West Virginia’s own John Kolar returns with ‘Skipping Stones’, a tender new single that feels like a morning breeze rolling over the Appalachian hills. After charming listeners with the introspective grit of ‘Tie My Shoes’, Kolar shifts into gentler territory, delivering a track that wears its heart proudly on its sleeve.
Where his previous release leaned into indie-rock edge, ‘Skipping Stones’ slows things down, allowing emotion to take centre stage. With layered instrumentation and a melody that sways like sunlight through trees, Kolar paints a portrait of falling for someone in a place where nature is a constant companion. There’s something nostalgic in its simplicity with echoes of first love, soft-spoken promises, and quiet days by a riverbank.
It’s not just the lyrics that evoke intimacy though. Kolar’s voice feels close, unguarded, like a conversation between old friends or a confession shared at golden hour. There’s a refreshing honesty to his delivery that makes even the smallest lyrical turns feel weighty. Add in his knack for fusing pop structure with hints of folk, country, and even jazz, and the result is a tune that’s both accessible and uniquely his.
This single is just the latest chapter in a year-long rollout that will culminate in Kolar’s debut full-length album. If ‘Skipping Stones’ is any indication of what’s ahead, listeners can expect a body of work that doesn’t sit comfortably within one genre, but instead weaves between them with purpose and heart.
For fans of songwriters who favour authenticity over polish, and story over spectacle, John Kolar is crafting something special. ‘Skipping Stones’ is a gorgeous love song, a postcard from the hills, signed in melody.
