John Kolar Photo Credit: Megan McGinnis Photo
From the heart of Morgantown, West Virginia, emerges John Kolar, an indie artist whose music is as rich and textured as the Appalachian hills he calls home. Raised in the shadow of rolling mountains and winding rivers, Kolar’s artistic sensibility is steeped in nature, nostalgia, and a deep reverence for storytelling. His sonic palette draws from a wide range of influences, rock, pop, country, and jazz, each thread intricately woven into the fabric of his sound. But beyond genres, what defines Kolar is his authenticity. Every chord, lyric, and melody is grounded in lived experience and cultural heritage. John’s journey as an artist has always been tied to a sense of place. The hills of West Virginia aren’t just a backdrop; they are a presence in his work, breathing life into each song.
In 2025, Kolar embarked on an ambitious musical mission, releasing one original single every month leading to a full-length, ten-track album in November. This collection promises to be a genre-bending celebration of his diverse musical tastes, stitched together by a signature warmth and emotional resonance. With Tie My Shoes released in March,a spirited reflection on the complexity of modern relationships, John Kolar revealed his versatility. Released on April 11, 2025, Skipping Stones is John Kolar’s tender homage to love and the Appalachian mountains that shaped him. Nestled in the poetic stillness of West Virginia, this alt-country single glows with intimate warmth and regional pride.
Written as a heartfelt dedication to his wife, Lide, the track unfolds like a quiet afternoon by a mountain stream, reflective, serene, and stirring. It seamlessly blends traditional Appalachian musical textures with modern indie-folk stylings, creating a timeless sonic atmosphere. Featuring violinist Lucas Sherman from Western Pennsylvania and West Virginian drummer Cole Parker, Skipping Stones is not just a solo endeavor, it’s a collaborative expression of Appalachian artistry. Mastered by Mark Benincosa, a Grammy-nominated audio engineer and fellow West Virginian, every element of the track echoes home. With its lyrical elegance and rustic soul, Skipping Stones captures the kind of love that doesn’t need to shout, it simply lingers, like a stone rippling across water, touching everything in its path.
From the very first moment of Skipping Stones, John Kolar constructs a world steeped in tender emotion and Appalachian soul. The opening isn’t just gentle, it’s magnetic. A loving and soothing stringed melody meets the ears first, gracefully leading the way, but what truly sets the tone is how it’s paired with percussive brilliance and a calmly driving rhythm. These elements don’t compete, they harmonize, creating a sound that is simultaneously soft and groovy. It’s that delicate balance that makes the intro feel alive, as if nature itself were breathing through the track. The rhythm doesn’t rush; instead, it pulses like a heartbeat, underscoring the sincerity at the core of the song. Right from the beginning, Kolar proves his gift for musical storytelling, not just through lyrics, but through arrangement, mood, and atmosphere.
Skipping Stones is John Kolar’s tribute to love, nature, and simplicity, a song that finds profound meaning in quiet moments and enduring relationships. It draws deeply from the musical traditions of the Appalachian Mountains while adding a modern country polish, resulting in a blend that feels both timeless and fresh. What’s particularly striking is the authenticity in the instrumentation: acoustic guitar, rich with resonance, forms the foundation, while the violin exquisitely threads through the track like sunlight through forest leaves. The drums maintain a subtle yet confident pace, anchoring the song while giving it freedom to soar. There’s a restrained elegance in the way these elements come together, as if they know when to speak and when to step back.
The production is immaculate, letting each sonic detail breathe with clarity and intention. John Kolar’s vocal performance is a highlight in its own right, intimate, honest, and emotionally resonant. His delivery doesn’t force emotion; it allows it to unfold naturally. His voice carries a warmth and sincerity that’s rare in contemporary music, a soulful tone that’s lived-in, like a familiar old coat that still holds memories in its seams. There’s a conversational rhythm to how he sings, as if he’s sharing the story directly with you and no one else. The vocals are mixed perfectly into the fabric of the instrumentation, never overshadowing but always leading. You don’t just hear what he’s singing, you feel the weight of his words. It’s that vocal integrity that elevates Skipping Stones from a well-produced track to an unforgettable experience.
The lyrical content draws from John Kolar’s own life, specifically his relationship with his wife, Lide. But this is not a love song filled with clichés, it’s an ode to the real, often unspoken tenderness between two people who have weathered life together. Lines about dancing in the rain or simply sharing quiet moments carry emotional resonance, not because of their grandeur, but because of their grounded truth. John Kolar paints love as something enduring, not explosive, something rooted, like the Appalachian mountains themselves. The metaphor of skipping stones is beautifully woven throughout the song, not just as a visual, but as a symbol of memory, rhythm, and permanence. Every skipped stone feels like a cherished moment tossed across the stillness of time. Beyond its romantic core, Skipping Stones also functions as a love letter to the Appalachian region.
The musical choices, from the fiddle’s phrasing to the acoustic textures, are steeped in the sounds of West Virginia. Yet John Kolar isn’t simply reproducing tradition; he’s reviving it with contemporary nuance. The result is a sonic landscape that feels alive with both history and modern soul. This regional identity gives the song an added layer of authenticity, making it not only a personal story but a cultural expression. You can almost smell the wet earth, feel the river breeze, and hear the rustle of trees in the background. It’s rare for a song to so vividly evoke a sense of place while maintaining universal appeal. As the song progresses, the interplay between the acoustic guitar, violin, and drums becomes even more compelling. There’s a push and pull, a tension and release, that keeps the listener emotionally engaged.
The instrumentation swells at just the right moments, then recedes like a thoughtful conversation. It’s music that listens as much as it speaks. That careful balance reflects Kolar’s skill as a composer and producer. The emotional arc of the song, starting from a gentle intro, moving through reflective verses, and building to a subtly sweeping instrumental finish, mirrors the emotional journey of a lifelong love. It’s poetic in form as much as it is in content. Ultimately, Skipping Stones stands as a brilliant showcase of John Kolar’s artistry, a fusion of storytelling, musicianship, and heartfelt emotion. It’s a reminder that music doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful, or flashy to be unforgettable. With its lush musicality, grounded authenticity, and emotional vulnerability, Skipping Stones is more than just a song, it’s a lived experience, captured in notes and memories, ready to ripple through the hearts of all who hear it.
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