www.facebook.com/kono.musicsb
Sounds like: Hard Rock
From: California
1. How excited are you to have released your new album?
I am very excited to have released the second Kono album, "Gecko Kono"! It took awhile, but I loved the whole process. I really enjoy the new album.
2. What do you want listeners to take away from the new album?
If someone is a new listener to Kono, our mission statement is still pretty much the same - provide entertaining and catchy independent hard rock music, and then make original music videos. If someone is a new listener, I want them to notice how the production improved, and how I added more instrumentation and tried to audibly up the musicianship. As a writer of course I want people to know that I wrote every song again.
3. What can you tell us about the title and album artwork and the inspiration behind it?
I really like explaining this one! So the first album cover is a photo of me when I was two, reaching for a flower at kind of a cool angle. This album cover is a very cool shot of my leopard gecko, Kaden with the Kono logo in the corner and the Kono font spelling out "Gecko Kono". My idea was, "What would the toddler on the first album cover put on the second album?" And my answer to that is probably like his pet or something from home. When I was that age I had a petite boxer who was a beloved family treasure that I grew up with, but the same principle applies to now. Currently I have the leopard gecko, but I tried to get into an early childhood mindset for the the cover.
4. Any word on upcoming music videos/singles?
We made 5 videos off the first album, and I think they still all hold up strongly. Hopefully we can make at least as many videos as the first album in a timely enough manner. I also have some bonus video ideas for the channel. These ideas are more about music and looking at the details of songs, but I'm open to adding any content if it can be enjoyable and presentable.
5. There's a few guests on the album, what can you tell us about them and the songs they're featured on?
Track 2, "Doves (Open Plane)": Konrad Kono [my dad] plays keyboards and we trade solos!
Track 4, "A Way Outside": Konrad Kono [my dad] plays piano.
Track 12, "Witness Projection": Gunnar Stahl plays all the lead guitar solos, I only play the intro and the rhythm guitar.
6. Any news about upcoming live performances?
My cousin is going to fill in on bass most likely for some shows soon. As I play everything on the record, the line-up can change a bit based on availability. Still, the main three featured in the videos and the current live content will play on the new EP. We are still planning on making that happen. Those songs are still finished and ready to be recorded when the three of us can book a big session and production time.
7. What's your favorite track off the new album and why?
That answer is probably going to change, as it always does. Right now though, it's track 10 "Johnny, Calm Down". I just think it sounds really cool the way it is produced. And it's got kind of an experimental or psychedelic edge to parts of it. I just like it a lot, I replayed it the most the first week of release for sure. A lot of my friends really like the first song, "Neckbeard Fight!" which is my only song that is rapped throughout.
8. Any California music spots you'd recommend?
I recommend Guitar 48 in Ventura for setting up your guitar if you need any supplies or work done. They are very helpful and the prices are great. I used this store for all my setups when making this album. As far as live stuff goes, there can be some fun stuff in the "Funk Zone" in Santa Barbara. That's the far end of downtown.
9. What are three songs of yours that define Kono?
"The Swan & the Ram" - Track 2 off of the first album. Still the most popular video we ever put out, the first video we ever put out, and my favorite to play live.
"Doves (Open Plane)" - Track 2 off of the second album. My dad and I trading solos is very cool to listen to. Plus, this song has been in writing stages for a long time. I had early versions of this when I was in college over a decade ago.
"Ring Out" - Track 5 off of the first album. When I first started this project I wanted to mainly do songs like this - pretty straightforward but very solid hard rockers that kinda have a 1970's classic structure - but for today. Also, this one is the second video we did and it's one of the oldest songs along with Swan that I play a lot.
