Today we’d like to introduce you to Atilla Cosar
Hi Atilla, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I was 10, I was introduced to Giant Steps by John Coltrane by my Uncle. The rich savory tone of his saxophone and the vast control and technicality of his instrument was one thing I and many others would come to admire about Coltrane, but what had cemented my love deeper beyond my already established admiration for classics in popular music was his boundless creativity and that ignited a very new feeling in me that has stayed ever since, passion. I started writing original songs from a old Yahama keyboard that was kept in my dad’s storage unit for his local moving business at the time, eventually my dad heard my potential and signed me up for classical piano lessons, which I would eventually drop after only 4 months. Although I learned quite a good bit, I struggled with the way piano was so systematically put into me, I didn’t know how to express it just yet at 10 years old but I can tell now I was a natural born songwriter first and musician second, which were two very subtle but profound differences. Things became unclear the more time I invested into music, I had suffered silently as I figured out the new feelings of having an intense passion. I found a greater 2nd awakening of sorts with hip hop throughout high school, I had a hard time finding who I was in high school; yet when I was introduced to Slum Village, a underground hip-hop act from the 90’s, things became more clear; I became more confident in myself and the act of composing so I turned into producing and making beats. I would skip class with friends and just make beats everyday that were influenced from my heroes J Dilla and Kanye West. Eventually, I got really good at making beats; people would come up to me and pay me for some simple tracks. Although I was good at making instrumentals, I knew I had a longing to be an artist, the guy upfront; the messenger of the music. I studied how to sing, how to write songs, and how to perform effectively from my heroes in soul, pop, rnb, and funk like Michael Jackson, Otis Redding, Al Green, and Stevie Wonder. I was in tune enough with the universe at 16 to understand I was put on this Earth to be my generations’ newest vessel of an legendary singer-songwriter. During my senior year, I was still maturing and developing confidence in my style to compose; one day, as we were skipping class, my friend Carson Kellar and I were watching soul train and talking about life, that conversation eventually turned to the formation of a band called The Squrriel Monkeys, it is if Sublime, Jamiroquai, and Gil-Scott Heron all had a baby. We are still tinkering around our newest EP. When I graduated from Mandarin High in 2024, I made a vow to work relentlessly harder to achieve my dreams and goals, I wrote songs everyday; I made connections with musicians around the scene in Jax, and I developed a healthy social, emotional, and mental life to gain beautiful insight for my own original music. I am currently at FSCJ for music, and I am working on my own EP of original songs, which will be recorded in 21st century studios in Landon Ave, with the assistance of a real live jazz/rock band.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been particularly easy but that is really the beauty of life haha. What songs would I have to write about, if things really were always easy! I think the biggest struggle I faced in my life however was not having enough maturity, experience, and clarity to understand who I, Atilla Cosar, really was. I feel like now that I am more independent in life, I am just now learning more about myself and that is very essential for making quality meaningful songs in which you can authentically express yourself. I feel now, at 18 and recording my own EP; I am at the cusp of my life where I am really learning more about what kind of lifestyle would serve me and my art best. For I have these songs on my upcoming EP that are very profound and spiritually potent; largely influenced by my upbringing and then I have songs for two bands I am in that are really more just teenage boys having fun and banging drums. It’s a very confusing duality of which one I want to commit more energy into ultimately; but I know I’ll find my way and succeed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a singer-songwriter/composer/producer. I produce and write mainly in the styles of neo soul, reggae, and funk music but I have done some fairy themed compositional work for an original play production before in Jax. I am most proud of my development in good songwriting, I have been receiving very positive feedback on my original songs I posted on Instagram, and when I perform them in open mics in Jacksonville. What ultimately separates me from others is I seek to combine the beauty and sophistication of jazz and soul with the rawness, grittiness, and humane of grunge, hip hop, and reggae.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I am very giddily optimistic so please forgive me, but success really is just being alive everyday man. At least in life or so, I do think for music; success is when you made something you are proud of.
Pricing:
- no charge just 20-50% in royalties for singing/songwriting assistance
- $150-250 upfront or 20-50% royalties for boombap and lofi beats
- contact me for compositional work
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atillacosar/
