He quit his day job and made August 21, 2019 his last day at the office.
For legions of musicians, this is a daydream, something we aspire to in those moments when work is just another four-letter word. It takes something special to make that big decision to let go of a job and follow your passion, something inspirational and brave and perhaps even romantic...and maybe a little bit crazy. But it's a crazy that musicians understand.
Guitarist Rohan ‘Ro Han’ Stevenson took that brave leap and devoted himself full-time to his passion, a project he calls I Built The Sky.
This song makes it apparent that he made the right choice.
Based in Melbourne, Australia, Stevenson has been releasing his self-produced instrumental guitar music under the name I Built The Sky since 2012, and his album The Zenith Rise was released in 2019. His skills as a musician and as a recording artist both are on display in the featured piece "Up Into the Ether," combining heavy riffs with a nicely-realized melodic sensibility. There's a little something for everybody in this piece.
According to his site, he has been evolving from a studio act to a live act as he put together a band to support groups such as Between The Buried and Me, CHON, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Plini, Intervals, Twelve Foot Ninja, Haken and more.
Stevenson continues that work, balancing a schedule of live dates with side efforts that include presenting songwriting masterclasses and trade show showcases. And of course, there's always more guitar playing on the horizon.
So as we daydream during worktime and spend an idle moment or two wondering "what if?" we can know that a few of us really can make that big leap.
Rohan Stevenson makes that proof sound pretty damn good.
