Who is kubla?

Moving to Toronto with a humble goal of pursuing a career as an independent artist, Kubla has made quite a name for himself in the world of music, amassing many millions of streams in the past 2 years of releasing music. He comes from humble beginnings, being raised on the West Coast by struggling musician parents who influenced his soulful sound by bringing him to the music festivals they played at, and putting every instrument they could into his young hands. Kubla is a multi-faceted artist—producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, he puts everything he has into all of his releases.

Consistent yet dynamic, Kubla is an accomplished performer, with hard-earned skills in his singing and his guitar playing that stand with the greats—Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Prince, and D’Angelo serve as huge influences on his sound. His name is inspired by his love of poetry, and his lyrics move the listener to consider his unique perspective. Playing grooves you can’t help but move to and writing songs that will move you, Kubla is bound to charm you with his undeniable talents.

The project of Kubla was born in early 2019, when he released his premier singles ‘Changes’ and ‘Missing U,’ both inspired by the turbulence of his quarter-life. Being a philosophical person, he aimed to make music that sensitively tackled the challenging and beautiful aspects of being alive in a very real way—friendship, romance, sense of self, family, masculinity, regret, and loss—with the aim of helping people gain perspective on their own lives in the form of groovy productions. The project has evolved since then to encompass so much more, but the core of that mission lives on through his lyrics and the way he shows up as a performer.

Moving to Toronto in 2019 with no contacts or prospects, Kubla first started by playing on the street by himself, and later with his brother Gaelan (bass) and his friends. Gaining momentum in the city, Kubla began putting on his own shows where he sold tickets to the folks who saw him on the street. Making a living in the city purely as an independent artist was challenging, but he had moved from his hometown of Victoria to do just that. Persevering through the high cost of living in Toronto as a full time musician, he gained notoriety for his smooth vocals, skilful guitar playing, and his catchy songwriting and arrangements.

Releasing his first full-length album—Close to the Sun—in 2023, Kubla’s music has reached a wide audience across the globe. Still playing shows across the city either solo or with his band of friends, he aims to spread his musical message worldwide through the quality of his production, storytelling, and songwriting. This is only the beginning for the 29-year-old, as his project turns 5 years old in 2024 and is continuously improving, evolving, and attracting more collaborators. He plans to put out a new album he recorded live in his house, tentatively named “Xanadu,” in mid-2024.