September 2012 "Music" Issue

Koltick describes Kink Ador as “Gwen Stefani meets Sting” and says she likes to think of them as “the first true rock and roll band with a female bassist at the front”. She says that what the band wears on stage is relative to their music and she likes to wear what she feels good performing in. For Koltick, that means leather jackets, fun dresses and bright, expressive accessories—items that, as she says, “have sensuality, and convey a bright, positive energy”.

The guys, on the other hand, go their own way and stick to mostly tight jeans and T-shirts that allow them to move around on stage while performing.

Koltick believes that while fashion can be a catalyst to the success of a band or artist, it is most important to focus on the sound first. Once an artist masters that and understands their point-of-view, it should be easy to express themselves through their style. It’s all about having a unified message and creating an entertaining visual and auditory experience for the audience. While the audience is there first and foremost to hear the music, capturing their visual attention as well is what really completes the show.

Kink Ador is currently touring and upcoming shows include performances at Toronto’s Indie Music Week and the CMJ Music Marathon in New York, both held in October.

Whether you believe that fashion influences music or music influences fashion, the truth is each relies on the other to amplify its message. As they say, “clothes don’t make the man”, and musicians will tell you that they don’t make the music. But they do make a statement—one that unites the two entities to create perfect harmony. And, yes, that pun was intended too.

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