Start Listening To: Oliver Marson

The pop prodigy crafting ludicrous music for ludicrous times.

In a world where the boundaries of pop music are constantly pushed and redefined, Oliver Marson emerges as a refreshing and enigmatic figure. Described as a purveyor of "weirdo pop," Marson's music is an audacious blend of infectious melodies, biting satire, and a dash of 80s nostalgia. With comparisons drawn to the likes of Connan Mockasin, Alex Cameron, and Sparks, Marson has quickly become a rising star in the alternative music scene. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Marson for an exclusive Q&A session, delving into his musical style, inspirations, and the creative process behind his latest single ‘Tokyo’.

The press release describes your music as "weirdo pop" and mentions comparisons to artists like Connan Mockasin, Alex Cameron, and Sparks. How would you personally define your musical style and what influences have shaped your sound?

I would describe my musical style as “ludicrous music for ludicrous times”.. When something is so awful, it’s ludicrous. Some of the actions people make are so awful all you can really do is laugh. Sometimes it’s a parody of toxic masculinity and late stage capitalism. I’m not always cynical though, a lot of my songs are very much from the heart. At the heart of it all is pop music. It’s emotional but also I hope it can make you dance through these dark times.

Your latest single, "Tokyo," has been receiving positive reviews and attention. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the song and its connection to your own experiences? 

I wrote the song during the lockdown. Very bored, day dreaming about being somewhere else. This was right in the heart of the lockdown when we literally couldn’t go anywhere. So, in a way it is about escaping the reality you are in, which I think is the general theme of the songs I am releasing at the moment. Though it’s hard to escape, it’s nice to be able to escape it for even just a moment. I think all art should do that.

How did the collaboration with Charles Cave (White Lies) on bass and Maya Harrison (For Breakfast) on vocals come about for "Tokyo," and what did they bring to the track?

I was recording the song with Joshua Rumble who works on everything with me. He is sort of like my partner in crime when it comes to music. He is friends with Charles Cave and linked us over email. We realised we both had a strong love for the 80s with bands like Japan. Charles is an amazing bass player and provided the bass line, which is truly unique and I don’t think anyone else could come up with something like that. It was amazing. Maya is a friend of mine. She sings in the band For Breakfast. It was great to have her recording because she very much brought her own style to the song and obviously her vocals are outstanding. We hung out a bit during the lockdown. She’s an amazing person. One of the funniest people I’ve met.

As a self-produced artist, what is your creative process like when it comes to writing and producing your music? How do you approach capturing your unique sound in the studio?

A lot of it just starts in my bedroom, where I record a lot of the sounds. I have a lot of go to sounds. I make most of my music on my own. Initially, I would make songs on the synthesiser or piano, improvising and words would come out from that. Off that I can experiment. Often, I try to make sounds on my guitar almost not sound like a guitar in the way that Robert Fripp did when he was working with David Bowie and Brian Eno. A lot of the time, ideas I fall in love with comes from conversations with people or when I am just daydreaming on the tube or just cleaning at home. Sometimes, they can come at the worst time, so you better be sure to have a notebook ready at all times.

The press release mentions the influence of 80s aesthetics in your music. What draws you to that era, and how do you incorporate those elements into your songs while still maintaining a contemporary sound?

I think I was first drawn to the 80s aesthetic, when listening to Leonard Cohen’s “I’m Your Man” and Serge Gainsbourg’s “Love on the Beat”. There is something really captivating about the combination of the over the top, decadent 80’s sound with these old school crooners. The two shouldn’t fit sort of like cognitive dissonance. It is similar to existing in a world where you don’t really belong. There is something sort of dystopian about it, which is what makes it relevant today. The sounds are often intense, but the lyrics are deeply meaningful, dark and political. Take a song like “Everybody knows”, the lyrics get more relevant every day.

With notable support slots and recognition from various media outlets, how has the response been to your music so far, and how does it feel to have your work acknowledged in such a way?

