Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Koskinen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started in high school with a garage band in Plattsburgh, NY. Also, during high school, I was in Houghton Michigan playing at a club called The Suburban Exchange. I wasn’t very good at doing other people’s music so I started figuring out how to write my own songs. That’s taken 25 years to get a grasp on. I’m a slow learner.
I moved to some odd places for music, like Lake Tahoe and Vermont but I also moved to Nashville and eventually to Minneapolis. In Minneapolis, I joined up with Molly Maher and we started a weekly gig at the famed Nye’s Polonaise Room. After 5 1/2 years we moved to The Aster. Having an 8 1/2-year Wednesday night residency helped hone some skills. I probably got a few bad habits out of the deal, too.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are still struggles. Not much about the music business is smooth or even that easy to grasp until you are in the middle of it. There is not one concert or gig that is like another. Not one gig is the same and every day has a new challenge and obstacle and that’s something I can deal with, most of the time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I feel lucky I wasn’t able to copy any idols or stars in the songwriting and music world. It forced me to figure out my own self and my own sound. We all take heavy influence from great songwriters and performers but I stick to my own version of putting words and phrasing together in song form. I don’t do it like anyone else. That doesn’t mean it’s always great but as I said, I’ve moved slowly my whole life with developing writing and musical skill.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Well, I just got my first “smart” phone and I’m trying to figure out how to manipulate it for my benefit rather than it manipulate me. I’m always reading books. The most recent ones are by Cormac McCarthy, Bob Dylan, Annie Proulx, and the cult classic novel, Once A Runner by John L. Parker JR.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://erikkoskinen.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erik_koskinen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErikKoskinenMusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Erik_Koskinen
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ErikKoskinen
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/erik-koskinen
Image Credits
Jeffrey Foucault, Darin Kamnetz, Ilia Stockert, and Steven Cohen
