Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Assell.
Hi Jacob, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2022 I released our debut album “Exit 1: Luna”, and the next logical step would’ve been to start touring, but I was promoted at my job. I had started working as a wine salesman in 2020 and quickly became the top salesman for the company in Michigan. Around when my album was releasing I was offered a state market manager position provided I moved to Illinois. I was there for a year and some change, and while the position was a fantastic opportunity with an amazing company I didn’t have the time for music that I had before. So I took a leap of faith and quit to follow my dream of becoming a rockstar. At first I wanted to make sure it was what I wanted so I spent some time selling cars (I was very good at it), and then I tried selling roofs (I was not good at that haha), and finally I decided I was right and did want to pursue music.
Since then my friends and I have started recording “Exit 2: Mercury”, I’ve been doing a TON of tour research, and I’ve been pushing hard on Tik Tok. I’ve got an incredibly detailed plan, and if I stick to it I should be a full time rockstar by this time in 2 years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. At every turn I’ve had something new to figure out on the fly and then move forward. For example:
I haven’t had set bandmates in One Exit Down since late 2024 when I decided it was time to start touring. Sometimes I have different people in my band for every show, and other times I may have the same lineup for a couple months. To get bandmates I try to help as many bands as I can: booking shows for them, sometimes tours, but usually filling in for them on an instrument for their show or tour. The greatest thing I have learned in this endeavor has been the power of community: in ever venture I’ve made new friends, and have learned more and more about building a platform with music.
Before my first full US tour ever (playing bass for another band) I crashed my car and no longer had transportation to get to work or to tour with One Exit Down after the tour. Thankfully, the friends I have created in my ventures jumped to help me fulfill the tour dates I had booked for One Exit Down in August and September of this year. I am incredibly grateful to have people in my corner who believe in me and are willing to help me pursue my dream.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My name is Jacob Assell and I do the following:
I am One Exit Down.
I am a fill in musician.
I am a junior talent buyer for The Blind Pig and The Loving Touch. (I book bands)
I am an independent tour agent.
If you ask me I can also be a music producer but I mostly use that skill for my own songwriting.
I am most passionate about what I have to do in One Exit Down, as I have to use every piece of knowledge gained on my journey. I use the interpersonal skills learned as a salesman, I have to use algorithmic and marketing research for Tik Tok promotion, I must use my knowledge of venue and music scene research to book tours & local shows, and I have to do a large amount of logging into spreadsheets. I would say my favorite part about what I do is getting to know other people and forming friendships; it is an amazing feeling to have people that you believe in believe in you too.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
1. Working for yourself is the best thing you could do for yourself. You become your own boss and are in full control of your income that way.
2. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. I’m gonna be a rockstar, and I know it because I’ve done my research.
3. You don’t know if you don’t ask. Maybe you could’ve got that job or opened for that big band, but you were too afraid to ask.
4. Lead by example. Be the thing that inspires you.
5. Teach as many people as you can. In a world where everything has become so individualized we have lost an overarching sense of community. But if we all take the time to teach each other there is less of chance we can be taken advantage of and lied to by greedy corporations and politicians. This country is meant to be for the people, by the people, and we still have the power to make that happen.
6. Believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself and think you’ll be stuck in your situation forever then you will be.
7. Surround yourself with others you want to be like, and constrain your inner circle to those who believe in you. I spent a lot of time holding myself back because I had friends who were naysayer’s. I have no need or benefit from people in my inner circle who don’t believe in me, and neither do you.
8. Try every idea. You don’t know until you give it a good honest go. Maybe your “dumbest” idea is the one that makes you successful. You’ve got no idea till you do it.
9. Never stop creating.
10. Never stop learning.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/one_exit_down_band?igsh=a3A2aWZvaWZ3aWlj&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GCWridS2J/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@oneexitdown4863?si=vG78mrCkLDVN_q8z
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3QyTy1hRorcPdGdVGKOpnr?si=hcTnKXoVQJefyH-uVeE–Q
