by Rocking the Stage: Dan Reynolds’ Explosive Lessons from Sharing the Spotlight with OneRepublic
As the frontman and driving force behind OneRepublic, Dan Reynolds has undoubtedly learned a lot throughout his career. However, some of his most valuable lessons have come from sharing the stage with other talented artists. Opening for larger acts and collaborating with renowned musicians has provided Reynolds with fresh perspectives and insights that have helped shape OneRepublic’s music and performance style.
One early formative experience was opening for Maroon 5 on their 2012 Hands All Over Tour. OneRepublic gained exposure to Maroon 5’s massive global fanbase, and Reynolds witnessed firsthand the band’s larger-than-life stage presence and ability to captivate audiences. This experience highlighted the importance of delivering a high-energy, crowd-pleasing performance that resonates on a grand scale.
Reynolds said of the tour, “Watching Adam Levine command a stadium crowd of 50,000 people was eye-opening. I realized we had to step up our stage show if we wanted to connect with audiences on that level.” The tour inspired OneRepublic to amp up their live performances and stage production to better connect with fans.
Another significant learning experience came from touring with U2 in 2017. As the charismatic frontman of U2, Bono is known for his passionate advocacy and social activism. Seeing Bono use his platform to promote social change and important causes likely inspired Reynolds to become a more vocal proponent of the issues he cares about.
Reynolds said of Bono, “He’s a master at using his voice and music to shine a light on injustice and inequality. His example showed me the power an artist can have to make a real difference in the world.” Since then, Reynolds has become an outspoken advocate for various causes through OneRepublic’s music and platform.
These are just two examples of the many lessons Reynolds has gleaned from sharing the stage with other artists. He has mentioned several specific takeaways in interviews:
The importance of authenticity. Watching how other artists genuinely connect with audiences inspired Reynolds to focus on writing and performing music that comes from a place of true emotion and vulnerability.
• The power of collaboration. Sharing the stage with different musicians has shown Reynolds the creative possibilities that arise through collaboration. He has since embraced working with other songwriters and artists, which has helped expand OneRepublic’s sound and fanbase.
• The value of perseverance. Seeing the dedication and hard work of successful artists has motivated Reynolds to keep pushing himself and OneRepublic to new heights. He has learned that achieving success in the music industry requires resilience and a never-give-up attitude.
• The need for a big stage show. Opening for acts like Maroon 5 highlighted the importance of delivering an explosive live performance that captivates large audiences. This inspired OneRepublic to ramp up their stage production and performance style.
 The impact of social advocacy. Bono’s example showed Reynolds how an artist can use their platform to promote important causes and inspire positive change. This likely spurred Reynolds to become a more vocal advocate for the issues he cares about through OneRepublic’s music and platform.
Overall, Dan Reynolds’ experiences sharing the stage with other artists have been invaluable in shaping him as a musician, frontman and individual. He has gained valuable lessons about performance, authenticity, collaboration, perseverance and using his platform for good – all of which have contributed to OneRepublic’s success and his own personal growth.
The music industry is a constant learning environment, and every interaction with another artist has the potential to offer valuable insights and growth opportunities. Dan Reynolds’ collaborations and shared experiences with acts like Maroon 5 and U2 have clearly provided explosive lessons that have helped propel OneRepublic’s journey and shape Reynolds as an artist.
