Feature – Kowalskiy
Here’s an interview we did with musician/nuclear physicist Kowalskiy, check it out,
Who the tits are ye?
I’m the guy behind the Scottish music blog Kowalskiy. Many in the blogging business believe me to exist only in the
digital ether of The Internet, though that, fortunately, is not the case. I am in fact a real boy called David. The ‘Kowalskiy’ part
was a nickname given to me by an odd, balding fat man. I think it’s some Stargate reference but who knows?!. Apparently though,
it’s the Polish version of Smith. So there you go.
What do you do and why?
Oops, kinda answered this one already but allow me to go into more detail. I run (‘editor of’ is too poncy for my liking) the
Scottish music blog Kowalskiy, and have done so for the last 3-and-a-bit years, slowly but sur…, let’s just leave it at slowly, building up
a modest following. That was pretty much why I started. Well, that and the demise of Planet Sound. When that came a cropper,
I started getting my music fix from a few Scottish blogs I came across online whilst looking for Broken Records demos. What was that?
Wnat does Kowalskiy do that other Scottish music blogs don’t do? Good question! I suppose the main features I run are my Free
Monthly 5-track Scottish EPs which are basically downloads of 5 songs from up-and-coming Scottish artists that I release every month for free.Delving into the concept a wee bit deeper, I’m a huge fan of alternate versions, demos, acoustic, live tracks and the like. I feel they often tell you more about a band than the polished final product, so I try my best to fill these EPs full of these rarities. Kowalskiy is also, truth be told, an old romantic at heart. Every once-in-a-while I post a new Kowalskiy Singles Club post whereby I plug new ‘singles’ by getting the bands to write a lonely-hearts-style ad about it/themselves. Judging by the hits and comments, folk seem to like the idea, and it’s a bit more interesting to read compared with the usual (and somewhat-dry) who-has-a-new-single-out-this-week lists. Other than that, there’s interviews, sporadic reviews and the like. More often than not, I let the artists do the talking. I’m sure, given a choice, music lovers out there would rather hear from the bands than from me. I would too to be fair. That’s why I’ve started letting bands Take Over! the blog for a while to do with what they see fit. Cancel The Astronauts trialled it out last year during their tour. I’ve not been sued or shut down (yet!) so you can expect another Take Over! at somepoint in the not-so-distant future. As for why I do all this, I enjoy it. (Listening to) Music has always been something I’ve enjoyed. There’s so many amazing local bands out there
that I’d never have listening to had I not started this. If I can say something which helps them out in some way and contributes in some small way to them getting the credit and recognition their music deserves, then that’s the least I can do. I don’t do it for any personal credit, that’s probably why Kowalskiy has never had a public face. That and my love of the word ‘enigmatic’.
The way I see it, all the best ideas have already been thought up. However…… that doesn’t mean they cannot be tweaked
slightly and passed off as your own.
slightly and passed off as your own.
Is this your job? If not, what do you do in the ‘real world’?
Nah, Kowalskiy is just a hobby, one which I’m increasingly (and sadly) finding less-and-less time for. A hobby borne out of my desire to have something more interesting to say in my ‘Non-academic interests’ section of my CV as I got ready to finish my Ph.D. and enter the ‘real world’. In actual fact, I’m a nuclear physicist which, before you ask, is not ‘like making bombs and shit’. More, what goes on inside the nucleus and how that relates to… well… less exciting shit.
What to you is creativity?
Creating stuff? I wouldn’t class myself as particularly creative. Someone who writes and performs their own songs, yes. Neil Buchanan, yes! I don’t see what I do with Kowalskiy as a particularly create outlet, though I’ve never been one to blow my own trumpet. Not that I have a trumpet. I do have a harmonica though, but I’m not that good at blowing it either to be honest.
Show us one thing you are proud of.
Are you guys allowed to show those kind of photos on your site?
What’s your creativity tip? (any specific music, places you go, things you do?)
The way I see it, all the best ideas have already been thought up. However…… that doesn’t mean they cannot be tweaked
slightly and passed off as your own. But I suppose these tweaks come to mind mostly when I’m driving, which incidentally
is where I listen to 90% of the music folk send me. So I guess my creativity feeds off that of others, which I suppose is quite
fitting.
What would you tell your 16 year old self?
As boring an answer as this sounds, I’m quite content in life just now. So, I’d leave my 16 year old self be, and let time run its course.
What next?
This Monday (13/01/11) I’ll be bringing out the 19th Kowalskiy EP featuring tracks from my 5 Tips for 2012.
There’ll be an interview and mini-review of the brilliant Frozen Arms album (out on mini50 Records) by Chris Tenz. I should probably
get ’round to sending him those questions mind you! Further afield, there’ll be more of the same from Kowalskiy. Got a few ideas for
some new features too so watch this space…
Check out the blog HERE or follow him on Twitter.
