Daily Inspiration: Meet Avery Kobzina

Today we’d like to introduce you to Avery Kobzina.

Hi Avery, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started taking Drum lessons with the School Of Rock Fort Washington, PA. This was at 9 years old, I’m now 27. From 2005-2014 I was in the school rock learning Drums, Bass, and Vocals. I started my solo music project in 2011 under the name Pylegathon which later changed to Kobz in 2013. Using the skills I’ve learned from music lessons, I began to self-teach myself by tracking and recording my own songs. In 2015 my first EP “Come Sit With” was released, a project from time spent depressed in my parent’s basement using music as my journal. I’ve played mostly Philly basement parties, opening and closing for acts like Subtronics and 12th Planet. I’ve also hosted a few shows that mix bands, Rappers, and DJs, alternating between the three in hopes of exposing people to music they might not usually seek themselves. In 2017, after the release of my first full-length album “Personal Data” my partner and I moved to South-East Denver. Over the time living in Denver, we moved from South-East to Colfax & Sheridan, and currently, City Park region which we have been in for over 2 years now. During this time, Kobz has evolved from an EDM-based project to an experimental project involving Electronics, Drums, Vocals, and efforts for songwriting in a way that isn’t viewed as strictly dance music. I spend much less time performing shows since moving to Denver, as my focus has shifted towards producing much more music, and peddling self-made merch to the people of Denver. My music has since gone international, gaining attention from areas like France, the UK, Japan, the USA, and Spain, just to name a few. Locally, I spend most of my time either producing or using a grassroots mindset to introduce people to my music one by one. Currently, I have another album in the works titled “Leaving Reality” which involves Dubstep, Metal, House, and IDM amongst other influences. So far “Slide Flute Solo” is the only single released prior to the album.

Most of my musical journey is just my way of coping with things in my life, if people feel a connection to the music I’m honored. In reality, I only care about making something I want to listen to that I don’t think already exists. I also produce video content under the name “Kobziti” and vocal content under the name “Bloski”.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been easy from my perspective. Booking shows had been a continuous fight for myself, wanting to play experimental music and only managing to book DJ gigs that were expecting me to play Trap or radio hits. I lived in a suburb over an hour’s drive outside the city of Philadelphia, so most of my shows starting at age 15 were from me taking multiple trains/busses to be stuck overnight sleeping at a train station until public transit ran again at 6 am (my sets were often at 10 pm or 1 am). My parents hate my music and don’t pretend to be supportive, grew up in a house I was regularly picked on for my taste in music and what I wanted to make. I often produced in complete private to avoid ridicule while expressing myself. My family to this day is unable to support my musical efforts.

Moving to Denver, my Fiancé and I had $400 to spend after driving from PA to CO with all our belongings in the car. We slowly turned living in an unfinished basement with roommates, using the $400 for two weeks’ rent, into now renting our own apartment in city Park.

I grew up with severe social anxiety that went untreated, still leaving me feeling immobile when trying to go out to perform or make connections. I’ve had a few experiences with corrupted data while trying to play a show, leading to public embarrassment on multiple occasions.

I’ve lost plenty of equipment over the years, having a slumlord throw all my belongings into a dumpster and take my drum kit, having to sell my bass and turntables to avoid homelessness, sketchy roommate who has stolen production equipment and computers. Currently, I produce on a 2012 MacBook Pro and am slowly getting a few tools back.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I produce and perform my own music. My specialty is experimental electronic production. Trying to create the new and not more of the same. I’m most known for boosting positivity in people around me, people are usually interested in my art as a result of the person I am, consistently pushing others to be the best version of themselves. I’m most proud of the emotion I manage to capture and put into sound, as it often helps me understand my past and emotional response.

What sets me apart is my lack of taking life too seriously. I act like I’m still a teenager because I don’t want to stop having fun. People often give up on themselves or pretend to be like others to gain attention. I refuse to be anybody but myself, a goofball who has way too much energy.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Never stop creating. If you play shows, connect with the people who run them. Don’t connect with business in mind, just be a human. Be yourself and get involved. Be your own mentor if you don’t know where to start, ask yourself what the problem is and you can often find advice on YouTube and Google.

Start cheap, invest your time more than your money. If you’re doing what you love you will find excuses to do it, if you’re doing something chasing a goal, the obstacles will present themselves before you’ve prepared for them.

Finding people to work with has been difficult for me, but it does happen when you continue to put in your all every day.

Pricing:

• $0 – To email me and have a conversation
• $100 Minimum – Drum Tracks

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/kobzmusic
• Instagram: @kobz_music
• Facebook: kobzofficial
• Twitter: @kobz_official
• SoundCloud: kobz_official