The Oliver Shaw Experience: "It's good just to let your truest thoughts sing with the music"

Few artists wear their influences, emotions and experiences as openly as Oliver Shaw. A singer-songwriter, poet and lifelong Camden creative, Oliver has spent years carving out his own corner of the independent music scene through heartfelt songwriting, cinematic visuals and a relentless dedication to his craft. With three albums already under his belt and a new record, Love Stories, arriving later this year, Shaw continues to evolve while staying true to the emotional honesty that sits at the heart of his work.

From the impact of growing up in Camden to the influence of film soundtracks, Radiohead, The Strokes and The Beatles, we caught up with Oliver to discuss songwriting, creativity and the deeply personal themes behind his forthcoming album.

1. You've been writing songs since your teenage years and have now released multiple albums independently. Looking back, how do you feel your songwriting has evolved from The Last Of The English Cowboys to your upcoming album Love Stories?

I really feel that it is such a classic thing with bands and both solo artists alike to feel that need to be even more expansive and creative on their second album, or in simply going forward. I feel with my own music as a songwriter that releases music completely independently that I have never felt that pressure.

With my first official solo album, The Last Of The English Cowboys, released back in 2020 now, I had nothing planned of how I wanted the album to feel or even sound if I am completely honest. That almost ignorance and oblivion can work in your favour, as the songs just simply speak for themselves and can find that space to breathe.

I think that since that album onwards to this latest record that I am working on, I feel that I have grown not only in my songwriting abilities, but also in my confidence in letting the simple beauty of a song speak for itself. My music is utterly emotion driven, and over the now many years of writing I have learned that that's OK. It's good just to let your truest thoughts sing with the music, even if sometimes you don't want to go there.

2. Growing up in Camden and now hosting a monthly residency at The Good Mixer, how has the area's rich musical history shaped both your identity as an artist and the sound of The Oliver Shaw Experience?

Oh absolutely, 1000 percent! Camden, I still believe, is such a great holy ground for musicians. Firstly, people just don't seem to judge you there in whichever genre or in what you are trying to say as an artist. Also, there are so many influences from there that still inspire me.

I grew up listening to indie rock and alternative music in my youth, but I soon learned that it was the inner meaning of the lyrics and the rhythm of music that really gave writing its form. Plus, if you create, play live and learn your craft, then people will respect you.

Whether it's rock, reggae, ska, house, grime, hip hop, garage, busking or folk, that list is seemingly endless when it comes to Camden. And that principle has, to this day, stuck with me.

3. Your influences range from The Beatles and R.E.M. to Nirvana, Fat White Family and Serge Gainsbourg. Which artists do you feel have had the biggest impact on your latest material, and how do those influences manifest themselves in your music today?

Actually, one of my favourite things about getting older is that your influences change, and things that you have loved before you somehow love and admire in a different way or context. For a small example, I loved The Beatles as a kid and even up until my early 20s. However, I haven't really listened to them since. Haha. What I like about them now as an adult is the artistry more than the music.

Of course they had beautiful songs that changed people's lives even. However, I simply like their approach to recording, for example, and how they found new ways at the time to let melodies grow into something bigger. Same with Pink Floyd. In modern times, perhaps Radiohead. They really set the template.

Recently I have been revisiting The Strokes actually. They were massively important to me as a teen. The first time that I ever heard them, combined with how they looked, marked the template to literally my whole career in that I knew instantly what I wanted to do.

Despite all this indie talk, of which I could babble on for hours, I these days mainly listen at home to more atmospheric music like movie soundtracks. I adore Jonny Greenwood and all of his film scores for Paul Thomas Anderson movies. Movies being my other main influence. The visual aspects of music have always been a huge influence within my songs, and in particular now that this current album is finding its legs, I can appreciate that almost cinematic expanse within these newer songs.

4. You take a hands-on approach to the visual side of your work, creating storyboards and conceptualising your music videos through your own hand-drawn illustrations. What role does visual storytelling play in your creative process, and do songs often begin with images in your mind?

Linking this slightly to your third question, and despite all this indie talk from me, of which I could babble on for hours, I these days mainly listen at home to more atmospheric music like movie soundtracks. I adore Jonny Greenwood and all of his film scores for Paul Thomas Anderson movies. Movies being my other main influence.

The visual aspects of music have always been a huge influence within my songs, and in particular now that this current album is finding its legs, I can appreciate that almost cinematic expanse within these newer songs.

5. Your forthcoming album Love Stories follows A Beginner's Guide To Dystopia, which explored darker themes and observations. Does the new record represent a change in outlook, and what can listeners expect from this next chapter of your musical journey?

That's a great question! As actually this has been something that I have been very conscious of in the writing and both recording process of this forthcoming album, Love Stories. Yes, both my second and still current third albums in my mind were almost sister albums. My second record, Of Darker Plains, being an almost concept album, with ten songs purposely written with a darker meaning and intent. I needed to get that out of my system!

I am a writer who has never been afraid of talking about a much darker subject matter, as long as it is honest and utterly from my own heart. A Beginner's Guide To Dystopia follows along in a similar vein, playing almost as a sequel to its predecessor.

The music was much bolder, however, as I wanted it to sound bigger and to experiment and push myself in the recording studio. Whether that was on an acoustic song with strings or a big sounding rock song, I wanted to see how far I could push myself.

With this latest album, although in my mind it is not officially a concept album per se, it does definitely have a theme running through it. The title of it, Love Stories, is a direct giveaway, haha. As around just two songs into recording it, I was recording a track which ended up being both a single and a music video release of mine, A Scarlet Widow. And I thought, hold on! Another love song!

So each track in its own different way explores the subject of love. Whether a love lost, a falling in love, a love unrequited, or even the subject of obsession. These are all love stories in their own aspects. All my own stories from a very personal place that I am now sharing. All sent with passion, love, heart, melody and memory.