Today we’d like to introduce you to George Ko.
George, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been very ADHD in my career. In the past, I worked for a robot company, built an AAPI+ Media company, detailed cars for a whole year, and served as a director at Caltech. If you told me I would be a musician, let alone a solo concert pianist today, I would have guessed you were in Joshua Tree going through specific “experiences.” The reason why I’m here is genuinely because of my fans. It all started during the middle of Covid. I had been classically trained at the piano my whole life. I had a career as a classical concert pianist for about ten months when I was 23. However, there was something I could never do: improvise. I was envious of jazz players’ ability to spontaneously tickle whatever keys and songs they fancied.
One day, while we were all hibernating, I mentally told myself that I would play whatever was in my head. This may sound like some Harry Potter magic, but I could instantly do it. I never had any training in improvising, but for some reason, my fingers could play whatever the song hamster wheel was spinning in my brain. At the same time, I started to share my newfound improv skills in piano rooms on Clubhouse, the audio-based social network. Soon, my rooms of three people grew to hundreds, then thousands. People started wanting to hear more of my music, asking for songs on Spotify and merch. I began releasing dozens of songs, built a whole merch store, and eventually started booking a tour. It’s been two years since I went full-time doing music, and it’s been a blast.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been, and still is, rough. In the beginning, it was like driving on Wilshire Boulevard in K-town. Now, it’s more like going on Olympic on the west side (there are occasional potholes, but the road is relatively smooth, you also know I spend way too much time in a car if I’m using driving analogies). I don’t think people mention in interviews just how many missed “big breaks” there were and how much rejection you face regularly. I was just rejected from two grants, four residencies, four movie projects, ten gigs, America’s Got Talent, and two record labels in the past eight months. The trick is you have to be in that headspace of accepting rejection and that it does not always reflect who you are as an artist or person.
In the past, I approached my career with a very “type A” mentality of creating 5-year plans with very high expectations, only to find myself gradually more and more disappointed in life. Now, I take every day as a breadth of possibilities. I only plan out to six months. Every win I earn or receive is a sign that things are working and that people have put their energy into my music because they believe in what I do. In the last eight months, I completed a 10-city tour, recorded an album, completed five brand collaborations, and got to play piano for a few unreleased songs with The Black Keys. So, it’s not always glass half empty: it’s half full with tiny little holes, but you gotta just let the water keep flowing. As Bruce Lee said, “Be water, my friend.”
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a classical improviser, concert pianist, and composer. I’m a performing solo piano player who improvises every song I play in the classical style. My improvisations sound like Chopin and a Studio Ghibli soundtrack. I also write my own originals and compose for film & TV. What makes me unique is that I can improvise anything classically. I often take requests from the audience, improvising their favorite songs from movies, Spotify, video games, or even a custom song from their story or vibe. What I’m most proud of and what sets me apart is how I improvise. Before I play the piano, I channel my emotions into a hundred-instrument orchestra in my head. Then I play what I hear internally.
At the same time, I employ all the technical aspects of the piano that makes Classical music so great, channeling over 10,000 hours of etudes, scales, and sonata technique into my improvisations. When people walk away from a show, hopefully, they don’t just hear a good piano piece or arrangement of their favorite tune but a performance that captures the song’s spirit and shows off just how incredible the piano is. I try to do this with my latest EP, Nomad in the Sky, which you can listen to here: https://georgeko.lnk.to/NomadintheSky
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I don’t really believe in networking. I believe in finding friends and like-spirited individuals. Like-spirited people believe in your same pursuit, energy, and what you want to give to this world. They can empathize with you more honestly and understand the struggles you face, and celebrate the triumphs you achieve with you. Friends will support you no matter what and sometimes offer honest feedback you don’t want. Find a mentor who wants to teach you and encourage you. The second part is vital. I’ve had numerous mentors who taught me so much about music, business, and life, but they destroyed me. They killed my spirit, battered me mentally, and crushed my soul. It took three and a half years of therapy, moving to a new place, switching my career three times, and re-orientating my support network to be in a neutral zone. If I had chosen my earlier mentors wisely, I might be 300 steps ahead. But I have great mentors now that have guided me every step of my career, giving me a safe space to vent, complain, and fail. But they are there to pick me up immediately, challenge me, and help me grow as a human being and artist. They are my Alfreds in many ways, constantly reminding me, “Why do we fall? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up.”
Pricing:
- Show in LA August 3rd, RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/courvoisier-basil-hayden-present-george-ko-live-in-los-angeles-tickets-652456584207?aff=voyage
- Lavender Hoodies, $70: https://thisismillennium.com/products/new-lavender-astronaut-piano-hoodie
- Limited Edition Vinyl, $100: https://thisismillennium.com/products/limited-edition-vinyl-vanguards-of-the-cosmos
- Astronaut Cap, $45: https://thisismillennium.com/products/new-astronaut-cap-embroidered
- Astronaut Samurai Pin, $15: https://thisismillennium.com/products/limited-edition-astronaut-samurai-enamel-pin
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.georgeko.co/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/_georgeko
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgekocreative
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgekocreative
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_georgeko
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@georgeko
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/georgeko
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@_georgeko
Image Credits
Photos by Lisa Hagen, Jen Hart, Jennifer Van Den Eshof, Brandi at Flashback Photo, Sarah Ko, and Anna Webber
