Coleg Sir Gâr Band Katalogen Debuts EP Clay Chums with BBC Wales Feature

Katalogen, a band formed in Coleg Sir Gâr released their debut EP, Clay Chums, over the summer and has their song, I don’t understand, featured on BBC Wales.

The band consists of five students from the Music Performance course: Nikola Kazmierowicz (guitar and vocals), Connor Gayford (guitar), Christopher Sieuw (guitar), Ronnie Evans (bass), and Evan Davies (drums). The group came together last September after their music lecturer, Pasha, encouraged Niki and Connor to collaborate and “make music together.”

Since then, Niki and Connor have written all the tracks on the EP, and the band gradually expanded by adding a drummer, guitarist, and bassist. 

The formation of the group happened naturally—Evan, the drummer, overheard the two playing a song and spontaneously suggested a drum beat, thus joining the band. Initially, they decided against having a bassist, but when Ronnie joined, his style and energy matched perfectly, rounding out the band’s dynamic.

Chris, the guitarist, was added later in the process. He listened to the music and contributed his own ideas, adding to the tracks where he felt they needed it. “It’s a collaborative process,” the band explained, highlighting how each member’s input shaped the overall sound.

Creating Clay Chums was both a college project and a passion project for Katalogen. “We wanted to make the music,” the band shared, explaining how they would often jam together in the practice room. The writing process primarily revolved around Niki and Connor, who bounced ideas off each other, which is how the EP came to life. 

Once the core tracks were written, Ronnie added his bass parts, and Chris contributed his own ideas where he felt the music needed them. Each member plays a role in shaping their sound. 

One example is their track I Don’t Understand, whose main riff was written by Connor a year before the song was fully developed, starting in his room before he even began college. The band’s open communication is key to their creative process, allowing them to be honest about what works and what doesn’t, without arguments. 

The inspiration for Katalogen’s EP were mom jeans, with the band humorously stating, “We love mom jeans; we can’t shut up about them.” Connor and Chris also find significant inspiration in the music of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.

“We’re quite nerdy when it comes to our music,” the band admits, noting that they put a lot of thought into their creative process. While they don’t strictly adhere to musical theory, they trust their instincts, saying, “If it sounds good, then it sounds good.” 

The rest of the band is currently attending university in Bristol, and Niki and Connor plan to join them when they finish college. Niki is hoping to pursue a music production course as she has “grown to admire the technical side of things.” This desire to expand her knowledge will undoubtedly enrich Katalogen’s sound as they continue to evolve as musicians.

Their sound blends elements of Midwest emo, math rock, and alternative rock, resulting in a unique and dynamic musical style.

Katalogen’s EP Clay Chums is available to listen on all streaming platforms including Spotify.