Doug Kolmar

5 Depot Street,Freeport ME 04032

30 April, 2022

Description

Songs that deliver witty introspection and eclectic mashups of folk, pop, jazz, and Americana Doug Kolmar is an award-winning singer/songwriter based near Portland, ME. His songs are notable for their ability to uncover large truths through small details. Growing up in the suburbs of New York City, with parents who worked in theatre, he was steeped in the music of Broadway and Tin Pan Alley from an early age. A varied musical journey followed, including jazz guitar studies, stints in rock and blues bands, and a Master’s Degree in Music Composition from NYU. Since moving to Maine 20 years ago, he has focused on writing and performing songs that connect with audiences by telling stories of everyday struggles, with warmth, empathy, and a touch of dark humor. He regularly performs around New England as a solo artist and with the Folk/Americana group, Arcadia Band. A reflection of his dedication to the craft of songwriting, Doug is also currently President of the Maine Songwriters Association. So Said Life is his fourth full-length solo album. I guess just about every artist has their “pandemic record” now, and this one was definitely shaped by that experience as well as the death of my mother at the end of 2019. It’s probably my most personal record so far. Themes of loss and isolation are prominent but also of resilience and the importance of human connection. The pandemic also stretched out the timeline of making the record and influenced the recording process: new songs were added that were written during this time period, we experimented more with different instruments and arrangements, Jud Caswell (producer) and I did more remote collaborating, creating tracks in our own studios and then sharing them so there was a little less pressure on each session in the studio, it was a little looser. The record features a stellar array of guest performers, including Mike Burd (bass), April Reed-Cox (cello), Janice O’Rourke (vocals), Colin Kolmar (drums). https://www.reverbnation.com/dougkolmar