Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sammy Tampubolon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sammy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

This is an interesting questions for me since I do have a regular job. The duality of worlds that I am in, everyday, allows me to have a regular job.

I am very happy being a musician. It fulfils me like no other. Like most art, writing, playing, performing music is a completely “selfish” thing. REOG is an heavy metal band with original music. We write the songs we want to listen to, only perform the songs that we want to perform. Ultimately we only need to make me, and my bandmates of course, happy when we write a song. That’s it.
However, I am also an architectural designer. I build buildings and space. Restaurants, retails, offices and residentials. On this “side” of me, I have to conform to other things. Obvious things like building codes, specific brand design guidelines, owner’s preference. I am constantly have to conform to outside “force” to complete my task. This is my “regular” job, but I love it.

These two sort-of opposite worlds complete me. I don’t think I can “exist” with only one side of these worlds.
Also, if I might add, now that I am married and has been for 13 years and counting now, doing both of these in daily life requires a lot of understanding from my better half. I am blessed that my wife is supporting me on my journey as I am supporting her in hers too.

Sammy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

When I was in third grade I was fascinated with drawing. I loved it and still love it. I found out about a profession that allows me to draw building everyday. haha.. from then on, I worked toward that dream. Meanwhile, around middle school I discovered rock n roll. This was a beginning of another obsession. Hard rock and heavy metal become my everyday meal. I started singing rock covers in high school. Then when I went to Architectural Engineering school in Oklahoma state, I started playing guitar and playing in original bands. I formed REOG after I moved to LA for my first full time Architectural job. I guess unconsciously I always wanted to move to LA after I completed my studies so I can immerse myself with the rock music that I grew up with, a lot of which were bands from Los Angeles area. Luckily, LA is also a robust place that always building and renewing. For the past 12 plus years I have been involved with a lot of projects in LAX. Building in LAX requires understanding of additional codes and requirements that are on top of regular building codes in Los Angeles. There is a certain amount of bureaucracy that we constantly have to navigate when you build in LAX. Any design has to satisfy LAX team as the landlord, the LAX’s design team, the brand that we are building for and individual ownership/operator of the establishment. If you have any interest in building a restaurant/retail in LAX, you should contact me.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

In both of the creative worlds that I am in, one thing stays true: you have to love it if you want to do it. I guess it can be true to anything actually. If your motivation to be in music is to chase money and fame, you will be disappointed real quick. It is indeed “a long way to the top if you want to rock n’ roll”. AC/DC said it!
There are also long working day and tons of meetings, design changes, long list of review comments from city and “bad news” from the job site, etc in Architecture world.
Don’t run out of gas though. Just keep at it. Rome wasn’t built in a day. At the end, it is satisfying to see something that has been conceptual on paper, drawings of details that you had to do on a napkin, got built and function as intended.

Have you ever had to pivot?

There was time when I was in Architectural Engineering school that I thought I just wanted to give up and put all my effort 100% to music. Between advanced concrete class and (design) studio time, there were limited time I could play music with my band. I remember I made that long distance phone call to my late father, telling him I wanted to go to music production school instead of finishing my Architectural Engineering degree. He, instead of just saying no, he gave me encouragement to finish my schooling (I only had a couple more years to go at that point). I remember him saying “you can always play music when you do architecture” over and over again for weeks that followed that phone call. I will always be grateful for that encouragement. I am living that life now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sidleyjonesarchitects.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/REOGmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/REOGmusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sammy-tampubolon-070a8a57
• Youtube: https://www.Youtube.com/REOGmusic
• Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/54YsBzWsvPsfJtyGpMrHu0?si=PytskaFJTEqNda4exfTB5Q
• Other: https://www.linktr.ee/REOGmusic

Image Credits

Jonas Svedberg, Frank Lanudjaja, Novi Hartoyo, Sammy Tampubolon