Never Meant To Hurt You: Live in the L.A. River

Kuba Get's Blo'n

Hollywood Hostel_PPP

Peak Performance Project (PPP)

I'm writing this from my room in The Standard Hotel in L.A right now reflecting on the past few months.

I returned from tour in June fresh off a showcase at Toronto's NXNE where we secured our distribution with Warner. I was very unhappy with my performance as I didn't prepare properly and my guitar was inadvertently left at the hotel! I was lucky as the cat from Mother Mother loaned me his acoustic and we did well enough to impress. I actually thought the guitar may have been stolen at the time, it threw my groove off. The band witnessed how hard on myself I can be over the proceeding 24 hours. I was ultra pissed. You bring the band all the way across Canada only to find yourself behaving in less than professional manner. It's not like me. Sometimes you need something like this to happen to really help you focus. I'm pleased to say we've been on our game ever since... big time;)

After this 'successful' trip, we returned to find out we had been selected as one of 20 emerging artists in The Peak Performance Project. The timing couldn't have been better. With the incentive of 150k to market and tour the new record, I dug in deep on this new and unprecedented initiative that is funded by the hip new Vancouver radio station 100.5 The Peak.

 One of the rules of the PPP was that we had to attend a 1 week long 'boot camp' in the interior of B.C. I rebranded it through a series of video blogs as 'band camp', because quite simply that what it was. It was a bunch of musicians goofing around at a high end camp with bunk beds and the whole deal. The PPP brought in mentors to teach us the in's and out's of the game. This was good for me as the music industry has been in a state of flux for some time now, and it's gearing up to rise from the ashes. 

The criteria for the contest  judging placed the most emphasis on the live performance element. This was a good thing for us. It then challenged us to develop our online marketing and over presence. This is how the industry is making it's come back. The world has changed and the power of traditional print like newspapers and television are diminishing by the day. Everything is going online.

Whoops, I've got to go. Here's the point and mark my words!

The eyes of Canada will soon be on B.C and very possibly the eyes of the world. The PPP's faculty, in their inaugural first year, had the ability to adapt and any adaptations were always with the artists in mind. The guidance and friendly competition pushed the artists to build their respective brands exponentially over a mere 3 to 4 months. Guys like me  are just warming up. The PPP is the best thing to EVER happen to the music community B.C.

Nice work.

ko

Amazing Show W/ Justin Nozuka At The Commodore Ballroom

The Commodore is the bomb! I love playing there. As a singer, you really appreciate a room like this. My voice fills the room and I can do whatever I'm feeling with non of the constraints that you often find in a small club. They have the best stage sound and front of house sound that you'll find anywhere in the world. This is testament to the crew. Awesome. 

I played the first half of the set solo acoustic, beginning with "Beautiful Uncertainty" with all the lights down except for a spotlight on me. Troubadour stylings. The audience was exceptional. They were so into it and open to hearing a new artist. Check out these blogs, "Stomping on Eggshells", Malicious Mandy's Mind. I felt comfortable up there in my new suit... I recommend all you boys get a suit custom made for you;)

Half way through the set we to ripped it as a trio. It was a cool way to close. The light's came up just as the boys hit their first notes and we dropped into a disco version of This Heaven (Velvet Mix). We proceeded to sell out of our CD's and it was nice to meet so many lovely folks during the autograph session afterwards. I've never had so many compliments on my hair. I guess it's a good thing I stopped cutting it myself;)

I hung backstage with Sam Bradley, who came on next. Cool cat with a cool band. Really nice people. Over my years playing music, when you meet kind people you enjoy their music so much more. And if someone is a dick, you tend to hear their music in in a different light.

