We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Matt Krahula. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Matt below.

Hi Matt, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I’ve been very fortunate over the years to have been part of some really special projects. Most recently, I released an album of songs called “Last Goodbye 11”, or LG11 for short. LG11 is a collection of songs that I wrote and released 11 years ago with my Indie-Folk group, The Nightmare River Band, on our sophomore album “Last Goodbye”. To celebrate the 11 year anniversary of the original “Last Goodbye”, I asked a bunch of friends to each re-imagine a song from the album in their own style. The artists involved are a collection of friends and collaborators that I’ve crossed paths with over my 20 years in the music industry. They brought so much talent and heart into this project. It has been rewarding on so many levels. Both hearing my music performed by people I look up to as well as having so many friends rally around this project with me. LG11 brings 11 new artists, performing 11 songs, 11 years later.

Matt, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

For those of you who aren’t familiar, my name is Matt Krahula. I am a singer-songwriter/ producer based out of Honolulu, HI. I am the lead singer of the Indie-Folk group, The Nightmare River Band, as well as the bassist for Grammy Nominated Henry Kapono.

My musical journey started in 4th grade when I began to study upright bass through public school. My music teacher noticed how quickly I was advancing so he recommended private lessons as well as auditioning for the Empire State Youth Orchestra (one of the best youth orchestra’s in the country). I spent several years in the Youth Orchestra performing in world renowned concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall and Tanglewood. We even did a European tour. All of these experiences eventually made me realize that music was more than just a hobby for me. I went on to obtain a bachelors degree in Classical Music at The Purchase College Conservatory of Music where I studied directly under Timothy Cobb (principal bassist of the New York Philharmonic).

While in college, I started playing electric bass in a band called Fire Flies. I spent the next 7 years traveling the world with Fire Flies. When we parted ways on good terms in 2009, I immediately jumped into my new project, The Nightmare River Band. This was the first time that I was the frontman and main songwriter for a project. Seth Faulk, the drummer from Fire Flies joined me, with a rotating crew of other musicians, and we spent the next 10 years touring the country relentlessly, playing festivals such as Summerfest and SXSW, and even getting nominated for an Independent Music Award for Best Alt-Folk Song of the Year. We are just coming off our 4th full length album release, “Last Goodbye 11”.

In 2018, I relocated to Honolulu and quickly landed a gig playing bass for the legendary Henry Kapono. I’ve spent the last 5 years touring the islands with Henry while still working on my own path in music. I’ve established myself as one of the most reliable sideman on Oahu and have performed with major Island artists such as John Cruz, Brother Noland, Jerry Santos, & Tavana. It’s been a long, exciting and fun journey and I’m proud to say I’ve pieced together a fulfilling life in the music industry.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than looking out into an audience and seeing people singing along to one of my songs. I used to close my shows with a song called “Where Do We Go?”, which I played on ukulele. On one particular night in Cleveland, Ohio, The Nightmare River Band was playing to a packed house. I looked out into the audience and a bunch of people had brought ukulele’s and were strumming along while the entire room was singing every word. It was an incredibly special moment for me that I’ll be grateful for forever.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal has always been to get my music in front of as many people as possible. I hope to have a lifetime of nights like the one I mentioned above.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.krahula.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattkrahula
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattkrahula
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mattkrahula
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/mattkrahula
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nightmare-river-band

Image Credits

Josa Comstock Photography (Cover Image, as well as images 1&3)
Kendra Baxter (images 2,4&5)