Artist Interviews
Interview with Indie Folk Artist Caiola on his new album & more
MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us. What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?
Caiola: My dad turned me onto a ton of music at a very young age… anything from Van Morrison & Bruce to The Wallflowers (my first CD) or 60’s Greenwich village folk. I got my first guitar at age 13, but knew I could carry a tune long before that just through singing along with things. As soon as I learned 2 chords on guitar I started writing. Became pretty obsessed with writing right off the bat… never got too concerned with becoming a super skilled guitar player or singer- just wanted to create.
Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?
Caiola: I think the music I was listening to in High School and College shaped me the most. Early Bon Iver, My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes, Local Natives, Dr. Dog, Kings of Leon, Arctic Monkeys… But, I also loved a lot of singer song-writer stuff and classic rock. So I think it all sort of melded together in a way.
What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?
Caiola: That’s a great question. Goals are constantly shifting with a career like this. I think that’s the only way you grow. It’s okay to celebrate each achievement/milestone, but I never want to get complacent or become uninspired. First, the goal was to just make a living playing original tunes. Then it was to sell out a show. Now it’s grown to: Play Red Rocks… Sell 1,000 tickets in 50 markets… Collab with some of my heros. Things like that. But, it all comes back to just wanting to spread and share this music as far and wide as it can go and ultimately connect with other humans. I think that’s what we’re on this planet to do. When I have a conversation with someone after a show about how much the music has touched them, or if it’s gotten them through a tough time, or was used as their wedding song… that’s the ultimate feeling. So my goal is to keep creating music that connects with folks like that until I’m gone.
What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?
Caiola: Been to: My Morning Jacket – Bonnaroo 2011. They came on as the sun was setting, on the tail of Circuital being released. Opened with Victory Dance and never let up. Getting chills as I type this. They’re my favorite band on the planet.
Performed: Mo Lowda & the Humble recently played Boulder, CO and I’ve never felt more in sync with a crowd. They were right there with us every single note. Singing along… Impeccable energy. I also just recently played 8 beautiful listening room type shows to support ‘This Could Be Everything’ last month and those were amongst my favorite shows I’ve ever played. Attentive and respectful crowds… pin drop type silence during the quiet, intimate breakdowns… I love that. That will never get old.
Your latest release is the album ‘This Could Be Everything’ which I just listened to and love! What inspired this album? What was it like making it?
Caiola: Thank you! This is my second solo album – and I think I really settled into a sound, but also took some risks that I didn’t take on the first one. My good friend and producer, Will Brown and I started demoing these songs well over a year ago and we got pretty experimental with the sounds/layers/colors. That was a fun part of the process. As far as lyrically, I think it reflects the place I was in at the time. I’m 33 now… A lot has changed in my life… people have come and gone… I’ve done a lot of reflecting recently and it certainly makes for expressive writing. I do sometimes take other people’s stories and weave them in with my own but there’s quite a bit of directly personal material on this one.
You’ve founded and been in some very successful bands such as Mo Lowda & The Humble. Then covid hit and gave you a chance to work on your own solo material. How does the creative process differ when creating music as a band vs your solo career? What are the pro’s and con’s to each?
Caiola: I think I usually know right out of the gate which project a song is going to be best suited for. As a whole, the solo stuff is more acoustic guitar based and the lyrics are more personal. It’s very rare that a song begins as a Caiola track and then becomes a Mo Lowda song, but it has happened in the past. “Dog at the Pound” for example. I am very purposeful when I sit down to write though… So I usually just feel it. It’s been one of my greatest joys as a musician and writer to have multiple avenues in which to put the songs. I have a very supportive crew of musicians, producers and friends around me too which helps.
Obviously, you have found a lot of success as an independent artist, with millions of streams on Spotify. What advice would you give to other indie artists to find success?
Caiola: Oh man… The million dollar question. I don’t know how we originally gained traction on spotify… I really don’t. But I do know I’ve never put anything out that I thought was bullshit or inauthentic. People can see right through that type of stuff. So if it’s real to you, put it out and hopefully it’s real to the listeners too. That, and work with people you TRUST. Whether creative collaborators or management.
What else are you working on? What can we expect to see and hear from you in the future?
Caiola: We are deep in the process of the 5th Mo Lowda & the Humble album – 11 songs in – nearly finished. It’s been recorded entirely on the road this past year (Denver, Austin, Joshua Tree) and we are quite excited about it. We’re definitely entering some new territories as far as the writing/production/arranging goes. Really tight, melodic & catchy grooves. Outside of the Mo Lowda project I’ve got a couple live (in-studio) Caiola albums set to release in the coming year along with an album of covers. Caiola LP3 is being written as well.
Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?
Caiola: My message for my fans is always: THANK YOU. I am so incredibly fortunate to make music for a living and to connect with folks both on the road and through my recorded material. If you’re reading this – I appreciate you. And lastly, send my music to someone you love today who you think might dig it.
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