This A-Profiler we bring you Ken Oak, frontman of the Ken Oak Band. Known for the distinctive brand of "Cello Rock," the Ken Oak band consists of Ken Oak on cello and Ed Gorski on guitar. Together they form a unique band that is now garnering the attention of even the movie industry as their song "Inda" is featured in the currently released movie "She's the Man." Find out what this self-proclaimed Harry Potter fan thinks he would be doing if not playing the cello and how he got started.

Your site URL:
kenoakband.com

Can you please describe who Ken Oak is using a chorus from a song.
Can we take a ride / Get out of this place while we still have time (Jimmy Eat World)

How would you describe your music?
Acoustic rock with a cello. Something like Jack Johnson meets Yo-Yo Ma.

Are you currently working on any projects? Do you have any future projects line up?
We’re on tour right now, finishing up our east coast stretch. Ed and I have been writing some new songs on the road. We plan to start recording them when we get back to LA in mid-March. Expect a summery album by mid-summer.

How did you get into music?
My older sister was always a music fan. She got me into a bunch of new wave in high school... Erasure, New Order, etc. That would lead to phases in most of the genres including jazz and country. But mostly I’ve been a rock fan. I started playing cello when I was 8, guitar when I was 16, singing around 17.

What is your ethnic background? Do you speak any languages?
My parents are Korean but I was born and raised in America, so I guess that makes me Korean-American. My Korean is middling at best. Some would say I have the worst accent they’ve ever heard, and they’re not even that good. So I’m guessing it’s pretty bad.

How did you choose the cello out of all other musical instruments? Do you play any other instruments besides the cello?
When I was in 3rd grade I was drafted into the school orchestra based on good marks in math and spelling. They needed a cellist and I needed an excuse to leave class. I guess I became attached to it because I was asking my stepmom to pay for lessons by 6th grade. I picked up electric bass in high school and then guitar. I left cello for guitar for a while but came back to her eventually.

What is the most difficult thing about the cello?
There are no frets. So it’s a lot easier to be out of tune on a cello than on a guitar. I guess the learning curve is higher because of that. Also, it’s a pain in the ass to carry around.

Do you write your own music?
I write alone and collaborate. The main people I’ve collaborated with so far have been Chris Ramos and Ed Gorski.

How did your family react when you decided to choose music as your career path?
I think my dad always feared it would happen because I was pretty set on it after high school. He let me study music in college on the condition that I’d go to law school afterward. I applied to law schools, got into NYU, deferred that for a year, and never looked back. My dad understands my ambition because he’s the most ambitious person I know.

What kind of music do you have in your car?
A lot of rock cds... Mae, My Chemical Romance, Augustana, Ryan Adams, Deathcab for Cutie, etc etc etc. We also have XM so we listen to a lot of comedy on the road. The same CDs can get pretty old on a 40 hour drive.

What are your musical inspirations? Non-musical inspirations?
I like songs that get to me, make me feel something, whatever it might be. I like good vocals. Amos Lee and Chris Cornell are two favorites. Outside of music, I’m inspired by deep, thought-provoking films. We just saw Final Destination 3. It was awesome. I’m also a fan of Harry Potter.

If you weren’t playing music what would you be doing?
That’s a tough question because would I have money or not with all this free time? I guess I’d either be practicing law and hating myself or residing permanently at Venice Beach. More likely the latter.

Is there a better cello player than your self?
Thousands, millions. But I don’t know of any who sing while playing. I guess I’m sort of waiting for a rival in that area. It would make things more interesting. Fusing cello and pop songs hasn’t been done much so there’s sort of an open space to fill.

Do you have a fan club and have you meet your biggest fan?
I don’t know of any fan clubs. Many claim to be the biggest fan so it’s hard to say. But if you mean literally our “biggest” fan, then not yet. All our fans so far have been pretty small.

What else dominates your life besides music?
Trying to grow as a person. Learning from mistakes made in relationships and friendships and moving forward. Learning from the people around me. Lately, Ed (band mate) and Pete (tour manager) who are with me 24/7. Also, trying to stay healthy because it’s difficult on the road.

Was there any advice or wisdom that was given to you that you would like to pass on to any future musicians?
Trust your instincts. People around you aren’t necessarily right.

Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview do you have any words you want to be remember by?
Go watch the movie She’s the Man when it comes out on March 17. Our song “Inda” is in the movie and on the soundtrack. Also, find us online and say hullo...

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This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Ray Lam. Special thanks to Ken Oak.

Images courtesy of Ken Oak.
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