Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Kohl.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Michael. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’ve been a professional musician for over a decade now. My work has been divided three ways: playing guitar for local artists; writing arrangements for vocal ensembles of every kind; and singing on TV and film scores. I’ve also toured with bands of my own creation, fusing my love of sophisticated multipart vocal harmonies with catchy pop, indie and radio-rock songs.
Right now I’m working towards my dream of earning a touring position as a guitarist/backup vocalist with a label-supported artist or great up-and-coming band.
I also run Extra Lives, a side project that releases a live video performance of a musical theme from a classic video game every week. We’re passionate about it!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not! I’ve made every mistake imaginable along the way — from mismanaging my own groups, to putting all my eggs in an unsound basket, to failing to identify what I really wanted early on. I’ve also experienced some almost comically dramatic ‘lows’ as a musician: getting cheated by flaky bandleaders, pushed around as a street performer, and unceremoniously axed by Paula Abdul on the X-Factor because she was having a bad day (Simon liked us, by the way).
Then, of course, there are the countless long nights, thankless jobs and interpersonal conflicts. All of these are blessings that have shaped my ability to survive and thrive as a working musician.
What should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a musician I’m probably best known for my vocal arrangements. There are tons of talented guitarists, songwriters, etc. in town, but my vocal writing is probably what sets me apart the most.
As I move forward with my quest for a touring gig, while I have all the ‘goods’ as far as skills and a team-player attitude and my desire to go all the way, what I hope will set me apart as I transition to this phase of my career is the fact that, because I’ve run pretty much every aspect of touring and band projects before, I know what artists are looking for. I understand integrity and how to be low-drama, responsive to correspondence, punctual to call times, well prepared and eager to have fun on stage. All the things that created an unnecessary pain in my butt when I’ve managed projects in the past inspire me to do the opposite when I’m fortunate enough to land my dream gig.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I think the proudest moment of my career so far would be taking my first passion project, XY Unlimited, all the way from an artistically quirky twinkle in my mind’s eye to a distinctive, successful touring act with multiple great records. I made lots of mistakes along the way, but nothing can take away from what my bandmates and I were able to make happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: michaelkohl.com
- Instagram: @michaelmaxkohl
- Other: youtube.com/extralivesmusic
Image Credit:
All of these photos were taken by SDK Photo & Design
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