Embodying qualities of a poet, shaman, and cultural/musical revolutionary, soul singer-songwriter Coultrain is on the verge of widespread recognition with The Adventures of Seymour Liberty. Many Los Angeles heads have caught a breeze of Coultrain’s essence on Garth Trinidad’s Suite 903 compilation; many more will emerge enlightened in the near future.

Aglow with sincerity, Adventures is described by its creator as a thematic piece; slightly tragic in its reflection, yet full of hope. It’s no wonder that ‘Train’s sublime songwriting streams into our consciousness on multiple levels – his literary influences include James Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, Margaret Walker, Cleaver, Kerouac, and Solomon’s Song of Songs.

Along with the musical and literary influences, the human experience in general imbues Coultrain’s art. And its expression is a hands-up-to-testify cleansing of the spirit and conscience. Following his journey thus far, it’s evident to see why…

[Jeff Kuryak, LA2DAY] When did you realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

[Coultrain] It’s been a dream of mine for so long that I can't really pinpoint an age. The earliest that I can actually recall a memory has to be around age 6 or 7, performing with the school & church choir.

J: I know you grew up around music. How do you feel your upbringing and early environment shaped your current musical style? Who were some of your early influences?

C: My upbringing was full of music. My parents were very strict disciplinarians, but music always seemed to be an exception to the rules. [I remember] sitting in the basement with my father listening to Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Mavis Staples, basically all of the Stax records at that time, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder. All these artists – like so many even now grew up in church like me, so it was a relatable sound – one that deepened my interest in soul music. The arrangements, the harmonies, the rhythms, the emotions – all these wrapped together shaped my sound totally. So even once I got involved with hip-hop producers, it all still carried the same essence for me – the same freedom of expression.

J: What is the story behind your name, Coultrain?

C: The name has so many different reasons – first my nickname was Train and it was given to me at a time when I was just starting to know myself (during adolescence). So I held on to it tight. Not that I thought it was better than my real name, but I've always been in to films so it became kind of a character I played – a piece of myself that wasn't always to be exposed; just on occasion.

J: Since winning the Riverfront Times (St. Louis) award in 2003, you have travelled from to NY & LA to Europe. How has your sabbatical impacted or enhanced your craft?

C: My travels have taught me so much – endurance, enlightenment, patience, focus… just being able to adjust to anything. This is how I know GOD walks with me: A lot of temptations and tribulations entered my life exactly when I could handle them and deal with them in a way that I felt as if I was growing in music, as a man, and a child of GOD.

J: Are there any differences in your audience / music listeners in the US & over seas?  Have you noticed a greater appreciation for you art in any particular place?

C: Honestly I'm not sure about the difference. I got positive feedback from both places. I try not to give compliments too much thought because I'm so hard on myself; although they are really nice to hear. I think almost anybody can appreciate it because its honest music.

J: I know you place an emphasis on creating timeless music. How did you come to place timelessness as the top priority of your work?

C: Well, I learned a long time ago not to fall into the trends of the day. The people I listen to, people have been following for over fifty years and their music still matters. That's important for it to be twenty years later and your music still matters. It’s still valid; people are still living it, fighting through it, loving it, praying for it, hurting through it. I hope my music says the same.

J: What would you like people to gain from your songs?

C: I hope it’s therapy for some and poetry for others.

J: I know you used to play the drums; do you get the chance to play much anymore?

C: I play a little bit every now and then. Actually I'm starting to produce a little bit with a great singer/songwriter by the name of Rucyl. This gives me the opportunity to experiment with that other side of my musicability that I don't have access to a lot.

J: Is there anything in particular that seems to inspire your creativity?

C: Life. Not just one particular aspect of it either. So many different pieces of life make up one song for me. It could be a "love" song but there's so much joy or torture stemming from so many other directions, they play a part as well.

J: What does the immediate and distant future hold for Coultrain?

C: The Adventures of Seymour Liberty, my full length. I'm also a featured writer/artist on the new PPP (Platinum Pied Pipers) project and various side projects. GOD willing, the future holds more experiences and feelings inside them to write about; I am a writer first.

J: What was the first song you ever wrote?

C: It was called “Two Different Worlds,” I was like twelve. It was about a girlfriend at the time; I was trying to do poetry. It had to do with the fact that she liked to play tetherball and I didn’t. We didn’t like to do a lot of the same things so it was like we were living in two different worlds.

J: Wow, that’s real (mutual laughter). Anything else you'd like to bless us with?

C: GOD is laughing at your plans...

Indeed, sir. As Coultrain’s story continues to unfurl, we should strive to grow with the same verve, spiritual consciousness and ambition. Along the way, there will be an abundance of therapy and poetry to comfort and inspire; stay close to the source here:

www.myspace.com/coultrainmusic

By Jeff Kuryak

Photo by Max for SolidState LA