Conor Oberst

I was first introduced to Conor Oberst’s band Bright Eyes about two years ago. My sister is the one who showed me one of his songs, Easy, Lucky, Free, and I instantly liked it. As I started listening more and more to his music I also did research on him and his lifestyle and the way he acted really intrigued me. He has been diagnosed with depression and other mental disorders. The reason this intrigues me is because from his experiences with depression and other hardships he has written beautiful and eye-opening lyrics.

Conor Oberst is singer song-writer who has produced many solo albums including his first debut album Water, which was self-released on cassette tape and his most successful album Lifted or The Story in The Soil, Keep Your Ear to The Ground. He has also playing in many other bands including Desaparecidos, Norman Bailer (The Faint), Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, and his newest project Monsters of Folk. Oberst attended college for a short time but dropped out to go on tour.

Conor Oberst grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and attended Creighton Prep; an all boys private school. He grew up with two older brothers, Matthew Oberst, Jr and Justin Oberst. Oberst's mother claims that he was banging on a piano since he was two-years-old. Besides his brother Matt, Oberst's father was also a musician who played guitar and piano for various cover bands in his youth, and together they began teaching Conor to play guitar at the age of 10. By the time he knew only two chords, he was already writing songs. He began his musical career at age 13 while at St. Pius X/ St. Leo School. He was in the school choir and other musical groups at the school. One night in 1992, Ted Stevens invited Oberst onstage to play. Bill Hoover was in the audience and invited Oberst to come back to play with him a couple of weeks later. In that short amount of time, Oberst wrote enough songs to fill out the set, establishing himself as an artist. Shortly after, Oberst began committing his new repertoire to tape in his parents' basement with his father's four track cassette recorder and an acoustic guitar.

Conor Oberst has been writing and music for ever ten years now his lyrics, although depressing at times, conveys a strong message that helps people see through the hard times. “Your music truly has inspired me greatly, and for that, I thank you.” Says a fan.. Oberst is also a big supporter of PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) and was formally a vegan and is now a pescetarian. Recently Conor Oberst and the mystic valley band have donated the documentary “One Of My Kind” in hopes for fans to donate to one of the causes on causenet. Conor is also part of “Crafts For A Cause” project and has designed a Fender Strat. Over 35 thousand dollars was raised and all proceeds will go to Artists for Peace and Justice, an amazing charitable organization founded by Paul Haggis.

One day I hope I can be like Conor Oberst and spread my music around the world to help people through hard times. I also hope to one day use my fame to spread awareness about animal cruelty and to help those people who are far worse off them ourselves.