Forgotten Laces and Fractured Reflections: John Kolar Strikes a Chord

From the misty hills of Morgantown, indie artist John Kolar delivers a slow-burning introspective gem with “Tie My Shoes”—a track that’s equal parts melancholic and magnetic. Blending indie rock with subtle echoes of pop and jazz, Kolar captures the quiet chaos of modern love and emotional disorientation in a way that feels personal, but universally haunting.

The lyrics might read like fragments of a late-night conversation or a journal entry left unfinished, and that’s precisely the charm. “Broken mirrors were built for two / Got me thinking clearer, but forgot to tie my shoes” —it’s vulnerable poetry, wrapped in the simple metaphor of untied shoes, suggesting how easily we forget to take care of ourselves when everything else falls apart.

What elevates the track is the understated electric guitar work—clean, steady, but slightly aching—like it’s holding back tears. There’s no need for big drums or flashy solos here; Kolar leans into subtlety, allowing space for his vocals to ache and drift. It’s all beautifully stripped back, but rich with texture.

“Tie My Shoes” doesn’t shout to be heard—it quietly lingers, like a late-night thought that keeps circling back. It’s the kind of song you want to listen to alone, in your room, when everyone else has gone home. And maybe that’s the point.