Conversations with Brett Kohler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Kohler.

Hi Brett, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Los Angeles two weeks after graduating college. Like a lot of folks who head out west my goal was to become an actor. Over the next couple of years I grinded through auditions and was actually making some pretty steady headway. Actually I remember even one day I filmed a few scenes for this indie action flick I was starring in, then drove out to Riverside to film a part in a Lionsgate movie, then drove back to LA to walk the red carpet and attended the Emmy’s that evening. I was living the LA dream!

Unfortunately, things took a bit of a turn over the coming months. I was diagnosed with Lupus, which led to a myriad of problems. I lost all my hair, it hurt to move, and the acting career kind of faded away for lack of a better term. I did some stand up comedy for a while (performed at the Comedy Store, few other clubs around town) (covid killed that) but I distinctly remember the day I decided I wanted to play music.

I was working a party planning job to pay the bills and my Lupus was acting up so I asked my boss if I could go home early (shoutout to my boss Linc). I had started to get back into The Beatles and my job was at the Grove so I popped into Barnes and Noble to snag Sgt. Pepper. I had never really dove deep into them (my Mom introduced me and played the hits) so I wanted to see why so many people held this album in such high regard. When I got home I was in a lot of pain so I dropped the needle on the record and got vertical on my couch. My mind was blown as I listened from track to track. The song “Getting Better” came on and I remember it felt like Paul was singing for me in that moment of pain. I kept listening each track giving me more and more hope and then the final track of the album, what I believe to be their magnum opus “A Day in The Life” came on. When the final chord hit I cried, a whole new world had just opened in front of me and that’s when I decided I needed to learn how to play guitar.

The budget was tight but my parents (the best) helped me out and got me my first guitar about a month or so later. I started out by just looking up chord shapes on Google and then going from there. I had no clue what I was doing, apologies to my neighbors but I knew I loved what I was doing! Slowly but surely I pieced a few chords together and figured I’d give songwriting a shot. The first song I wrote was called “Easier to Cry” it was little and simple but I was proud of it. So I figured why not put it out in the world and see what happens. It did alright so I figured why not write and record some more?!

That as about five years ago and here we are today; I’m in a rocking band called The Detours and we’re going on our first tour at the end of March.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been quite a bumpy ride to be honest. The whole medical journey was quite an unexpected turn. To go from a kid who was walking the red carpet at the Emmy’s to dealing with Lupus was quite a trip and a tad traumatizing to be honest.

But, like most situations you are what you make out of it. At first it was really hard, overwhelming, all consuming. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life. I had moved to LA to be an actor and that dream seemed like it had passed.

I remember though telling myself about 3-4 months into it all “Brett you can either sit here in wallow or you can use this time to better yourself”. I had a lot more free time now considering the pain I was in and it was hard to go out and about town. So I began to learn and grow; taught myself guitar and to sing, to cook, discovered/ re-discovered music from the 60’s and 70’s, read, got back into learning about history (I’m a huge WWII buff) and just tried to become a better version of myself each day.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m currently the Lead Singer and Rhythm Guitar player for The Detours. The band had our first gig in October of 2024 and we played all over Los Angeles last year at places like The Whiskey A-Go-Go, The Viper Room and more!

How we came together is a bit of a wild tale and also showcases why this city is so fantastic, you never know who you’re going to meet! I was doing a lot of solo stuff when I first started out, going from open mic to open mic. One night I went to the Licorice Pizza Record Store on Ventura where they had a good scene going. I went up did my usual two songs and sat down to watch the acts. Up came this guy who had absolute control of his guitar, just a fantastic player. That guy was Misha Molove. Usually after the show, I would duck out (I can be a shy dude from time to time), but Misha came up to me. He said he liked my songs and asked if I wanted to jam sometime. I’d never been asked to jam before but I was like hell yeah! I knew I couldn’t keep up with him but hey shooters shoot.

I jammed a few times with Misha and that’s where I first met our bass player Ryan Clure. Eventually got to know Ryan better on the set of a movie Misha was making. Eventually I got offered a gig at the Viper Room and Misha and Ryan were my first calls. Ryan then introduced me to the heart and soul of the band- our drummer John Keyes (who might just be the best drummer in LA) and bam, The Detours were born.

I’m always proud of the band, we make people feel something when we play. We love music and I think that shows in our performances. We also just cut an album and we left it all on the table and I think that’ll show on the record.

What sets us apart (besides Misha, Ryan and John being uber talented) is our music, the feeling we give people I’d like to think we are a band that can help people escape. That brings them back to the 60’s Laurel Canyon, the 70’s on the Strip. We’re an old school Rock n’ Roll band in the vein of The Eagles and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Our goal is to bring that spirit of LA back with our music.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I’m not sure I’m one to be giving advice, but the best thing I can say is this: Don’t give up, believe in yourself and if you want something just go for it and give it your all. Nothing beats hard work.

Pricing:

• If you want to book the band reach out to [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thedetoursband.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_detoursband/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581128440323
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DetoursBand
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6p0rDhVHp4uHDbiBsoySs2?si=fWFIfuN3T5ijSL9gN0MXyA

Image Credits
Jana Winfield Denise Johnson Jess Maltese Alex Vasquez