by Jonathan Bristow With the sweet, irresistible strums of his treasured ukulele and his spirited reggae band, the Collection of Lone Souljahs, the inspiring singer-songwriter is sharing the positive vibrations from Portland to Maui - and beyond!
Two albums in - and with a third in the works! - the journey has been transformative for Kevin. From Maui to Portland, the people he’s met and the stories he’s collected along the way have forever changed him. That’s the power of music! We recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Kevin on the Ascent Radio Podcast to hear the story behind his music, as well as his insights about the way music moves us - the power it holds to draw us together and break down barriers between us. Collecting Fellow Lone SouljahsReggae is immersive on the island. It’s just the way of things on Maui, where Kevin grew up. It’s everywhere!
He settled in across the Columbia River from Portland in Vancouver, Washington, where he connected with one of his best friends (and his mentor), Kaloku Holt. Kaloku had a band in town at the time, and he took Kevin under his wing, showing him the ropes and getting him acquainted with the blossoming roots music scene. After playing with the band Positive Vibrations for two years, Kevin felt called to step out on his own. The muse was coming alive in him. As he started penning his own compositions, he began hitting up fellow musicians around him to form his own band, which became the Collection of Lone Souljahs (or Co-Lo-So, after his last name.) And for more than ten years now, Kevin and CoLoSo have been serving up their energetic island vibes to listeners all over the Pacific Northwest - and beyond! The Life He Has ChosenLike every great songwriter, Kevin is a collector of stories. Some of the band’s most inspiring tunes come straight from his own story, like the rousing “The Life That I’ve Chosen,” the title track from the band’s 2016 debut album, This Is The Life. In his own personal anthem, Kevin celebrates the courage it takes to choose yourself - to take on the risk of all the unknowns and to follow your heart into the dreams it holds for you.
In the beautiful tribute to her reflections, Kevin croons, “Hula’s not a dance, it’s a way of life…” as he helps elevate and amplify the sanctity of Hula for his people, and shares the pride and honor that comes with being an ‘Olapa of Hawaii. In addition to the inspiring stories… there’s also the rally cry.
Thus, by his own definition, Kevin is truly a bold one. And because of the courage and passion he has breathed into his own dreams, he has built a life beyond what he could ever have imagined - and met so many incredible people who have inspired him along the way. The Journey AheadKevin is all about the songs that make us feel. Over the years, with all the time spent in the spotlight in front of audiences, and among the crowds at the festivals and shows he and the band have shared in, what Kevin has learned is that music truly does, in a mystical, profound way, bring us together as people. Music moves us.
He points to masterworks like Marley’s Exodus as case-in-point. How an album like this is capable of moving an entire nation of people, an entire world of people, because the songs themselves - first and foremost - make people feel. And when we get on that level together, that’s where the magic happens. That’s where music has the power to cut across every barrier between us - including language! We can be moved and drawn together by a song that we might not even understand the words to because it makes us feel.
The people and relationships he’s made have been utterly transformative in his life. They have made him who he is today and shaped the loving and open-arms approach he takes to life. This journey - and all of the remarkable stories and lessons Kevin and the band have collected along the way - is the inspiration behind their third album, which is currently in the works! And, obviously, we can’t wait to hear how Kevin and crew craft the story of their remarkable journey! It’s sure to be inspiring - Coming from a bold one. For More With Kevin...To hear our interview with Kevin in its entirety on the Ascent Radio Podcast - including clips of CoLoSo music and his thoughts on all the songs we’ve highlighted from his story - click here to locate the podcast on your preferred provider, or listen directly in the Ascent Radio app - available for free(!) in both the Apple and Google Play stores.
You May Also Enjoy...
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
AuthorJonathan Bristow - Ascent Creator & Director. Jonathan is a queer, recovering pastor, dreamer, lover, and amplifier in the middle of the mess. Stepping into a lifelong dream in 2021, he created Ascent Radio to offer music lovers a handcrafted radio platform at the intersection of great music and social change. Jonathan lives and breathes music, and believes fiercely in the power of music to draw us together and inspire us toward a better world!
Alongside his work as the Creator and Director for Ascent, he is a freelance writer, and is author of the blog, Finding Jonathan, where he reflects on his journey of simultaneously losing and finding himself all at once, living through trauma, and learning to love and embrace who he is. As a sayer of the words, Jonathan writes content for socially conscious brands, artists and industry professionals. To connect with him about writing on a project that needs the perfect words, connect with him over on his LinkedIn profile, or email at: [email protected]! Archives
July 2024
Listen to Ascent! |