Seamus Hammond
Los Colognes is a band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 2012. Their music is a blend of rock and country, with influences from the 70s and 80s, and they are known for their jam-oriented, laid-back style. The band consists of singer/guitarist Jay Rutherford, drummer Aaron Mort Mortenson, bassist Gordon Persha, keyboardist Micah Hulscher, guitarist Wojtek Krupka, and others. Their name, Los Colognes, came about due to a copyright issue with their previous name, The Clones, and a band member's fondness for wearing cologne.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Rock, country, Americana |
| Influences | Grateful Dead, Wilco, Dire Straits, Eagles, JJ Cale, The Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd |
| Albums | The New World, The Wave |
| Members | Jay Rutherford, Aaron "Mort" Mortenson, Gordon Persha, Micah Hulscher, Chuck Foster, Zach Setchfield, Wojtek Krupka |
| Year formed | 2012 |
What You'll Learn
Los Colognes' music style
Los Colognes is a genre-bending, Nashville-based band that makes '70s'/’80s style rock with a modern twist. Their music is steeped in the tradition of classic acts like Fleetwood Mac, the Grateful Dead, and Dire Straits, while also seeking to create their own unique sound. The band's music has been described as literate, jam-friendly, and rock- and country-influenced.
Los Colognes was formed in 2012 by singer/guitarist Jay Rutherford and drummer Aaron "Mort" Mortenson, who relocated from Chicago to Nashville. They convinced longtime bassist Gordon Persha to join them, and the trio began crafting twangy, jam-oriented arrangements with insightful and somewhat sardonic lyrics. Over time, they added keyboardists Micah Hulscher and Chuck Foster, and guitarist Wojtek Krupka to their lineup.
The band's sound is influenced by their desire to be a part of the Nashville music scene and their appreciation for "real" country music. They cite JJ Cale as an inspiration and aim to create laid-back music that showcases their musicianship and restraint. Los Colognes' music also reflects their collective passion for great cologne!
Their debut album, "Working Together" (2013), caught on locally and helped build their following. This was followed by "Dos" in 2015 and "Wave" in 2017, their third full-length album. Their latest record, "The New World" (2022), combines all the elements of their earlier work with a more polished modern sound. It reflects on the state of the world and the search for transcendental experiences in a postmodern age.
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The band's name origin
The name of the band, Los Colognes, has an interesting origin story. The band was initially called "The Clones" but was forced to change its name when GoDaddy.com shut down their old website because someone else had copyrighted the name. The band spent a few months brainstorming new names, with the challenge being that everyone on the east side already knew them as "The Clones". They considered "The Colognes" because it sounded similar to their original name and because their bassist, Gordon Persha, wore super sweet cologne when he performed. However, it wasn't different enough to stand out. Eventually, someone started pronouncing it with a Spanish accent – "Los Cuh-Lone-Aze" – and the new name, Los Colognes, was born.
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Los Colognes' members
The name "Los Colognes" came about due to the band's previous name, "The Clones", being copyrighted by another entity. The band spent a few months brainstorming new names, and considered "The Colognes" because it sounded similar to their old name and because their bassist, Gordon Persha, wears "super sweet cologne". Eventually, someone in the band started pronouncing it with a Spanish accent – "Los Cuh-Lone-Aze" – and the name "Los Colognes" was born.
Los Colognes is a genre-bending, literate, jam-oriented rock and country-influenced band from Nashville, Tennessee. The band was formed in 2012 by Chicago cohorts singer/guitarist Jay Rutherford, drummer Aaron "Mort" Mortenson, and longtime bassist Gordon Persha. The band's sound has been described as '70s/'80s style rock steeped in the tradition of classic acts with a modern twist. Their music combines twangy, jam-oriented arrangements with Rutherford's insightful and somewhat sardonic songs.
In addition to the core trio, Los Colognes has also featured Micah Hulscher on keys, Chuck Foster on keys, Zach Setchfield on slide guitar, and Wojtek Krupka on guitar. The band has described their dynamic as a brotherhood, with each member bringing a unique flavour to their sound.