The fact that someone Anthony Fantano shared and spoke about my music on his New Music Friday stream was huge for me. To have that acknowledgement is reassuring because I think for a long time I’ve been feeling like I should just give up. I am going to keep going and keep making the music I like. Also gaining some recognition from blogs like Under the Radar, Fresh on the net, Loud and Quiet and Brooklyn Vegan has been encouraging too.

Your upcoming live performances have been eagerly anticipated. How do you prepare for live shows, and what can audiences expect from your performances?

I don’t do a lot of preparation. I am very focussed on the show. I put a lot of emotional energy into my shows. I’ll always try and engage with the audience to get a reaction. You can always expect drama, energy, emotion and fun. I think audiences will probably either love it or hate it. All I hope is that people feel something. It’s very easy to go through the motions in this cold,  dystopian and  rules based world we are living in.

The press release mentions your involvement with BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio UK. How have these platforms supported your music career, and what opportunities have they provided?

BBC introducing and Amazing Radio have been great. They’ve allowed a lot of people to discover my music. These platforms are so important for unsigned artists like myself to gain any sort of traction. And this is constantly under threat. So shout out to them.

What do you love right now?

At the moment, I am really loving Succession like a lot of people. The writing on that show is amazing. It’s layered. Tragic, funny and heartbreaking. All the characters are reprehensible and awful. The acting is amazing and I really love satire, certainly when it is about the state of things right now. I am about to release a song called “Richest Man in the world”, is a satire of sorts of tech moguls, oligarchs and the like. It’s dark, tragic but also fun. I think writing in whatever medium should be layered and complex like this. But most importantly, FUN.

What do you hate right now?

I hate AI and I refuse to use it. The more we use it, the stronger and better it is going to get. The more it is going to know about us. The more it is going to be able to replace us and to control us.  The same could be said for social media, which the more we interact and use it, the more corporations profit from us. I am real luddite at heart. I worry that we are moving fast into a system of control through tech. And, if I had the strength and discipline to follow through, I would say that we should all throw away our smart phones and try to be free. Take a step back. We don’t even need it. I hate anything that makes us less human. But do as I say, not as I do. I’ll no doubt be promoting on instagram the enormous pleasure of being given a platform to talk about how much I hate Social Media on Social Media. Human beings are contradictory in this way.

What album are you still listening to from when you were younger and why is it still important to you?

For me it’s The Idiot by Iggy Pop. I always come back to it every now and again. The energy of that album is something else. It’s a flawed but powerful and emotionally absorbing piece of work that really takes you to another place. Something about it sounds sort of evil. It’s also got great lines like “last night I was down in the lab talking to Dracula and his crew”, which as always with Iggy Pop’s lyrics is fun and tongue in cheek. And again, it’s fun, which I think is the core to whatever I am trying to do. If it’s not fun, then what is the point?

As an artist, how do you navigate the challenges and realities of the music industry in the 2020s, especially during the pandemic? Have these circumstances influenced your creative process or outlook on your career?

Not being able to do shows was the hardest part of the pandemic as a musician. It is the best way to connect with people as an audience. Without that, it is sort of pointless. Being able to perform again has been such a joy. If I can just lift the spirits of one person in the room, then for me that’s enough. I hope that I can at least do that for the remainder of my career.

Can you discuss the concept and visual direction behind the music video for "Tokyo"? How important is visual storytelling to you as an artist?

The song was written in my bedroom and about wanting to escape from my bedroom, so it only made sense to make the green screen in someone’s bedroom. In that way, we could kind of create this comically tragic situation where a guy is singing about a place he has never even been to with these extremely tacky visuals and purposefully poorly edited visuals.

Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music? What do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

I’d like listeners to take away some hope even in the worst points. Hope rises out of suffering. Though, the songs are often dark, I feel like there is always a way out for the characters and situations I write about.

Apart from your current releases and upcoming shows, what are your plans for the future? Do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works that you can share with us?

I have a lot of shows coming up. June 8th I will be supporting Moreish Idols in Portsmouth then supporting Minimal Schlager in Bristol on the 10th June and Nottingham on the 14th. Then Manchester on July 15th. I have more singles to release and an album to come along with it. Some exciting collaborations I got to work with Kirin J Callinan a bit on some tunes.