Q&A: KOBANOVA
Can you introduce yourself?
Wes: Hey guys! We’re Kobanova, an alternative rock band with a southern flare. I’m Wes, the lead guitarist/ backup vocalist, and I founded the band along with Jimmy Riemer (lead vocals) and Chris Dickson (piano/organ). The three of us have been performing together since 2018.
Can you describe "Fly High" in three words?
Wes: “a hangover cure”
Jimmy: accepting your predicament
Chris: “a melodic yearning”
What were the first and last parts of "Fly High" to be written?
Wes: The verse line “Fly High Kobanova” was the original phrase that got the ideas flowing for the song. While we were recording the track, we decided at the last minute to change the final chorus /outro to “I found out where the good liquor went” to help give the song a resolution.
What’s your favorite lyric or production element of "Fly High"?
Chris: Production wise, it’s got to be the blended combination of distorted guitars and the overdriven organ in the choruses. Definitely the heaviest rock production we’ve ever put into a song.
Jimmy: I really love the layers of vocal harmonies, we spent some time planning out what we wanted the vocal tracks before recording and I think it paid off.
Wes: The final lyrics for me: “One day I’ll reel it in, but tonight I'll do it again.”
Did you learn anything new about yourself while creating this song?
Wes: Haha yea.. I can honestly say the whole song is an acknowledgement that I might have some growing up to do.
Chris: Not necessarily what I learned but what was reinforced for me was to enjoy the journey and great things happen when you work together.
Is there a certain place that you feel the most creative in?
Jimmy: A few times a year we like to get out of town and stay up at my parent’s house in the north Georgia mountains. Over half of our first album was written up there.
What was on your playlist as you worked on this song?
Wes: Homeboy - Susto
Chris: Slowlane - Kobanova | People Say - Portugal the Man
Jimmy: Time spent in Los Angeles- Dawes
If you could transport listeners to the perfect location to hear "Fly High" for the first time, what would that place be?
Jimmy: I think instead of a physical place the perfect state of mind to hear this song is if you’re feeling introspective. The song as a whole is really about self reflection, so if you’re in that state of mind I think you can have an emotional connection to the story.
If you had to describe your music to someone who couldn’t hear, how would you describe it?
Chris: Our music aims to portray relatable experiences to the listener. We want listeners to paint a unique picture in their mind reflecting what the lyrics and stories mean to them.
Wes: Going off what Chris said, I think the mood of our music is really painted and reflected in the lyrics. I think of the line in our song, Breathe, “winding roads with the windows down”. To me that song sounds like cruising along the winding roads of North Georgia on a not too hot summer day, windows down, just enjoying life.
What comes next for you?
Our self-titled album “Kobanova” will be releasing in early December. It’s a fully remastered, re-release album comprising all of our previous singles: Far from Home, Transgressions, Breathe, Deep Blue, “Fly High”, and the full “For Better or Worse” EP. We’ll be in the studio recording two new singles: Pass me by and Lenny Stole My Favorite Jeans
What was on your playlist as you worked on this song?
Wes: Homeboy - Susto
Chris: People Say - Portugal the Man
Jimmy: Time spent in Los Angeles- Dawes
What comes next for you?
Our self-titled album “Kobanova” will be releasing in early December. It’s a fully remastered, re-release album comprising all of our previous singles: Far from Home, Transgressions, Breathe, Deep Blue, “Fly High”, and the full “For Better or Worse” EP.
We’ll be in the studio recording two new singles: Pass me by and Lenny Stole My Favorite Jeans in December and January. These will be the first tracks on our 2nd album which we plan to release next Spring!
Make sure to listen to "KOBANOVA (Fly High)” on Spotify and follow the band to keep up with future releases!