Los Colognes' music has been influenced by Nashville's country roots and the band has expressed a love for "real" country music. They have also cited JJ Cale as an inspiration for their laid-back musical style. The band's creative process involves not rehearsing or mapping out arrangements, allowing for freedom and expression within their songs.
In 2022, Los Colognes released their album "The New World", which combines elements of their earlier work with a more polished modern sound. The album explores themes of transcendentalism and spirituality in a postmodern world. The song ideas for "The New World" began as early as 2017 and the album was produced during the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a creative outlet for the band during that time.
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Their creative process
The creative process of Los Colognes, a band based in Nashville, Tennessee, is marked by a blend of influences, a dedication to their craft, and a willingness to experiment. The band's sound is steeped in the tradition of classic acts while constantly seeking a modern twist, showcasing a unique approach to genre-bending and a commitment to their artistic vision.
Formed in 2012, Los Colognes was started by Chicago natives singer/guitarist Jay Rutherford and drummer Aaron "Mort" Mortenson, who relocated to Nashville and were joined by longtime bassist Gordon Persha. Together, they crafted a distinctive style characterised by twangy, jam-oriented arrangements and insightful, sardonic songs. Their music draws on a range of influences, including classic rock, country, and Americana, with hints of acts like The Grateful Dead, Wilco, Dire Straits, and even a touch of the Eagles.
Los Colognes' creative process is deliberate and layered. Their third release, "The Wave," took two years to produce as they carefully crafted each track, opting to layer them in the studio rather than record live. This attention to detail resulted in a subtle groove, evoking hazy, mid-70s California pop and acts like Bob Welch-fronted Fleetwood Mac and Wish You Were Here-era Pink Floyd. The band's lyrics are often introspective, exploring the psychological ups and downs of life, with references to water reflecting the album's title and their relaxed ambiance.
The band's songwriting process is collaborative, with each member bringing their unique style and influence to the table. They don't rehearse or map out arrangements like many other bands, allowing for freedom and expression within their songs. This approach fosters a dynamic and evolving sound, as evident in their latest record, "The New World," which combines the elements of their earlier work with a more polished and modern sound.
Los Colognes' creative journey has been one of constant evolution and a commitment to their artistic voice. They embrace challenges and are not afraid to experiment, whether it's with their sound, their band name, or their video creations. Their dedication to their craft and willingness to explore different musical directions have solidified their unique identity in the music industry.
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Their music videos
The music videos of Los Colognes reflect the band's laid-back style and their influences, which include The Grateful Dead, Wilco, Dire Straits, and the Eagles.
The video for "King Size Bed" is a homage to the popular and violent video game series Grand Theft Auto, using footage entirely compiled from Grand Theft Auto V by drummer Aaron Mortenson and frontman Jay Rutherford. The song has a slow-crawling, dreamy, expansive, reggae-inflected groove that clocks in at just over five minutes.
The band's earlier video for "Working Together" was a Pop-Up parody.
Los Colognes' music videos are an important part of their artistic expression, and the band is not afraid to experiment with different styles and influences to create a unique and memorable visual experience for their fans.
The band's creative process often involves carefully layering tracks and subtle nuances, which can be seen in their music videos as well. Their video for "The Wave" is a perfect example of this, with its languid, subtle groove and hazy, wistful mid-70s California pop influences. The video captures the band's relaxed ambiance, with psychological waves reflecting the singer's life ups and downs.
Los Colognes' music videos showcase their unique style, blending influences from the 70s and 80s with a modern twist, creating a visual experience that complements their genre-bending sound.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no direct translation of "Los Colognes" in Spanish. The name originated from the band members' previous name, "The Clones", which was changed due to copyright issues. They considered "The Colognes" but wanted something more distinct, and so someone suggested pronouncing it with a Spanish accent – "Los Cuh-Lone-Aze" – and it stuck.
The name "Los Cuh-Lone-Aze" was chosen because it sounded similar to "The Clones", and because one of the band members, Gordo, wore "super sweet cologne".
The band members have not explicitly stated the origin of their previous name, "The Clones". However, it is likely that they chose this name because they wanted to clone their favourite music or because they wanted to be seen as clones of each other, each bringing a unique flavour to their collective sound.
