Meet Roland O’cello | Songwriter & Musician – Hyper Minds

We had the good fortune of connecting with Roland O’cello and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Roland, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I always knew from a young age that I wanted to pursue a creative endeavor.
My journey to get to where I am now has been a collection of artistic and creative driven choices.
I’ve dabbled in skateboarding, visual arts and was in the culinary world for 8 years.
I finally landed on music because throughout my life I’ve found it extremely hard to express myself through speaking and in social settings.
Through music I have the ability to express myself fully and freely.
I can collect feelings and memories and have all the time I need to word them the way I wish to articulate.
Making music also helps me work through my feelings, find closure and achieve goals.
Through writing my feelings and goals I’ve been able help myself heal and grow as an artist and person.
I’d highly recommend journaling to my fellow creatives out there.
The last reason I chose a creative career is honestly because I feel like it chose me.
It’s an impulse and a need for me at the end of the day to express myself creatively.
Music keeps me grounded and Sane and the art of writing music is a sacred space for me for sure.
It’s definitely a blessing and sometimes can feel like a curse, But I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My path to get to where I am today is interesting to say the least.
Unfortunately I had to make the same mistakes in my life over and over again until I had the wisdom and will power to make better decisions moving forward.
I always knew deep down what I wanted to do with my life, but when I was younger I got distracted and pulled off my path.

Drinking in particular became a beast for me in 2019.
Working in the service industry and going through a gnarly break up drove me to my bottom.
I’m happy to say that I’ve been sober from alcohol since January 8th 2020.
This decision has proven to be the best decision I have ever made, Creatively and Personally.
2 months later Covid hit and I was at home feeling like a baby in the world newly sober and I started strumming my guitar and I haven’t stopped since.

I’ve also dealt with chronic depression, social anxiety and ADD ever since I can remember.
Which has proven to be fruitful creatively but absolutely maddening at the same time.
Hence the topics for many of my songs.
I enjoy writing in a very straight forward and blunt way while incorporating whimsical quips and sometimes sarcasm.
Hyper Minds is a band that champions the people who feel voiceless, misunderstood, weird or like they are a fly on the wall as the world goes by.
I’ve grown so frustrated with these feelings and I finally have the courage to have a voice in this world.
It feels amazing and I only hope that others can find as much value and love in my music that I do.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Gotta hit East LA cruise and hit a couple of my favorite places to eat!
Tortas Ahogadas Ameca and La Azteca Tortilleria are two of my personal favorites.
Head over to 1st Street Pool & Billiard for some pool and possibly a show.
Next day head over to SGV and do a lil food tour of all the delicious, culturally vast cuisines it has to offer.
Hit up Bar 82 and Button Mash for some games then hit PizzaNista for a night cap.
Gotta take the homie for a cruise up and down PCH stopping and eating and exploring as we go.
Hit a Dodger game and get there when the gates open for the full experience and to try and catch a batting practice home run.
Then I might take them to a classic LA music venue and to some smaller backyard/club shows.

LA is deep in culture, community, diversity and cuisine.
There’s too many spots to name to be honest.
I could go for days on that one.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost a huge shoutout to my Mom and Dad! whom without they’re encouragement and support throughout my life I honestly don’t know where I’d be.
Shoutout to my band mates for believing in this crazy dream of mine and for having my back along the way, on and off stage!
Juan, Bee, and Billy you guys have no idea how much I appreciate you all.
Shoutout my brotha and Artist Salvador Covarrubias AKA Psilocybin!
Sal does all of the Hyper Minds cover art!
He is also an amazingly unique and talented artist that I consider an honor to call my friend. Check him out!
Shout out to John Rojas at Machine House Audio for all the guidance and for recording our new EP.
You are insanely talented and I can’t wait for the world to hear what we created together and to record with you again!
Lastly, shout out to all the homies moms in East LA that fed me while I was growing up and to this day!
Ya’ll kept me and keep me alive and well! Much Love.
& Shoutout to the city of East Los Angeles. I Love You!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hypermindsband/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HyperMindsMusic-uj2ew

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6YT1x7ReEzNoh0vrMKLVw8?si=FHI64oyFRBeG1lgC80-2fA

Image Credits
PJ @cxmerap