Ollie Lou Smith – Some Pigeons Are More Equal Than Others (2023)
Ollie Lou Smith may be a new voice to our ears, but he has been turning heads far beyond his German borders for quite some time. From Europe to North America, Smith’s 2022 debut EP Some Sweet Feeling received rave reviews, airtime on radio stations, several playlist adds, and a growing audience across the globe. A self-taught musician, Smith is defined by his raw acoustic drive and spontaneous DIY appeal. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Some Pigeons Are More Equal Than Others’.
When I contemplated what type of bird I would be, a pigeon was the furthest thing from my mind. An owl, eagle, raven or hawk is far more intriguing and beautiful than a pigeon. In ‘Some Pigeons Are More Equal Than Others’, Ollie Lou Smith tackles our perspective of the ordinary flipping it on its head and saying “Well, there’s more than just a grey bird with a dodgy bopping head”. He explains:
“This is a song about pigeons and lovers – beautiful elusive birds, part of many cityscapes. Kings and queens used to admire them and keep them as messengers. Now they get penalised as pests in cities around the world. Pigeons have come a long way since leaving seaside cliffs as rock doves many years ago.”
Yes, the song might be about pigeons, but it goes deeper than the grey wing and shimmering eyes. Following his well-received EP Some Sweet Feeling, ‘Some Pigeons Are More Equal Than Others’ captures raw vulnerability in its organic folk melody. Barebones and simplistic, there is a vintage Leonard Cohen meets James Taylor starkness in the tune. Embracing the sensitivity of a DIY track, a fragile innocence flits atop the guitar-and-vocals soundscape. Interestingly, while there is a gritty starkness in its raw flavour, the single is kaleidoscopic with warmth in the rich vocals. A quick shimmer of horns brings jazzy suave to the ballad coupled with the crooning of pigeons in the background.
One aspect of Ollie Lou Smith’s melodies that I find intriguing is an interplay of precision and unpredictable spontaneity. A moving clarity clips the melody like a bird’s wings are clipped; however, the whirlpool of “refreshing unpredictability” is a wind carrying the bird off into whimsical flight. It is through this intimate freedom that Ollie Lou Smith bonds with audiences on a deeper, more intense level. This is my introduction to Smith, and I cannot wait for more from him.
Find out more about Ollie Lou Smith on his Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustsainablecurator
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