We had the good fortune of connecting with Alec Koukol and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alec, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I think balance is a moving target. Life is always shifting and changing, and balance is something you have to figure out amidst the change. I am by no means a master of balance between work/life, but I find that I’m getting better at it. It’s tough to be working a full-time job while also trying to push music into a full-time career. It doesn’t leave many hours in the day for “life,” but I hope that as the band and music continue to become more fruitful, things will even out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Safari Room is an indie rock, post emo band out of Nashville. What sets Safari Room apart from others is the deeply emotional lyrics and the dynamics/arrangements of the discography. The music leans heavily into multiple genres, whether it be some sparkly shoegaze-y qualities to hard rock breakdowns that take the air out of you.

I’m most excited right now about Safari Room’s new album, ‘Time Devours All Things,’ coming out on February 23rd, 2024. We’ve spent over a year writing/recording this album, and I think it’s some of Safari Room’s best work yet. The songs are deeper, edgier, more exciting and a true big step in the music Safari Room creates.

I’d say I’ve gotten where I am through ceaseless (sometimes to a fault) hard work and perseverance. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and no long-term career is built in a day either. Laying the foundation and watering the plants of this band and my music career as a whole has taken years of writing, recording, touring and learning throughout. I’ve found experience to be the best teacher through it all. Every success and mistake has led me to where I am now. No easy feat, but I’ve found each ebb and flow to be worthwhile.

The music industry is not a meritocracy. Hard work alone doesn’t make a career. It’s one thing to have good music, it’s another to get it to the people that would enjoy it. That’s not always a straightforward task, but it’s learning how to navigate relationships, connections, understanding the audience and knowing what you have control over. And at the end of the day, you have to do it because you love it. Because it’s a non-linear, difficult path, full of disappointments and set backs. But if you love what you do and create, it is all valid when you get to the sweeter moments.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Red’s 615 – Hot Chicken, some of the best hot chicken in town. Patterson House has the best cocktails in town, hands-down. I’ve recently been enjoying Otto’s over on the West side of Nashville, a local cocktail bar that has a really great ambiance and personnel. I am not much for the touristy parts of Nashville, but Broadway can be an eye-opening experience to new visitors. Ya gotta go at least once and experience the slice of life Broadway showcases. There’s curling in my neck of the woods, which is a new experience that all folks should try – shoutout to Tee-Line.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Indeprenuer! They’re a truly terrific organization full of brilliant, caring individuals. They’re teaching countless musicians and creatives how to be self-sufficient business owners and content creators. The emphasis is DIY, and being able to run the ship on our own as musicians/artists is second to none. When no one else is going to do it for you, you can only depend on yourself and the chutzpa you can summon! Grateful for Jesse and the rest of the Indeprenuer family.

Website: safariroomband.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/safari_room/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/safari_room

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/safariroomband/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC77GANNY4IZQBC87czLv8vA

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@safari_room/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OuNsLTmcqLIfEYLtBJwRZ

Image Credits
First image is by Ben McBee. All others are in the names of the photos!

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutTennessee is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.