We interviewed up-and-coming alt singer songwriter Nadia Tolar. The Columbus, Ohio native is coming into her own with two recently released singles and an upcoming release that will drop in December. Check out what she had to say below!
1. How did you come to pursue music and how long have you been at it?
"I've been playing music for a really long time. But I just started seriously writing music about two or three years ago. I don't know why. But for some reason, music is one of those things that, I don't know how to describe it, but it's just so inspiring to me. Because, I've had, musicians and bands, speak to me and I guess I kind of just want to try and do the same for people. If that makes sense at all."
2. Could you walk us through your process of writing music?
"Yeah, okay, it's kind of a messy, like, little pathway of me writing music, but I'll just be like, sitting in the car will work. Something will come to me and I'm like, oh, like, this sounds kind of cool. Or like, I don't know, it's just something like that.
And then I'll be playing guitar in my room, just like doing whatever just fiddling around, and I'm like, 'Oh, that sounds really cool. Like, maybe I could put that into a song'. And there's plenty of songs that I've put away and I'm like, 'Oh, no, no, we're not. We're not gonna do that one'. But I'll come back to it. Like a month or two later. And it sounds pretty decent. That's how 'Peanut Butter' was. It took me seven months to write that song for this. Like, I don't, I don't know why leads me the like, so I came up with the chorus first. But I actually had it at the beginning of the song. I'm like, 'Oh, that kind of sounds like there should be a chorus' and I'll just move everything around. Sounds good to me. And then I go to other musicians and ask 'what can I fix?' And they give me their input on it. And then I'll fix it".
3. What artists have inspired you in your career?
"Declan Mckenna, I love him. And he's so sweet. And his music is really good. Because at first, it was just similar with a guitar pedal, a guitar, just him. So that like, really helped me to, take guitar pedals and just play by myself. Young the Giant, I love the way that they write. I had the opportunity to meet them. And I was so lucky to hear about their writing process and how they actually put music theory into their writing. Um, I thought that was pretty cool. And there's a few other bands. I listen to so much music. I also like Glass Animals a lot".
4. Do you have any favorite music gear (guitars, amps, effects pedals, keyboards, etc.) that you love to use? If so, what’s the story on them?
"My (Electro-Harmonix) Canyon pedal has reverb, looping, and a bunch of other stuff, some of which I don't need but it's there in case I want to fiddle around, I actually just got it a few months ago for my birthday".
5. Can you describe the vibe at your live shows? Also, what do you enjoy most about a venue when you do a show?
"I try to keep it bubbly and nice and upbeat. The only thing I don't like about venues is when I have trouble with the speakers or monitors".
6. What is one thing that you want the public to know about your music?
"My music is very personal. And even if I'm coming out with it. Now, six months ago, that song took me forever to write. And it was a little obstacles, trying to pass them".
7. Do you have any upcoming projects you would like fans to know about?
"I have either an album or EP coming out in December, I haven't decided, but I'm looking forward to it".