Kolr are beginning to make their mark on Cork’s music scene, bringing a fresh blend of indie, funk and disco influences to a sound that continues to evolve.
The group is made up of Augustas Buožius from Kanturk and Jason Quinlan from Newmarket, who first met during their secondary school days. Music quickly became a shared passion. “We were in the same classes and part of a bigger group of friends, most of which played music in some way,” they recall. “We all picked up our instruments and started playing together from around 15 or 16 years old.”
Like many young musicians, their paths briefly diverged after school. Augustas moved to the UK while Jason remained in Cork, both continuing to play in various projects. But when Augustas returned to Ireland in 2023, the pair saw an opportunity. “We knew it would be a great time to start a fresh creative project together,” they say.
That project has since developed into a sound rooted in indie, but shaped by a wide range of influences. “Our primary focus is around indie, however we are also heavily influenced by funk, disco, soul and psychedelic rock,” they explain. “In some songs you can hear subtle hints of our earlier rock and roll influences, but we’ve steered away from that and now create more laid-back, lighter music.”
Their debut EP, SILK, marks an important step in that journey. Rather than rushing into a single release, Kolr took time to shape their direction. “When we first got together to write, we were pulling from a lot of different influences,” they say. “What naturally came out of this was to structure these ideas into three separate EPs, each with four songs and their own distinct vibe.”
SILK is the first of those, blending indie foundations with strong disco and funk elements. Created alongside founding member Povilas, the EP draws inspiration from acts like Jungle and Parcels, while maintaining a sound the band can call their own. “We wrote and recorded the four songs from home and aimed for funky guitar licks, groovy basslines, thumpin’ drums and catchy vocal hooks,” they explain.
The project was later brought to the next level through collaboration with Cork-based producer Aidan O’Mahony. “He was super helpful and insightful and we are really grateful for his dedication, ideas and input,” they say. “We are pleased with what we achieved and our new direction to explore disco and funk genres. It has been a very rewarding project.”
For Kolr, success is less about numbers and more about staying true to their sound. “Success for us is fulfilling our musical goals and expressing ourselves in a way that feels authentic,” they say. “We both have some similar music interests but also a lot of different influences, and that’s where it gets exciting, trying to blend that into something unique.”
They also believe their approach sets them apart locally. “There is not a massive indie music scene in Cork, especially for disco and funk-influenced indie,” they note. “We struggled to find studios working with similar styles, so that’s kind of a plus, we can make the music we like while filling a bit of a gap.”
Looking ahead, there’s no shortage of ambition. A live set featuring alternate versions of tracks from SILK is already recorded, while work is underway on their second EP, which they hope to release in 2027. Live performance is also high on the agenda. “We are most excited about playing live and engaging with the scene in Cork and surrounding areas,” they say.
They are set to take to the stage on April 24 at The Liberty Bar in Cork city, performing as part of the Cork Skateboarding Association’s launch event, another step forward for a band eager to build momentum.
Keeping their audience in the loop is also part of the journey. “We try to keep posting consistently and engage on Instagram,” they say. “It gives people insight into what we are doing but also keeps pushing us to reach our goals.”
At its core, their aim is simple, to create music that connects. “If people enjoyed the tunes, that’s great. We got a lot out of it already, so if anyone else gets something from the music, that’s a bonus,” they say. “We have a lot of ideas and ambition and hope people are as excited about what’s to come as we are.”