Life & Work with Alex Svoboda

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Svoboda. 

Hi Alex, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Alex Svoboda. I am the lead singer and guitar player for Michigan-based, folk-rock, and Americana band, the Cold Leather Seats. I grew up in Wasilla, Alaska and began writing songs as a teenager. However, it wasn’t until attending college at Northern Michigan University that I first began sharing these songs with close friends. 

Cold Leather Seats is composed of myself and my cousin, Bella Worthing, who plays fiddle and sings. We founded the band in 2019. 

After writing a few songs with some fellow musicians, we began seriously pursuing a studio to record our music. By chance, we were introduced to Jeremiah and Alicia Pilbeam, owners of White Elephant Records. The studio has been amazing and has helped us so much on our journey as songwriters, a band, and musicians. 

Info about Bella Worthing: 

Violinist and vocalist Bella Worthing grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She began playing violin at the age of four and has since performed extensively around Nebraska and the Midwest with various musical groups including stunt fiddling group- Frontier Strings. 

Bella is currently studying violin and music education at the renowned Omaha Conservatory of Music. When she’s not performing or studying, she teaches violin to children as part of the Omaha Conservatory of Music’s String Sprouts program. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When we first started writing music, we never imagined that we would successfully record our songs someday. As our passion for the project grew, we knew we needed to find the right studio. A friend got us in touch with White Elephant Records and we have since developed a great relationship with them. 

Another big challenge, in the beginning, was booking gigs and getting people to listen to us. Something every band struggles with. We have a ton of energy and enthusiasm but being so new, we didn’t have many connections. Over the past year, we have worked very hard to get our name out in the local music scenes of Michigan and Nebraska. We have begun to play more shows and have even been played on a local Grand Rapids radio station. 

Our biggest challenge is the distance we currently live from one another. I live in Big Rapids, Michigan and Bella lives in Omaha, Nebraska. We trade visits to one another as often as we can to rehearse, record, and perform. It can be difficult but the reward is always great. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our band, the Cold Leather Seats is a folk-rock and Americana band based in Michigan. We have created our own unique, Americana-blend of country, folk, rock, and blues. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Jason Isbell, the Head and the Heart, and Jeff Buckley, we write songs that speak to our deepest emotions and connect with the people around us. 

We recorded and released our debut single, “Roots,” in December 2020. Currently, we are working hard on new music and will be announcing release dates very soon. In the meantime, you can watch us perform at local venues around Michigan. Our debut single “Roots,” can be streamed on any platform you listen to music. 

Any big plans?
We are working on booking shows throughout Michigan for 2022. We will be releasing new music in early 2022 with the goal of someday releasing a full album. 

You can find our performance schedule on our website. 

Contact Info:

• Email: thecoldleatherseats@gmail.com
• Website: https://coldleatherseats.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cold_leather_seats/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coldleatherseats
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8oQd2_yiLqZqYOJHLDhLQA
• Other: https://linktr.ee/ColdLeatherSeats

Image Credits
Samantha Worthing Photography