Oli Morris – don’t like sugar (2024)
As a saxophonist, singer-songwriter Oli Morris has an innate way of bringing audiences to their knees in soul-stirring music. My last encounter with the UK-based artist was his jazzy instrumental ‘Equilibrium’; however, lyrics do weave through the magical sonic river like in ‘Henry’s Turtle’ with Stevie Toddler’s enchanting tones. Yet, there’s no need for a simple word to showcase Morris’ skills as a true artist. Come with us as we delve into his most recent single, ‘don’t like sugar’.
Following his well-received 2023 EP A Brief Return To Solitude, Morris saunters into 2024 with ‘don’t like sugar’. An evolution in Morris’ sound, the new single is a drop of youthful innocence wrapped in a sugary sweet kaleidoscopic haze of bright lights and sparkles. Unlike his previous album, A Brief Return To Solitude, filled with a darker, desperate, more vulnerable fragility, ‘don’t like sugar’ is a blast of infectious enthusiasm. Taken from his upcoming EP that celebrates life instead of reflecting with poignant tones, ‘don’t like sugar’ is a break-out piece. Morris explains:
“This entire EP came from a pure sense of spontaneity and joy. ‘don’t like sugar’ has a sense of playfulness and vibrancy which is noticeable in the first few seconds of listening. It’s a nice different to the urgency of A Brief Return to Solitude, which was my attempt to help heal from previous trauma.”
Listening to ‘don’t like sugar’, as with all of his material, is like stepping into a warm bubble of kaleidoscopic music. A bold bass hums beneath the dynamic guitars, while keyboards shimmer along with a pulsating drum beat. The soaring saxophone adds an extra something special so while the melody flutters about tossing you in a melting pot of music, the rollercoaster of sound is not fearful or rapid but rather a comfortable embrace from a close friend.
Recorded and produced by Morris, with Doug Cave on mixing duties, ‘don’t like sugar’ is sophisticated, but the dreamy joviality and energy blend maturity and innocent exuberance. With a deep understanding of emotion, music and its harmonic union, the new single highlights Morris’ mastery of his art.
Find out more about Oli Morris on his official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
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