Meet KC’s cowpunk basement guitar hero: This DIY dreamer is demanding more from himself

Kansas City’s DIY music scene has long been a hub for raw, creative talent — with eclectic frontman Kole Waters quickly becoming one of its standout names.

Kole Waters performs with Big Fat Cow during a DIY show; courtesy photo

As the lead guitarist and co-vocalist for post-country phenomenon Big Fat Cow and the centerpiece of synth-infused Dreamist, Waters blends influences ranging from folk storytelling to cathartic soundscapes.

“I just don’t believe in being completely married to one tradition or one genre,” Waters said. “There’s so much more connected than people realize.”

His open-minded approach makes him a dynamic and experimental guitarist, whether he’s bringing “cowpoke fuzz” to Big Fat Cow or creating sweeping, atmospheric sounds with Dreamist.

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Big Fat Cow members Noah Cassity, Kole Waters, and Alex May; not pictured, Matt Chipman; photo by Imani Black

Independent spirit

Having played both locally and on the road, Waters has grown to appreciate the uniqueness of Kansas City’s basement “DIY” music culture — loosely defined by an independent vibe that takes cues from the 1970s punk aesthetic with gritty, small venues and stripped-down recordings.

“What I realized playing shows in other cities is that not everywhere has as much of a local DIY scene as we do,” he said. “There used to be way more house shows, but that ‘make it yourself’ attitude is still really prevalent here.”

It’s this independent spirit that keeps Waters focused on authenticity over industry expectations.

“I’d much rather make something that I don’t have to compromise on, even if it’s just a handful of people who enjoy it, they’ll see who we are genuinely,” he said.

Experimenting with sound

For Waters, making music is more than just playing; it’s an avenue to push creative boundaries. His pedalboard serves as a playground for sonic experimentation.

“What I express through guitar is less about trying to melt faces with the fastest solo,” he explained. “It’s more about what sound evokes an image, a color, a memory.”

That same experimental spirit carries into his production process. Big Fat Cow’s latest EP, Behold the Soil, was recorded in Waters’ own basement studio.

Balancing two bands with distinct sounds could be a challenge, but for Waters, it’s part of his creative flow.

“Dreamist is a bit louder, while Big Fat Cow can dial it back to play a quiet coffee shop if we need to,” he said. “Both bands demand something different from me, but at the end of the day, I’m just doing whatever I think serves the song best.”

WATCH: Big Fat Cow performs live for the Flew the Coop Session at Charlotte Street

Freedom through self-production

Jacob Kingsley and Kole Waters perform with Dreamist; photo by Gary Guercio

Recording in his own basement studio gives Waters the creative freedom to take risks without the financial pressure of a professional setup.

“We had time to really just throw things at the wall,” he said. “We weren’t worried about paying for studio hours, so we got to take our time and decide exactly what we wanted it to sound like.”

Wearing multiple hats as a musician, producer, and engineer can be demanding, but Waters thrives on the challenge.

“I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I can mull over stuff forever,” he admitted. “But I’ve kind of channeled that energy into just being more excited for the next thing that comes around.”

Both bands are keeping busy, Big Fat Cow is preparing to record its next project in a professional studio, while Dreamist plans to slow down on live shows in the fall to focus on demoing new material.

“We’re trying to get these songs into more people’s ears, and play them in front of more people,” Waters said.