Justin is as cool as you get. He is that "special something" that is still discovering himself. Stay tuned. Justin Nozuka will eventually sell out Thundebird Stadium. His humility will guide him.

xo

ko

New Photo's

Shot some photo's yesterday at a sick loft/studio in Vancouver. Thanks to Gordan Dumka, the top photographer in the country for hooking a brother up. He's so good he can even make me look alright. We even had a stylist... I know, l know, I should be able to dress myself. I'm just not a shopper. I find it a little boring going through the racks and checking sizes. I'd rather be at the beach. Kelly, you're a sweetheart. She pulled clothes from Boys' Co. and I just chilled in the back with a coffee saying "nah", "too Euro" "sure, I'll try that", "oooh, that's cool", "are you crazy lady?!" Overall it's a great store with really helpful, friendly staff. Photo's will be posted tomorrow;)

xo

Music Is Living In The Moment

Along my personal journey I've found several things that help me to stay in the present moment. None more profound than music. Playing and writing music is the closest thing I've found to to being totally present. When you're in the music, you're nowhere else. You're mind is off and you just are. Any surprise I'm a big fan of Eckhart Tolle? For me it's a place of bliss. I've played music for my whole adult life and and I feel very blessed to do this for a living. But you don't have to do this for a living in order to play! Just play. Don't play to be a rock star... just play man! I recommend to everyone to pick up a guitar, to sing and play that piano at your mom's house. Play the drums man, I know you want to;)

It doesn't matter if you sing out of key (although it's always good to know when you're out of key folks;) It's expressing yourself. So crank the tunes in your car and let it rip baby! Try to sing those harmonies. Have fun with it. After all, music is fun! It's international language of communication baby! AndI love it;)

Peak Performance Project ~ Last Chance To Vote

I must say that these past few months have been quite a learning experience. It's been fun to learn so much in such a short period of time. I've been blessed to work with a lot of my friends and many new friends, particularly  the interns who have gotten on board over the duration of The Peak Performance Project.Everyone has operated as professionals, following through with everything they say they're going to do... and then some. I'm pleased to say that every one of us is stepping up the plate as the buzz on record continues to grow. The press has been enormously supportive of us on our quest. It's nice to have our local radio stations, 100.3 The Q, playing us in addition to The Peak, The Shore, CBC Galaxie Rock, CBC Radio 2, Virgin 95.3 among others. Putting the package together has also been fun. 

Monday is your last chance to vote for us. Please do so before midnight. xoxo

Kuba

Man I Used To Be

Since rock n roll and folk music's early beginnings it was common place for artists to do covers of their peers. Dylan, Hendrix, The Byrds, The Stones, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder.... Somewhere along the way it seems musicians just stopped doing it.

Pearl Jam or Jack Johnson will do a cover, but it's often something from a whole other era. So when we were asked to perform a classic Canadian cover and "make it our own" for the Peak Performance Project, the band and myself selected a k-os song. The first time I heard the track, I was taken aback. It was in my mind, an instant classic. The way Kheaven sings the chorus is so natural and soulful. The Lyric, "The Man I Used To Be" resonates deeply with me. We decided to take it into a dance-rock territory ~ Velvet style. Three part harmony, shots and a quasi disco-house beat. It's fun playing covers. I haven't done it for years as we were writing to build our repetoire. But now I'm excited to delve into great songs of the past. It's a great way to learn and further oneself as a musician and writer. Next up ~ Purple Rain.

Justin Nozuka, Kuba Oms & Sam Bradley at The Commodore Ballroom

We are excited to announce that we're playing with Justin Nozuka at Vancouver's legendary Commodore Ballroom on Saturday, December 5th (9pm Sharp). 

He's a young cat but has the voice of old soul. He plays a blend of soul, blues and even a little pop. He kind reminds me of Paolo Nutini in that they're both so young and write cool songs with the ability to really tell a story. And of course the ladies dig them. He comes across as a cool and humble dude, even as he's blowing up in the U.K. I'm pumped to also play with Sam Bradley on the bill.gGet your tickets early for this one folks. elements of neo-soul, folk, old-time blues and pop, Justin has the guts of Ray LaMontagne and the soul of Lauryn Hill.

This guitar slinging aficionado has the street smarts of an urban swinger and the heart-bending soul of a gospel preacher, and is adept at blending a dark, bluesy Americana vibe with warm, acoustic soul where bits of old folk music and flamenco tunes swirl in and out of earshot.