Los Angeles indie pop star Ian Cobiella is inventing his own sound and style. Classically trained on the piano and learning the cello in four weeks is a talent in itself. His new EP All I Have I Give is bursting with emotions and his music is steeped in integrity and is paving the way for a new indie pop regimen to begin. His single “Control, Out” blends synth electronic beats with piano.
His Cuban and Bolivian roots shows up in his music as well. I talk to the budding indie pop star about his new EP, his culture, and more.
What was it like growing up in Los Angeles?
I was in Koreatown and it was a lot of different cultures. There’s a lot of music being thrown around. Growing up here was great. I never want to leave Los Angeles.
You are classically trained on the piano and learned cello in four weeks?
Yes, I learned piano when I was three. My mother would use it against me and say that she would take the piano away from me if I didn’t use it. She saw how much I loved playing piano. She knows the dedication discipline that goes in to it.
I remember talking to my engineer who mixed the album and wanted to add strings. I wanted to play the cello and he said there was no way I could do it. Learning any instrument with no deadline is already difficult. I had a quick lesson on the cello on holding the bow and figuring out how to should sit on my body. Then I used YouTube. I can read music but I just had to figure out the notes.
How does your Cuban and Bolivian heritage show up in your music?
Lyrically it does. For the Cuban side of me, my music is based on the New York City 70s salsa sound. For the rest it’s all lyrically. Growing up and speaking Spanish helped with my approach to music and songwriting. My song structure is pretty based on Latin. I will have songs out in the future that will be in Spanish too.
You added a choir to the mix of things on the EP.
Yes I did. I had my roommates on “Honey” and “Have I Been Good To You”. I did my own background vocals on it too for the arrangements. It was fun to have a choral element to it.
“Control Out” is a departure from the rest of the EP.
I really like electronic music too! I had a synthesizer that I bought and used too. I really enjoyed making it. I built it off one chord. I listen to a lot of Black Coffee, Calvin Harris, Test, Aphex Twin, Locked Club, James Blake, and Kraftwerk.
It seems like you sat in your emotions a lot on this EP.
I think there’s already so many perspectives on everything. There’s always a song about everything. I can’t talk about anything else that I see, know, or experienced.
What’s next for you?
I am trying to go through the Los Angeles circuit first. Touring is something love to do. Next are performances.
