David Kollar [Interview]
For KoMaRa, boundaries are not boundaries. They are merely silly notions, ideas to be ignored. That cryptic name refers to the first two letters of each core member’s surname – those members being Slovakian guitar maestro David Kollar, King Crimson drummist Pat Mastelotto, and Italian trumpeter Paolo Raineri – and their music cannot be easily categorised.
KoMaRa’s music is best described by stating what it is not. Jazz, fusion, rock, prog, industrial – KoMaRa represents none of those genres in their pure or traditional forms. However, the trio in question do borrow elements from each: Improvisation, attitude, balls, storytelling, and grim, gritty harshness – not to mention a middle finger raised in the direction of compromise.
Here, TMMP talks to the “Ko” from KoMaRa…
KoMaRa’s debut album is coming out at the end of this month. What thoughts/feelings are going through your head at the moment?
It was a very long period of time. I love to work hard.
I remember when Pat sent to me video on Christmas when I was after Christmas dinner. He said “I’m in the gym and I’ll send you tomorrow 28 pieces that I cut from our improvisation in Prague.” I was shocked because I thought of it, we’ll use just some cuts for the promo material, didn’t even think that we will release the album.
From that day there was hard work (overdubs, cuts, millions of versions). We were lucky that Adrian Benavides helped us with it. He was very fast and full of good ideas. So hard work for four months.
At that time, I was working on the music for the film Unfinished Stories. I’ve been on tour in Finland and Italy and recorded another album with the band The Blessed Beat; Paolo is also a member of it.
So what is going through my head now is lots of work, a lot of experiences and I have met a lot of super nice people who wanted to help us. There is a big buzz now around the band and I’m getting a lot of messages from new fans. That’s cool, and it is also a responsibility to work on myself more and more. More on my musical language, my music and playing.
How was the inspiration for KoMaRa first sparked?
I was at the concert of Crimson ProjeKCt and then I met Pat in dressing room. We had a short talk and I gave him my CD The Son. It’s my solo album on which I worked differently with the guitar.
My son was in that period after two surgeries so that was the inspiration to do something different. So I have created sort of audio film from that sad period. The album has got several nominations abroad and was in the top records of the year 2013.
After a few weeks, Pat wrote me that he listened it in the car and we started to talk about our collaboration. The first idea was to play as a duo, but later I asked Paolo Raineri to join us. We toured together with Paolo in USA and we have band The Blessed Beat.
Pat created the name KoMaRa and so it began.
How would you describe KoMaRa’s creative process? What was it like working with Pat and Paolo?
We still improvised, and we managed to create very interesting atmospheres. I like it very much. Pat is very modern and experienced drummer with lots of good ideas, Paolo gives it a soul and I take care of the harmonies, bass lines, guitars.
I enjoy working in this trio as it sounds absolutely differently – drums, guitar, trumpet. Interesting combination. In our music you can also hear that each is from another country and culture. It is also an interesting combination.
Which moments on the new album are you most proud of?
I like whole album and conception. I love the voice of Bill Munyon. I am proud that it managed to complete and release. Also with cover art by Adam Jones from Tool. It was from him great help and support.
How would you describe your musical philosophy?
It is difficult to answer. But in the US said to me after a concert one musician “It was powerful and beautiful”. He explained it in one sentence.
I’m working on guitar technique, but also on the colour and timbre of my guitar sound. I love to process my sound live and sometimes to play really fat and fast :)
Is there a spiritual aspect to what you do?
I believe that it is necessary work like hell and energy which we give will return. Search and discover new things.
Maybe if you watch Stalker – film by Tarkovsky – you will see more in my head; landscapes, my questions, thinking about the life, etc. Really hard for me to find a words about my spiritual aspect. I’m 31. Probably I will tell you more about that when I will be older.
Beyond the new album’s release, what do you have on the cards for the future?
We will release an album with The Blessed Beat and will play a tour. Then I have to finish music for another film and physical performance.
I began to transcribe my diaries. Next year will be 10 years since my first album was released on Hevhetia label. I want to release a book with a diary. The plan is that It will be a small box with CD and book: CD will be duo me and Paolo and we will prepare meditative music.
That is really enough, but I look forward to unexpected things.
Links
Check out TMMP’s review of KoMaRa here, along with an interview with Pat Mastelotto here.
David Kollar official website.
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