INTERVIEW: Kara Cole Bridges Political Divides With Music

Kara Cole is familiar with difficult terrain. Cole was a folk hero in Indianapolis and beyond in her folk duo Keller and Cole, but she took time away from music in 2012 because she did not know if sobriety and performing could coincide. With this ode to her grandmother, “Mary Francis,” Cole stakes a claim in what is important to her and how music has remained in her life. Cole got back into the swing of things with her 2023 self-titled solo album and she is readying her EP Firefly, out August 30th. In our interview, Cole talks about her inspirations and how music can bridge seemingly impossible divides.

Who are some of my musical influences?  

Brandi Carlile, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Adele.. just to name a few!  If I could lock in a sound, it would be something similar to Brandi’s sound.  She blends alt-country, americana, folk, and rock together so well!  

Do you play covers at your show? 

I like to play covers that I connect with.  I’m not a huge cover song person.  I have so many originals and can typically fill the entire time with those which I would prefer.  

Where are some places you’ve found joy within the Americana/country world? 

Fortunately, I have been wildly accepted.  I feel like I bring a very open and authentic vibe to the table.  I sold out a gig in Indianapolis recently at our local honky-tonk saloon and it was packed with such a diverse crowd — just as many straight people come to my shows as members of the LGBTQ+ community.  I like it that way. I think music is the bridge to so many gaps that we are experiencing in our world today.  100 people can hear the same song and feel 100 different things and I love that about music.  

Explain the title of your EP? 

Firefly is a single off of the EP.  I wrote “Firefly” with the idea of remembering how it feels to be in love and how you lose yourself in that feeling and that experience.  

Whom would you love to collaborate with and why?  

Brandi Carlile. Her talent is unmatched.  She is writing, recording, producing and everything in  between.  She is so damn talented and I would love to pick her brain about so many things.  I also just feel so connected to her music and emotions/feeling it brings out in me!  

Firefly by Kara Cole will be out on August 30th.

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