Oliver Sayani finds 9 Kinds of Blue | Roots Music Rambler 99
Some kids discover country music on the radio. Oliver Sayani got a memorable introduction from a bearded stranger in a poncho who played John Prine songs at a hometown festival, then seemingly vanished. It’s the kind of story that belongs in a song. Fortunately, Sayani has plenty of those, too.
The Cumberland Gap native joined Frank and Falls to talk about his debut solo album, 9 Kinds of Blue, due November 1, and a musical education that took in mountain music, heavy guitars and a whole lot of honky-tonk. A friend’s shed supplied an early drum kit. His dad’s George Jones collection helped supply the country foundation. The road eventually led through Louisville, Blind Feline and Nashville.
Sayani originally headed to Louisville for engineering school, then changed direction toward music. Church gigs, cover bands and recording work helped keep him playing. One Nashville opportunity arrived with a joke about being cheaper than Brent Mason. Getting into a room with seasoned session players helped him realize he had something to contribute beyond simply keeping up.
For 9 Kinds of Blue, he found a musical partner in producer Pat Lyons, whose work with Colter Wall made the connection especially fitting. They talk about letting pedal steel, harmonica and the songs themselves do the heavy lifting. Sayani also traces “Highway Signs” to the pull of home and “Mountain Ballad” to a time when music helped him find his footing.
Before the interview, Frank and Falls take a long, occasionally spirited detour through artificial intelligence, creative work and what happens when a useful tool starts replacing the people who make things. Their Pickin’ the Grinnin’ choices return things to human-made music: Frank recommends Minnesota’s Wild Horses and The In Between, while Falls brings back the live-wire country and bluegrass of The Bankshafts.
Find Sayani’s music, show information and album updates on his website, with more listening on Apple Music and YouTube and updates on Instagram.
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Notes and links:
Roots Music Rambler Backstage Pass on Patreon – https://patreon.com/rootsmusicrambler
Oliver Sayani online and 9 Kinds of Blue updates – https://www.oliversayani.com/
Oliver Sayani on Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/oliver-sayani/1481413364
Oliver Sayani on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/gratuitousbends/
Oliver Sayani on YouTube – https://youtube.com/channel/UCnMJ3o_ARpgryhgClV0fJcg
Wild Horses online – https://www.wildhorsesmn.com/
The Bankshafts online – https://linktr.ee/thebankshafts
Roots Music Rambler on YouTube – https://youtube.com/@rootsmusicrambler
Roots Music Rambler on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rootsmusicrambler/
Roots Music Rambler on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@rootsmusicrambleon
Roots Music Rambler on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/RootsMusicRambler
Pickin’ the Grinnin’ picks:
Frank: Wild Horses — The In Between
Falls: The Bankshafts
Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts. For early access and ad-free episodes, plus bonus content, outtakes and more, join the Backstage Pass community at Patreon (https://patreon.com/rootsmusicrambler).
Theme Music: “Sheepskin & Beeswax” by Genticorum; Copyright 2026 – Falls+Partners. All music on the program is licensed by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. Roots Music Rambler is a member of the Americana Music Association.