Our Sonic Bids Independent artist spotlight takes a look at Australian brothers Chris & Evan Brown, who decided to form a group together called Kotadama.  Hailing from the Central Coast of NSW in Australia, Chris and Evan decided to teach themselves how to play guitar and drums only a few years ago and then decided to  thrust themselves into the landscape that is the music industry.  Kotadama (which means Spirit of Words) bring an Adult Contemporary muse of singable melodies supported by emotional vocal performances on songs they've written. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO  "SEE YOU TONIGHT"

How did the band start?
Well, we were inspired to start learning and playing instruments after
watching a live DVD of U2, Rattle & Hum I believe it was. We wanted to be
the best U2 cover band ever and that's why the band started. However it did
not start with the name Kotadama,..... that name we gave ourselves a little
later down the track.

When did you realize that music was something you wanted to do?
We knew straight away from watching the U2 DVD, that we wanted to be in
front of a crowd the same size performing on stage. Once we started getting
a bit bored just playing the U2 stuff, we began throwing our own chords
together and writing our own material. It was just a blast to be able to
create your own music, send your own message..... and that's the moment when
we knew that this is what we wanted to do.

Your sound reminds me of the group "Simple Plan",  who were you
influenced by?
Yeah, we get compared to lots of different bands.....Evermore, Savage
Garden. We honestly can't or don't think we sound like anyone else out
there. But our main influence is, if you haven't already guessed, "U2" of
course. Having started with learning their songs, I'd say we have a similar
sound to them in some areas of our music. but we are continually evolving
with the music we keep writing and we are developing our own unique style we
believe.

Your music has brought you to America, how did you find the American
audiences?
Well yes, our music has taken us to quite a few places so far, but
America was not to tour, it was to produce our album with our
Partner/producer David Kershenbaum. We have quite a few fans in New York
after our self released single, See you Tonight, got airplay on KISS FM and
was number one in June and July2009.They are waiting for us to tour there
and KISS FM has offered their help to promote our presence, which is really
nice.
We will be returning to the US soon for promotion and touring, so we'll let
you know what the audience is like after that. :)

What has been the response in your homeland to your music?

Now that's a good question, we have never really tried as of yet to get
known in Australia because it's probably one of the hardest markets to break
as it just follows the trends of the US and UK, and it only count's for
about 2% of the music market. so break internationally and you'll break
Australia. However we have had a music heard by many people in Australia,
including major radio Music Directors and people that matter in the
Business.etc, and the response has been amazing, everyone seems to really
love our music, which is always great to hear. But it is almost impossible
to get support here unless you have a big label backing you or you break
internationally, people basically are not allowed to help you, it sucks but
that's how it is here.  

Your videos look great, can you tell me about their creation?
Thanks, well the videos we make ourselves with the help of two friends
who are camera/film director guys who do it for nothing because they really
love our music and are 100% behind us and believe that we can make it,.....
and for that we are so thankful and grateful. So basically with the help of
our family and friends or just us, we'll think of the story for each clip,
find the girl, find the location and lights camera action. :) Then there is
a collaborative effort to edit the clip just the way we want it then send it
off to LA for approval.

The name Kotadama, how did you come to settle on that name?
We spent quite some time searching for a name that we felt suited what we
were all about, a unique name as well, and then one day our mum came across
the name Kotadama and its meaning "the spirit of words " or "the power of
words" and we immediately loved it. We have always believed in the power of
words and their ability to affect your immediate environment, and this
reflects in how we write our music as well.

Tell me about the writing process.  What is it that you find you like
to write about the most? Do you all write?
Well, it's always a random process for us when a song is written, most
are written whilst waiting for pro tools to load up:), but normally it
usually starts with chris making up some cool little tune or hook and just
grows dramatically from there, then usually we get a theme from the vibe of
each new tune then follow with what we think are meaningful lyrics, then get
producing in the studio...we find we write about anything we want, or
anything that is meaningful to us or if we have an opinion or view that we
want to share with the world. It's really just chris and I who write, but
our dad is a huge help as well when it comes to lyrics. :)  

Is there something you want people to take away from listening to
your music?
Definitely,..... if we could get people to feel the same way that we do
when we listen to our music or if we elicit an emotional response in a way
that effects their life positively, then I'd say mission accomplished.

What's up next for the band?
Well, we're  just on completion of our debut album "Dichotomy" so that's
keeping us pretty busy, we're also making quite a few more video clips at
the moment, and then we got a whole promotion campaign in the US followed
hopefully by a successful tour of the US, the rest of the world.

What are your feelings on the state of the music industry today? Do
you feel like you have to have talent to make it?
Well, I hope this wont offend the mainstream music artists, (we have the
greatest respect for any artist who can get their music heard), but let's
face it, the modern music industry is an industrial type machine that just
keeps churning out the same crap, the same 4 chords, incomprehensible lyrics
and lots of semi naked chicks, (mind you we are not unhappy with that
aspect). You like what you're used to and we all listen to the result of
good marketing..... not necessarily good music.
The music video industry is and shows like channel V boldly tell us what's
hot, what's cool and what we should listen too, (why, nobody knows but if
they say it's cool it must be), (one wonders if the hosts are real people or
3D holograms programmed by the labels). We definitely think we have what it
takes to get heard, we've already proven that. We would like to think our
music is melodic, moving to listen to, evoke an emotional response in the
listener, or at least that is what we aim for. We would also like to think
that our songs have some meaning and can actually affect the way people
feel. We would like to think our music is more than just chewing gum for the
ears. But In the end though, music is subjective and not everyone is going
to feel the same way about it. Thanks...