A special two-guest, on-location episode, leading off with a musician who has been the lead pianist or musical director with artists including Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, and John Mayer. Endorsed by Yamaha, he is known for his explosive and immersive live music performances. By the time he was eight years old, he was an acclaimed piano prodigy, winning statewide accolades and college-level competitions. His debut album was just released in mid-June. The second guest is the Sales Director for Adam Hall North America, working closely in artist relations. He has played in bands as a guitarist for decades. He has even designed custom guitars for musicians, including Paul McCartney. His background extends to retail, wholesale, marketing, new product development and more. Since 2012 he has been with the Adam Hall Group, which is a more than 45-year old leading German manufacturer and distribution company that provides event technology solutions to business customers worldwide, including retailers, dealers, live event and retail companies, broadcast studios, and AV system integrators.
(BLKBOK) “I took a one-hundred-day challenge to write every day. Essentially, I ended up writing 121 consecutive days.”
(BLKBOK) “My mission is always to be able to tell a story without words.”
(BLKBOK) “For a while I don’t know what the song is about. Like when I’m creating it’s kind of, I always say it’s me standing in a dark room alone and I’m searching for light. I’m searching for just the flicker of light or just a spark somewhere and usually when I see that spark, that’s when I kind of walk in that direction.”
(BLKBOK) “The writing process very much for me is, play until it feels good. Or, if I have something that I want to say.”
(BLKBOK) “I like to challenge the audience to think more as, if I’m not giving you words or lyrics, I’m allowing your imagination to create your own lyrics based on the emotion that you feel.”
(BLKBOK) “The first gig I had was with Justin Timberlake… My work ethic allowed me to move on from Justin, the Backstreet Boys, and Rihanna, and John Mayer, and Demi Lovato, and Michael Jackson Immortal. About 13 years of non-stop touring.”
(Rob Olsen) “We made, the first custom job was a black club bass for Lenny Kravitz. Then, years later… Paul McCartney was doing a jubilee concert for the queen and my colleague in Germany suggested we make a Union Jack paint job because we made one for Cheap Trick before as well.”
(Rob Olsen) “When I was standing in line (at the post office) the whole time with this box just around these people, like, shipping socks to their grandson or something, with a bass addressed to Paul McCartney, it was kind of surreal.”
(Rob Olsen) “I started playing at (age) 13 and I was in a band at 13 and one month, probably.”
(Rob Olsen) “I currently play, I live in Dayton, Ohio, which is great because it’s 45 minutes from Cincinnati, 45 minutes from Columbus, Ohio, and then Dayton’s in my yard. So, it’s three different music scenes driving across town.”
(Rob Olsen) “It’s in my soul to play music… I still have to perform. So, I perform anywhere from six to twenty shows a month and with ten different groups, I would say, right now. I write original music… and I have a lot of acoustic shows I do with singers where I’m the band… Then I have some cover rock bands. Then I have a Fleetwood Mac tribute band I just joined recently.”
(Rob Olsen) “Gear setup… keep exploring… there’s a lot of things that people don’t know exist. So, my philosophy is keep it simple, but, if you are struggling in an area, just keep researching... The more you have sometimes that can troubleshoot and have problems.”
“The Hustle is Real” (BLKBOK)