Reinventing Your Musical Identity: Lessons from John Oates on Life After Success
PodcastFrom Sleepwalking to Nashville Awakening
When John Oates moved to Nashville in the 1990s, he made a startling admission: after 50 years of performing with Hall & Oates, he was "sleepwalking" musically. This brutally honest self-assessment would become the catalyst for one of music's most inspiring reinvention stories.
"I was musically sleepwalking and I needed a kick in the ass and I needed to be inspired, and that's what Nashville did for me," Oates reflects. What he discovered in Music City wasn't just a new sound—it was a rediscovery of his musical DNA.
The Power of Going Back to Go Forward
Oates's Nashville journey began with an unexpected realization. While he initially thought he'd write country songs, he quickly discovered his true calling lay in the Americana movement. Through connections with legends like Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, and Béla Fleck, Oates found his way back to his earliest musical influences.
"What I realized was I could go back to my early musical DNA to go forward," he explains. Before meeting Daryl Hall, Oates was deeply rooted in blues and folk traditions—knowledge that would prove invaluable decades later.
The Guitar That Connected Generations
One of the most remarkable stories from Oates's early career involves Mississippi John Hurt's Guild F-30 guitar. Through his mentor Jerry Ricks, who received the instrument after Hurt's passing, Oates played this legendary guitar on the first two Hall & Oates albums. It's a perfect metaphor for how musical traditions flow from one generation to the next—something that would later inform his solo work.
Raising Your Game: The Nashville Standard
When Oates first arrived in Nashville's music scene, he experienced what many musicians face when surrounded by world-class talent: imposter syndrome mixed with inspiration.
"The level of musicianship was on such a high level. The bar was set way way up here and I felt like I was floating around in the middle somewhere," he recalls. "I felt like my name was going to get me to hang at the party, but I wasn't going to hang very long if I couldn't hang."
This realization sparked a period of intense musical growth. Oates began practicing with renewed dedication, paying attention to instrument setup, experimenting with sounds and amps—all the details he'd previously left to others during his superstar years.
Practical Takeaways for Guitar Students
- Never stop learning: Even after decades of success, Oates "woodshedded like crazy" to meet Nashville's standards
- Instrument care matters: Pay attention to guitar setup, string quality, and amp selection—details that significantly impact your sound
- Surround yourself with better players: As Oates notes, "when you play with great players, they lift your playing"
- Find your musical mentors: Oates credits Jerry Ricks as crucial to his development as both a player and producer
The Art of Musical Collaboration Across Generations
One of the most fascinating stories Oates shares involves his recent collaboration with the band Lawrence. After becoming a fan of their throwback sound that reminded him of Hall & Oates, he wrote a song inspired by their style, inadvertently incorporating elements from their song "Don't Lose Sight."
Rather than hiding this influence, Oates reached out directly: "I'm not going to be one of those [people] that steals someone's song... I want to be friends. Let's be musical friends."
This led to a collaboration that came full circle—recording at the Hit Factory in New York, the same studio where Hall & Oates recorded in the '70s and '80s. It's a beautiful example of how musical influence works both ways, across generations.
The Double-Edged Sword of Technology
Oates's recent experience with AI music generation provides a fascinating glimpse into music's future. When collaborating with songwriter Kenny Foster, Oates witnessed firsthand how AI could transform a simple iPhone demo into a professional-sounding track in minutes.
"I said, 'Well, I've always loved the band and kind of acoustic R&B with some great background vocals, dry drums.' And a minute later, it spit out this demo that... my jaw dropped to the floor."
Most remarkably, the AI even made a chord substitution that Oates admitted was better than his original choice—changing an F# minor sus to an F dominant seven at the perfect moment in the song.
While acknowledging the technology's power, Oates raises important questions about creativity, compensation, and what happens when new generations "won't be able to tell the difference and won't care."
Songs as Living, Breathing Entities
Throughout the conversation, Oates emphasizes how songs continue evolving through performance. His track "Rock Uphill," co-written with producer Nathan Chapman, exemplifies this philosophy. Originally released in one form, Oates later rewrote the music during the pandemic, keeping the lyrics but completely reimagining the musical approach.
"That's just the beauty of songs. They just kind of they have a life, you know, as they exist at the moment, but they also can evolve," he reflects.
The Value of Live Performance
Oates advocates for playing new songs live before recording them—the opposite of the typical industry approach. "The best way to make a record is to play the songs live first and then take that energy into the studio," he advises. This philosophy has guided his recent Nashville recordings, where he's experienced unprecedented creative success.
Staying Inspired After Success
Perhaps the most valuable lesson from Oates's journey is his approach to staying creative after achieving massive commercial success. Rather than resting on Hall & Oates' legacy, he's continuously sought new challenges, collaborators, and musical territories.
His advice to his younger self? "Get a good lawyer"—but more seriously, understand the music business, particularly publishing and IP rights. "Understanding ownership, IP... the concept of IP wasn't even thought about for me back in the '70s and '80s."
For current and aspiring musicians, Oates's story offers a powerful reminder: true artistry isn't about reaching a destination but about maintaining the curiosity and willingness to grow that defines genuine musical expression. Whether you're just starting out or decades into your career, there's always room to rediscover your musical DNA and use it to move forward.
