Hailing from the East Midlands, indie-rock artist Oliver Paul (not Courtney Barnett's fare-evading protagonist) is finding his footing in the music industry as a recent BIMM graduate who makes "messy melodic art punk for the kids who got picked last in PE".
Prepping for the release of his debut single, we chat to Oliver Paul about not being afraid of your flaws, new fans, and his desert island album picks, as part of the Seven Questions with Music Is To Blame Series.
My name is Oliver Paul, I’m twenty-one, and I’m based in the East Midlands (Derby & Leicester) in England.
What do our readers need to know about you?
I’m a young artist who is not afraid to bring my flaws to the foreground. There’s plenty of room for mistakes in music, it can often bring a kind of charm to the song. Music is human expression and what is more human than mistakes?
What have you got coming up that you’re most excited for?
I’m currently promoting the release of my single 'Find Your Footing' and I’m also preparing for my second single which you shouldn’t have to wait too long for. Something I’m excited for with this project is that I’ll finally be releasing physical copies of my music later this year, which is something I’ve never done before.
What’s the best run-in you’ve had with a fan?
I don’t think I have many fans personally, but I have been a part of some projects which are much bigger than me, and I still remember this young girl and her dad coming up to me after a gig, and the girl’s dad asked if I’d be willing to give her one of my guitar picks since she enjoyed my playing and wanted to learn herself. It made me feel good knowing I could do something nice for them.
What’s been your biggest ‘I’ve made it’ moment so far?
When I found out that somebody who I hadn’t met before had come to one of my gigs specifically to see my band. It’s not much, but it really makes you feel like you have a voice and that people are watching.
What are your three “desert island” albums?
'Low' by David Bowie, 'Marquee Moon' by Television, and 'Illmatic' by Nas.
Sum up your sound in three words.
Loose, imperfect, sentimental.
Lana Marshall
@lanatakesphotos / @_lanaajade
Images: Kieran Craven
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