Athens, Georgia band Kobanova formed when a classical pianist, a blues guitarist, and a singer songwriter met at the University of Georgia and began playing music together in 2019. Their following began to grow, coming to a head in February 2020 with a sold-out show at the 40 Watt Club. Then, as goes the story of many talented artists in recent years, Covid hit.
The band’s touring plans came to a halt in the wake of the shutdown which lead them to go on hiatus after the release of their second single in October 2020.
Kobanova, who at that time was still a trio, took the time off to recenter, making a comeback in the summer of 2022 in Atlanta. The boys got back to business, recording several new singles, and recruiting bassist Sam McIntire to complete the band.
Momentum quickly picked back up with the members honing in on their sound and releasing a wildly successful single “The Hunt.”
Now, they are scaling back for their upcoming EP For Better or Worse.
The EP, draws from the band’s personal journeys through love and the earnest yearning for a relationship. The title track of the same name brings a strong baseline from Sam that effortlessly carry Riemer’s polished vocals.
When asked about the EP, the band said, “For Better or Worse marks the start of a new chapter for our band. The four tracks on For Better or Worse are the first batch of songs written since we left the University of Georgia and capture feelings and memories from our time spent in Athens”. The song is a record, having a certain sting as they share their life experiences. They went on to share, ““We spent nearly half a year writing and refining and then finally tracked the whole EP in one session at 800 East Studios”.
For Better or Worse serves as a masterful resurgence from Kobanova, embracing their sound and finding their rightful place in the music scene. While it was painstaking to wait for their return, Kobanova is back and better than ever.
Kobanova will be performing at Smith’s Olde Bar on Friday, April 21st, 2023 for their SOLD OUT EP release show. Stream here.
