We recently connected with Oliver Mann and have shared our conversation below.
Oliver, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
When I started at Berklee I was completely awestruck by the talent around me. I saw so many amazing musicians and I just wanted to meet and play with as many people as I could. I eventually built up the courage to ask some of my favorite players if they would play in my band. I had no idea what I was doing leading a band, but I was decently good friends with everyone so we got along pretty well. After some ups and downs we have now officially solidified the way we work. We’ve been playing together for a year and we have played in many states including Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, New York, and of course Massachusetts. I have slowly become a better leader and I now understand what my band needs from me. Recently this group has expanded from just a band into a fully functional team. I have gone from struggling to manage 4 performers, to successfully managing multiple writers, producers, managers and more performers than before.
Oliver, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Oliver Mann and I am the leader of the One Mann Band, spreading funk pop to all the wrong places. I am most proud of my band and how far we’ve come together. We haven’t released music but we’re finishing multiple recordings every month and will release our first single within the next month. You can follow us on instagram to listen to our music, hear about shows, and get notified when new music is released.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being an artist for me is when I create something genuine to myself that is memorable to others. Nothing beats the feeling of hearing people scream your lyrics back at you from the crowd. I love the feeling of knowing that you created something that connects with someone on an emotional level. I’m a very empathetic person and I can really feel the energy from people when they truly resonate with my art.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I was applying for colleges, my parents were adamant about me studying something that led to a real job. I had basically given up on pursuing music. Luckily, my school built a recording studio and had me record one of my originals at the inaugural opening. People were coming in and out, watching us through the windows. My parents stayed the whole time, amazed by how invested I was in the process. After I got home, they asked what I thought about the session and I immediately told them I could do that every day for the rest of my life. This commitment convinced them to take me to Boston to audition for Berklee. I swapped my SAT prep for audition rehearsals and vocal lessons. Two weeks later I flew to Boston and performed my audition. I was so nervous, until I got into the room. I was so surprised to find that I felt unbelievably comfortable when I entered the audition. I nailed everything I had been practicing and left feeling so sure about getting into the school. I went from going to data analytics summer programs to practicing piano every day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olliee.mann/
