Olivesque is the project of 23-year-old North Yorkshire-raised Olive Rees. Known also for her work in Manchester-based three piece Nightbus, Olivesque sees Rees establish her presence as a multifaceted musician and producer, distilling her deeper self-analysis whilst creating space for the expression of her queer identity. New single “Death” arrives as a fitting prelude for Olivesque – an encapsulation of darkness, romance and wit which conjures an early insight into her artistic essence and beckons listeners to delve into her inner world.

Put simply as “a bedroom indie song about death,” Olivesque’s new track effortlessly juxtaposes ethereal vocals and intricate guitar tones with lyricism that weaves humour into darkness; ‘If death doesn’t come quick enough / would you fly from hell to come pick me up?.’ Delving beneath the surface, she shares; “This was written in peak lockdown and I feel like lyrically I was taking the piss out of my situation in a very romantic but dark way. It started out as a bassline that I had written in my first year of university and labelled ‘Wolf Alice bassline.’ Fast-forward to March 2020 I had begun demoing my own songs on Garage-band – mostly as a coping mechanism during the pandemic. The lyrics are very reflective of that period and my mindset towards it. There’s something about darkness and melancholy that I really enjoy – rather than finding its depth intimidating, I find it a beautiful thing to sit with and there was a lot of that during the pandemic. There’s a sinister comedic twist to the narrative that is essentially saying take me to hell because it can’t be any worse than this reality. What’s ironic is that summer was actually the best summer of my entire life.”

Raised in North Yorkshire’s Saltburn-by-Sea, a town close to Middlesbrough, Rees’ childhood was framed by salt-swept cliff lines and beaches of the North Sea. Growing up between two households, she also reflects on the shadows cast by the social problems which marked her town, with the once thriving Victorian seaside resort still recovering from the ripples of industrial decline. Finding solace in songwriting, it quickly grew beyond just an emotional haven, leading to her move to Manchester to study music at university. Her process too bloomed – shifting from early guitar-driven demos to the production of more immersive soundscapes via Logic. From here, she linked up with her bandmates to form Nightbus. Whilst she emphasises her role in the collective as more of an alter-ego forged through a spirit of collaboration, Olivesque sits in stark contrast – representing the more distinct facets of her artistic identity.

Arriving as an unfiltered embodiment of her true self, as Olivesque she embraces her vulnerability, influences and queerness through her brand of gritty, dreamy indie pop. Here, she finds a natural home for her drama-infused narratives, dancing between dark undertones and beautiful vulnerability and fuelled by a passion for exploring the human psyche.

Stream “Death” HERE