We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cole Mitchek a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cole, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
One really meaningful project that comes to mind with smallsongs is a recent video I did of Thee Sacred Souls at The Telluride Blues & Brews Fest last month. My older brother Justin was there to help film a few songs from their set as we followed the lead singer through the crowd singing a couple tunes. There was a special energy in the air. The moments weren’t planned. We were just there to capture the aforementioned energy. It felt like the pinnacle of what smallsongs has been leading to. Plus to have Justin there to help bring it to life was meaningful. It was a reminder that I don’t have to do everything by myself. It really helps to put some of the pressure off of myself and to share the fun / work load. That video is coming soon!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
I’m the guy behind smallsongs which is a passion project that I’ve put so much of myself in to over the last couple of years. I film music videos on the streets of different cities around the world, mostly acoustic. I focus on the musician as they make their musical magic. Recently I’ve been filming some sessions on my grandads old Super 8 camera. I’ve also started working on more conversational pieces with the artists that I film. I’m also filming songs from live events. Like I just got the opportunity to film Young the Giant up close & personal at Red Rocks Ampitheatre on Super 8 Film. That video is also coming soon!
How did you build your audience on social media?
I’m still in the process of building my audience via social media, which can get increasingly harder with the unpredictable algorithm. So I’m learning more and more the importance of staying true to my art. I think it’s important to not get too sucked in to numbers and views and likes and comments etc. While those things can be helpful for exposure, they’re also toxic. When you’re an independent artist you have the freedom to do your art the way that you want to do it. So in general I think it’s important to be intentional with what you create and to know why you’re creating it in the first place.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
smallsongs has been slowly and steadily growing. But it can seem like a set back when I feel that a musician and I have created a unique moment in time unlike any other, and then hardly anyone recognizes how special that moment was. My own belief in what I do is what keeps me going regardless of any outside voices, because you can’t rely on most people out there to consistently be supportive of what you’re doing. I think that’s where my form of resilience comes in. I’ve always had some confidence that I do make good art. That way I don’t have to rely on anyone else to constantly reassure me of how special & amazing I am. Plus if someone likes what I do, that’s just bonus points.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.patreon.com/smallsongs?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator
- Instagram: @smallsongs_
- Facebook: @smallsongworld
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/cole-mitchek-14bb7a105
- Twitter: @smallsongworld
- Youtube: www.YouTube.com/smallsongs
- Other: https://smallsongworld.wixsite.com/smallsongs
Image Credits
first photo taken with/by The Late Summers in Berlin second photo taken by Housewarming in Austin third photo taken by Bonnie Mitchek at the Telluride Blues & Brews Fest fourth photo taken by Angie Gitt Govig of Calvin Arseni & I in Denver