In Conversation with John Kolar

From the rolling hills of Morgantown, West Virginia, to the classrooms of Ball State University, John Kolar is striking a chord as both an indie musician and audio engineering professor. With a sound that blends rock, pop, country, and jazz, Kolar’s music feels familiar yet refreshingly modern – and his new single, Tie My Shoes, captures just that.

“Tie My Shoes explores the complexities of modern relationships,” he explains. “It’s about trying to connect through a screen in a long-distance relationship – it’s all phone calls, texts, and FaceTime. I wanted the sound to feel contemplative, but still catchy.” Drawing from the textures of shoegaze and indie pop, Kolar channels the sonic spirits of bands like Turnover and The Backseat Lovers, wrapping his emotional message in shimmering guitars and layered harmonies.

But this isn’t just a one-off release. Kolar has taken on an ambitious challenge: to release one new track every month until his full-length debut drops in November. “It’s definitely more stressful,” he admits with a laugh. “But it’s pushed me to move faster – writing, mixing, mastering all within 30 days. I used to sit on songs for a year before feeling like they were ready. This pace forces me to stay in the moment.”

And the momentum is building. With over 13,000 Instagram followers and another 7,000 on TikTok, Kolar’s unique mix of educational content and personal artistry has found an eager audience. Whether he’s breaking down music theory, sharing production tips, or performing his own songs, fans are drawn to both his insight and authenticity.

His next single, Skipping Stones, due later this month, marks a sonic shift into alt-country – a sound rooted in his Appalachian upbringing. “It’s a nod to home,” he says. “I brought in friends from back in West Virginia – drums by Cole Parker, fiddle by Lucas Sherman, and Grammy-nominated mastering by Mark Benincosa. It just felt right.”

That blend of musical tradition and personal connection runs throughout the entire upcoming album. “I wanted it to be a cohesive project where every track still carries a little inside joke or personal moment,” he shares. “Sometimes it’s just something only my friends would catch – but that’s part of the fun.”

Kolar’s approach to songwriting is as intricate as his production. “I usually start with harmony, then build a melody and fit in the lyrics phonetically. From there, I shape the emotional arc. It’s intuitive – kind of like solving a puzzle backwards.”

As a professor in audio engineering, Kolar’s academic work deeply informs his creative process. “Teaching forces me to simplify complex ideas. That kind of clarity shows up in how I approach my own mixes. I don’t just teach; it helps me stay sharp creatively.”

He’s also quick to credit his students for keeping him inspired. “They’re so driven – it’s contagious,” he says. “Being around young musicians exploring their voices reminds me to keep exploring my own.”

Whether it’s growing vegetables in his garden or riding his bike through Indiana’s backroads, Kolar finds inspiration in life’s quieter moments too. “Gardening has been a grounding force,” he says. “It reminds me to slow down and take care of what matters. And cycling lets me take in the world at a different pace. You cover distance, but still catch all the detail.”

His authenticity and emotional reach haven’t gone unnoticed. “Someone recently messaged me to say that Tie My Shoes helped them through a big life transition – moving to a new country, starting over. That kind of feedback means the world. That’s why I make music.”

With his full album set to release by the end of 2025, Kolar is ready to bring listeners along for the journey – one song at a time. “No matter what genre I’m playing with, you’ll always hear vocal harmonies, layered guitars, and emotional honesty,” he says. “That’s the through line.”

John Kolar may be releasing music at a rapid pace, but he’s building something lasting – song by song, story by story, all with an open heart and a clear tone.