Meet Eric Dahl

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

Hi Eric, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I believe that all of us have many purposes, but how I found my work or career purpose was purely by accident. Working in Media most of life I had moved around to different cities and states across the US for the company I work for. When I landed in Nashville, TN I realized that no media outlets in the market were interviewing music artists at a deeper level and discussing their favorite music gear with them. So, I pitched the idea to the News Director at the time and she said that it sounded like a great idea, but if I wanted it done, I would need to do it. That certainly wasn’t the goal as I was hoping that a reporter or anchor would take up the cause and fulfill my vision. Instead, I launched the Rock & Review and started the show by myself discussing new music gear that was being released. Then my Producer at the time suggested I bring on some of my sidemen/women musician friends in Nashville to discuss music gear. Which in turn lead to the actual music artists and bands wanting to come on the show. Now in its 12th season we recently recorded our 1,000th episode of Rock & Review interviews and hope to expand it to more markets around the world.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I have always enjoyed being creative and being around creative people. That can include writing articles for magazines, writing books about music artists. or playing music and songwriter rounds. The process of preparing for an interview with the Rock & Review is very fulfilling to me. I do a lot of prep on the artist/band/author/documentarian. Listen to their music, read their book or watch their documentary. Then I create a folder that has all of the information on them I have accumulated. From their I highlight the most important portions. Then I had write out the high points on the left side of the folder and memorize it. I don’t like interviewing artists with a teleprompter. It comes across much more natural to do so as a conversation and focused on them. From their latest release to their creation story and what drove them to make the music or creative endeavor they are currently involved with. My goal is to shine a light and attention on their body of work, so that more people can know about it and discover their work.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Speaking with students at universities has forced me to consider this in the past. Number one don’t just face your fears run towards them and embrace them. I don’t mean this as in embracing a shark or bear but the internal fears that keep us from taking action on our dreams. In college I was very afraid to be on camera and they used me as an example of what not to do when on video camera. Once I faced my fear of being on camera it had no power of me. The Second point don’t wait for others to fulfill your dreams or visions. Mainly because they do not see it from the perspective that you do and because they are trying to achieve their own dreams which probably aren’t yours. Third, big dreams require extra work and long hours. My show prep usually requires me to do it from home in my free time. The same for writing articles and writing books. You must dedicate hours of time and attention to achieve the big dreams and not give up on them when things get harder.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

So many books have helped and guided me over the years, but one that has stuck with me, and I have shared is ‘The Third Door’ by Alex Banayan. Essentially what the book shares is that everyone is trying to go after success through the front door or the back door. Why not chase your goals and success through the window or the basement? Don’t go where everyone else is going create your own path to get there. I have used this philosophy many times when an artist or PR firm would turn us down for an interview. But then when the artist has a charity to discuss or a new product, they are engaged in the conversation, a door opens, and an interview can be achieved. Siezing and finding opportunities where others don’t see them is the edge.

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Eric Dahl

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