Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: Hey, yeah of course. So I’m from the little Isle of Wight in the UK, I have lived here all of my life and I love it! My love for music started when I was in primary school. I was a bit of a nightmare in class, so the headteacher would take me out of class each day to teach me piano (to give the teacher a break I think!) I fell in love with music back then, and from there I taught myself many different instruments and I’ve always loved singing, until I eventually started creating my own music. The more I’ve learnt about music and the more I’ve created, the more my love and passion for music has increased! Music can bring people out of the darkest times, or help people celebrate in the happiest of times, it’s just amazing!
Q: Can you describe the musical style of The O.O. in three words?
A: Three word questions are always tough, my mind instantly goes blank! I would say upbeat, sunny and guitars! If that counts!
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: YouTube would be the best way I stay connected with fans, I’m regularly post on there, I like to ask fans what they think, if somethings any good, if I should do a piano version, things like that. As a fan myself of many bands and artists, I like to feel I’m on the journey with them, that I’m a very key part of the journey, and that they’re releasing music and doing gigs for me. And that’s exactly how I’d want my fans to feel too!
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Sometimes, I See You Look’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Yes there is! It is about a time when I started working with someone new and instantly really liked them, but they already had a boyfriend so I thought I didn’t have a chance. But then every now and then there were little moments when we’d catch each other’s eye and I’d think ‘hmm maybe she likes me a bit?’ and I’d get my hopes up. It’s all about desperately wanting that person to notice you, but never being quite sure if they do or not.
Q: What is your favorite verse from the song and why?
A: It would have to be the second verse because of the opening line “And I wonder if you’ll ever notice me, in my future it’s you I see”, because that one line captures the whole feeling of the song. And I think everyone at one point or another can relate to that feeling.
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the song, “Sometimes, I See You Look”?
A: It started when I was sat thinking about that person one day and how I felt when I met them and just looking back on the memories, and I thought ‘I could write a song about it’. So I grabbed my guitar and started playing some chords in a bouncy rhythm and the lyrics just started to flow. I think because the lyrics were from my true emotions and experience, it just happened quite naturally, because I was simply writing what was already in my head!
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for The O.O. so far?
A: I think it would have to be the first time I ever played live in front of people! It was just at a free local band night. I remember being so scared and nervous and shaky, I just wanted to run away! But as soon as I started playing I got completely lost in the music, and that first time people clapped and cheered at the end of the first song will stay with me forever.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: ‘Sometimes, I See You Look’ is my debut release, and so it has to be this one! I’ve written so many songs, but this song is the one that I’ve thought I need to share this out properly. It’s a true song from my heart about feelings that I think everyone can relate to, and with it being my debut single, it’s the start of the next step on my musical journey.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into The O.O.’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: I listen to a lot of music from all different genres, and when I love a song I like to figure out exactly why I love it, and so musically I sometimes take inspiration from other artists. But when it comes to the idea or story behind a song and the lyrics, for me it has to be about true experiences and emotions that I have been through. When I look back on memories that really stand out to me, I then want to get those feelings out in a song. When it comes to writing a song, I usually start playing some chords on guitar and then humming along a melody to go with it. Then I let the lyrics flow in to that melody, and where I write about my real life memories, the lyrics usually flow quite naturally.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for The O.O., and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: I mean if we’re talking big dreams, then I’d love to be headlining Reading and Leeds festival! But scaling back a bit, my aspirations for this year are to release a few more singles and music videos all building up to the release of my first album, and doing more and more live shows. And over the next few years I want to release a second album, do more and more gigs, I just have such a passion for music and want to share that with the world! I would love my fans to come with me on this next step of my journey, all coming together like a big family celebrating a love for music, with me just being one small part of that family.
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