Start Listening To: Oscar Browne

Through his raw and compassionate vocals, Oscar Browne skillfully combines electronic and acoustic soundscapes to nurture insights about the aspects of life that don't always go as planned.

Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and where you grew up?

I’m Oscar and have always been based around London!

What encouraged you to start your own solo project?

I’ve always been messing around with song ideas since i first picked up a guitar but until recently have mainly played in other bands in london. I think I’ve been inspired hugely by all the people I’ve played with and since the lockdown era have had time to focus on my own project.

What made you decide to corporate acoustic music in your electronic produced music (or the other way around)?

I’m a big fan of 60s/70s songwriters like Nick Drake, Jackson C Frank, Neil Young etc where intricate acoustic guitar tunings/finger-picking is a foundation for songwriting. I also use drum machines alot and so I think the two worlds came together quite naturally.

You have been playing in several bands such as Mellah, Wunderhorse, DeadPretties and Broadside Hacks are you enjoying playing in a band more or to produce your own music?

I’ll always love playing for other people but currently am very much enjoying playing with my own band and the journey that has come with it.

Can you tell us more about how you produce your music?

The majority of songs I have written start on guitar and then once I have the structure down, I usually end up recording and just add whatever instrument is within reach. Recently I’ve started playing with other musicians who play cello, flute, trumpet, violin etc and that always is a treat to record.

Do you enjoy singing more or playing an instrument?

That is a tricky one but I would say the thing I find most satisfying is singing harmonies in a group.

Is there any new music from 2022 you have been enjoying?

I am obsessed with the Big Thief record that came out this year and Aldous Harding’s record I have been enjoying a lot! ‘Good and Green Again’ by Jake Xerxes Fussell is another favourite.

Can you explain a bit more about the concept and inspiration behind your new Single “Never Quite Right”?

The song is based around a feeling of things not turning out as you’d expect. This sense of feeling shortchanged in life was only heightened by the world closing down back in lockdown days.

What was your favourite & least favourite part of making the single “Never Quite Right”?

When I started recording the song I didn’t really know what I was doing so it was a massive learning curve for me! I think it really started to take shape when others got involved playing Cello, Flute and extra vocals.

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?

Pink Moon by Nick Drake is an album that I discovered as a teenager and was a huge influence on how I wanted to my guitar playing to sound.

Do you feel like your parents influenced your personal music style or not at all?

Yes definitely, I was brainwashed from an early age that 60s music was the golden era for music and my dad would show me how to play things on guitar a lot of the time rather than having lessons.

Could you tell us a bit about what the music scene in London is like and how life in London influences your creative process?

I have a studio in Peckham which seems to have a constant stream of musicians going through and am always blown away with the level of everyone’s playing. There's a huge network of talented people around and everyone seems to help each other out!