? Sure, we were saying words to each other, but did those have any real meaning? Were either of us really listening? It seems like, more and more each day, we are getting separated from the present. This is why I concluded that we, as humans, have been gone too long. “GONE TOO LONG” is an encouragement to check back into the present. Our lives have the potential to be so real, raw, and beautiful if we let them. I could talk about each individual verse for hours, but if you listen to the song with these thoughts in mind, I think you’ll understand what I mean. With that said, I really want listeners to feel free to make the song have meaning to them. So, if my meaning to the song doesn't resonate with you, toss it! Make your own meaning. My interpretation is as “correct” as anyone else's.
Q: What has this year been like for you considering the pandemic, and not being able to publicly perform? Have you had to find new ways to get your voice out there? Have you done any virtual events like some musicians have done to connect with an audience?
I'm a pretty new artist, so it hasn't been that hard just because I'm only starting to look into doing live shows now (with COVID precautions in mind, of course). I also am thinking of waiting to do a live show until I have an EP or album out. But, I do feel for all of the wonderful musicians who have lost out on live performance time.
Q: How many songs have you written?
I have enough songs written for an album. It's just about the production, which can take a while.
Q: Do you have any upcoming projects for us to look forward to?
Yes! As I said above, I have around ten songs that are “in the works”. It's an interesting process for me because the “ideas” and main melody for songs comes so easily. If that's all you had to do to create a fully formed song, I'd have music coming out every week!
Lia's work can be heard on Spotify and Apple Music. You can also catch her single "GONE TOO LONG" on 89.1 The Point.
If you or someone you know is a local artist looking for their big break, call 89.1 The Point's music director at (585) 395-2580, and see how your music can be played on The Point's airwaves.
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