Ollie says strong performances require a marathon runner’s endurance

Musician Ollie told ERR’s Raadio 2 programme R2 Hommik! that performing requires marathon runner’s endurance and that even a small amount of alcohol before going on stage can undermine his performance.

“For me personally, it is a very bad idea to have a drink before going on stage, because I need to preserve my endurance, and even the smallest drop of alcohol ruins everything,” Ollie said.

He said the force behind his shouting comes from his stomach. “If there is no breath behind it, then everything is screwed. You have to push hard from the stomach for the sound to be of good quality,” he said.

Ollie compared performing to running a light marathon. “It is not full speed all the time, but the choruses are full speed,” he said.

The musician also discussed how ideas emerge. “The best ideas that come to us literally come to us. If you try to make something happen, nothing comes of it, but if you let things happen, the best things happen. In my opinion, it does not require a skill; you simply have to keep your antenna open to receive,” he said.

Ollie has attended music school and said there is a significant difference between someone who has properly studied their instrument and someone who has not. Situations can arise on stage that an amateur cannot handle, while a professional they have played with repeatedly can, he said.

Ollie released a new single, “Drown”, a few days ago. “I’m drowning, but only in my head,” he joked.

When a band has a lot of new material, it holds separate rehearsals, Ollie said. If there is only one new song, running through it once or twice during the soundcheck is enough. He added that the musicians also joke around and tease one another during rehearsals.