KOSHIOL USES MUSIC TO EXPRESS FEELINGS Whether he's making music with his band, One Nite Stand, or on his own, Lester Koshiol of St. Cloud likes to express himself through song. He dropped off a copy of the song, "Making Time," from his solo project, "Shades of Blue," with Up Next a couple of months ago and was kind enough to answer a few questions. Tell us about "Making Time," the song that readers can download at www.sctimes.com/entertainment. I wrote the song, "Making Time," to express how frustrated I was to have so many things to do, and not enough time to spend with someone who needed me. I entered it in the 9th Billboard Song Contest in 2000, and it got a good critique, although it didn't win the big prize. At the time I really wanted to write a hit song, and I had read a lot on the subject, but it takes a lot of work, from lyrics, instrumentation and recording to marketing. On this song, I not only wrote the song, but played all the tracks myself and mixed it in my basement. It didn't turn out too bad, but it is a pretty simple song basically. How did you pick your band's name? Sometimes we play for one night, or sometimes two nights, and we've been known to play for six nights, although it is a part-time gig. What inspires you to write music? Sometimes it's because I'm not hearing the music I want to hear. Sometimes it's because I have something to say or something to express, and putting it to music is the best way to say it. Or maybe I just want to share a feeling of mine. How would you describe your music? It's like a trip back to the 60's and 70's. We do a lot of covers, including Elvis, Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, Loggins & Messina, The Band, Chuck Berry, Van Morrison, The Doors, Lynyrd Skynard, B.B. King, Jefferson Airplane and Steppenwolf, to name a few. Sometimes we play our originals. Why do you make music? I make music because I can feel the music, and I want other people to feel it, too. Although a lot of times music is just background, which is unfortunate, because I feel it all the time, and it's not realistic to enjoy music all the time. There are so many other things to do.” - Liz Kohman

St Cloud Times