We had the good fortune of connecting with Oliver Marland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Oliver, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
The balance between work and life for me has changed quite dramatically over the years! For most of my professional life it was virtually indistinguishable, since time was spent largely on the road as a touring musician and music director. It’s a world that’s been compared to that of a traveler or gypsy by some of my coworkers, and now that I’ve almost stopped completely, I have a welcome, if slightly unfamiliar sense of control over what I see as a work/life balance. However deviding the two can be a challenge at times, as the line has always been a little blurred for me. I suspect this may sound a bit backwards for some people for whom the definition was always more clear cut before they started their own business! Overall my ability to find balance has improved over the years, though I guess that’s largely attributable to aging or maturing.

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Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was deeply drawn to the power of music at a tender age, and it became the perfect escape to another world through the piano. I suppose I fall in between the artist/creative and employee/professional categories here since I’m in the creative world of music, but have almost always been an employee serving various artists. I’m very proud to have been trusted by them and always excited to play a part in their achievements. I worked hard at the musicianship side of it, beginning playing in humble settings in London pubs and clubs, and expanding to accompanying better known artists as a keyboardist and later as musical director. I learned gradually that detailed preparation is a key asset to successfully navigating the work, infinitely more helpful than just bravado or confidence! Quietly anticipating how a situation might rapidly change or evolve. The ability to help instill confidence in the artist is paramount, and I’ve always instinctively tried to build and nurture a comfortable environment that encourages everyone to excel. The other side of the coin is sitting in a studio for long periods, finessing details on a project. Working with a tight deadline always helps to minimizing the detail oriented tendencies, I’m sure others will agree!

Person wearing headphones and a cap, smiling, sitting at a keyboard in a studio or stage setting.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Hmmm this is tricky since Los Angeles’ cuisine scene is so liquid and constantly evolving and shifting, not to mention that inevitably some places are only able to be amazing for a limited period before they become too popular, thus one is sometimes hesitant to share haha! Anyway here’s a little current snapshot view: Eigikutei, outstanding sushi/shabu place, kaiseki/omakasi style (DTLA). Good Alley, remarkable Shanghai style xiao long bao etc. (Rosemead). The Sunset Restaurant is an old school seafood place on the beachfront that’s exceptional. (Malibu). Hippo, a wonderful bar/restaurant from an ex Mozza exec chef serving excellent Italian cuisine. (Highland Park). Gold Line is a sweet vinyl bar a block away from Hippo. Mesa has arguably the best Thai boat noodles in LA. (East Hollywood). Yellow Paper Burger in Echo Park for smash burgers. Girl & The Goat for delicious chic American/global cuisine. Holbox, stunning Latin American Mexican seafood, recently Michelin starred. (DTLA). Friends & Family, marvelous coffee shop/breakfast spot. (East Hollywood). I could go on, Oh go to the amazing new Geffen Galleries at LACMA, and possibly the Peterson Car museum, Grand Central Market & The Bradbury Building and the Walt Disney Concert Hall is amazing.

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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?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my dad, who introduced me to, and helped me discover, by example, things in life that were instantly or later became a great inspiration. I feel like that’s the most valuable thing we can do as parents, beyond the obvious. The other person to dedicate to would be a long time boss: Tina Turner, who’s unrivaled dedication to her art, and endless conviction and strength was impossible to avoid absorbing and learning from.

Website: https://ollywoodentertainment.com

Instagram: ollywood13

Youtube: ollywood11

Child playing piano with sheet music, sitting upright, focused on keys, in a room with furniture and objects in background.

Person smiling and laughing, wearing a black cap and a patterned shirt, against a light blue background.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.