Oliver James Brooks Inteview
Q: Can you talk about your history as a musician?
A: I’ve been carrying around an old acoustic guitar that my mum bought my dad back in ’74 and it’s always been with me since I can remember. To be honest, I would go through phases where I would play a bunch and try and work out some melodies but then I would forget about it and not play for a long while. So, I guess you could say that I’ve always been playing guitar and creating little melodies, but it wasn’t until the past few years that I started to actually record and write full songs and release music.
Q: What are some of the themes on your newest release I Don't but I Will?
A: My latest release, I Don’t but I Will, was recorded live off the floor at Berkeley Sound in Toronto, Canada on February 2, 2020. It’s an intimate, acoustic only album, that was born out of necessity. There’s something very personal and powerful (and a little scary) when you go into the studio, let everything out from inside, and leave with something that ultimately timestamps your feelings at that exact moment. In terms of specific themes, you could say the album touches on the sort you would identify with being in a relationship, you know one’s like betrayal, mistrust, etc. However this album is not about any one person, it’s actually about my feelings towards a particular industry, one I’ve worked in for quite some time that I am currently trying to get out of.
Q: What is your creative process like?
A: In terms of writing, I never force it. I can’t sit down and write a song, well, not a good one anyway. I like to wait until they just sort of happen. My one tune, “It’s Not Just Me” from my first album A Turn in the Bend was written in about five minutes, recorded once and never played again. I don’t even know where it came from, but I like it because it scares me. For other songs, I might have bits and pieces that sit around for months until they randomly come together. I write about what’s going on inside and what’s happening outside. I don’t like to be super obvious with my words, I would much rather leave it up to the listener to interpret however they see fit.
Q: Can you talk about your history as a musician?
A: I’ve been carrying around an old acoustic guitar that my mum bought my dad back in ’74 and it’s always been with me since I can remember. To be honest, I would go through phases where I would play a bunch and try and work out some melodies but then I would forget about it and not play for a long while. So, I guess you could say that I’ve always been playing guitar and creating little melodies, but it wasn’t until the past few years that I started to actually record and write full songs and release music.
Q: What are some of the themes on your newest release I Don't but I Will?
A: My latest release, I Don’t but I Will, was recorded live off the floor at Berkeley Sound in Toronto, Canada on February 2, 2020. It’s an intimate, acoustic only album, that was born out of necessity. There’s something very personal and powerful (and a little scary) when you go into the studio, let everything out from inside, and leave with something that ultimately timestamps your feelings at that exact moment. In terms of specific themes, you could say the album touches on the sort you would identify with being in a relationship, you know one’s like betrayal, mistrust, etc. However this album is not about any one person, it’s actually about my feelings towards a particular industry, one I’ve worked in for quite some time that I am currently trying to get out of.
Q: What is your creative process like?
A: In terms of writing, I never force it. I can’t sit down and write a song, well, not a good one anyway. I like to wait until they just sort of happen. My one tune, “It’s Not Just Me” from my first album A Turn in the Bend was written in about five minutes, recorded once and never played again. I don’t even know where it came from, but I like it because it scares me. For other songs, I might have bits and pieces that sit around for months until they randomly come together. I write about what’s going on inside and what’s happening outside. I don’t like to be super obvious with my words, I would much rather leave it up to the listener to interpret however they see fit.
Q: How did you approach recording the album?
A: When it came to recording my latest release, I wanted to ensure that everything captured was completely honest and genuine. I didn’t want what I was feeling to hide behind any special effects or anything like that. It’s the reason why I recorded the album live off the floor. No overdubbing, just two microphones, one guitar and one harmonica. I worked closely with Jack Emblem at Berkeley Sound, who engineered and mixed the songs, and finished them up with João Carvalho mastering.
Q: Have you played any of the material live or perhaps virtually?
A: Both actually, live and virtual! I performed some of the tunes last year when I played a set at the Indie Week Music Festival here in Toronto, Canada and I played some of them virtually at the beginning of COVID-19 in part with an online Instagram festival thing called “Quarantunes” which was quite fun. I essentially just played the tunes for my cat who was sitting across from me on one of his favorite chairs and even though he’s heard them all many times, I think he still liked them.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A:My music mixes in a bit of indie, a bit of rock and a little folk. For me, every song starts out on my acoustic, then I like to think about what the electric guitar part could be, what happens if I add some harmonica or hand drums? Or some weird organ notes? I guess what I am trying to say is that I like my songs and my music to feel organic and sound that way too. Some of my favorite musical influences and artists would include Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Joy Division, Kurt Vile, Elliott Smith and The War on Drugs.
A: When it came to recording my latest release, I wanted to ensure that everything captured was completely honest and genuine. I didn’t want what I was feeling to hide behind any special effects or anything like that. It’s the reason why I recorded the album live off the floor. No overdubbing, just two microphones, one guitar and one harmonica. I worked closely with Jack Emblem at Berkeley Sound, who engineered and mixed the songs, and finished them up with João Carvalho mastering.
Q: Have you played any of the material live or perhaps virtually?
A: Both actually, live and virtual! I performed some of the tunes last year when I played a set at the Indie Week Music Festival here in Toronto, Canada and I played some of them virtually at the beginning of COVID-19 in part with an online Instagram festival thing called “Quarantunes” which was quite fun. I essentially just played the tunes for my cat who was sitting across from me on one of his favorite chairs and even though he’s heard them all many times, I think he still liked them.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A:My music mixes in a bit of indie, a bit of rock and a little folk. For me, every song starts out on my acoustic, then I like to think about what the electric guitar part could be, what happens if I add some harmonica or hand drums? Or some weird organ notes? I guess what I am trying to say is that I like my songs and my music to feel organic and sound that way too. Some of my favorite musical influences and artists would include Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Joy Division, Kurt Vile, Elliott Smith and The War on Drugs.