“Having grown up in Sonoma County, I am a country girl who loves every part of the county from the ocean to the vineyards. I am Yurok, Karuk and Hupa and come from a long line of storytellers. I play ukulele, guitar, piano, harmonica, viola and I am learning the mandolin.

I began songwriting when I was eight. It was Columbus day and I was inspired after hearing my mother read about Oñate the conquistador as well as about Columbus. As a young girl of Yurok, Karuk and Hupa descent, I wrote a song revealing the brutal treatment to the natives called “Columbus with the Big Butt.” 

At age twelve, I made a music video and received four Music Video awards across the nation! I then made my first C.D. with my sister and my band, The Firefly Girls. I have continued to write songs and began competing last year in the West Coast Songwriters Association Songwriters’ Competition. In November of 2010, I won “Best Song!”

Now, I am a Special Education teacher who is living in Nashville for the month of July to play music and write in Music City!”

–Koli Kohler (http://kolikohler.wixsite.com/music)