Track of the Day: Brian Olson – Press On (2023)
Embracing his musical talent at a young age by playing the guitar with natural ease, Brian Olson found a love for making music…but life got in the way. Taken on an incredible journey raising two daughters, Olson stepped away from music but now he’s back. With the kids all grown and the guitar calling, the US-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist released his debut single ‘Press On’ in 2023. Come with us as we dip into ‘Press On’ with bated breath.
Penned as a song for a song creation challenge put on by award-winning producer Bradley Denniston, ‘Press On’ was built in a high-pressure environment. Funnily enough, this is the theme of the track. Olson explains, “The song is about being in a high-pressure situation when you feel out of your league and you’re completely stuck…” Filled with a hard-hitting blast of hard rock, you can feel the blood-pumping, gut-wrenching wave of frustration and desperation linked to being in that high-pressure situation.
Influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and AC/DC, one can imagine a powerful flood of rock in Olson’s music, and that’s just what we get with ‘Press On’. Recorded almost entirely in his home studio, the crashing guitars and bass match pounding drums in a sweep of sound. While a classic rock sound emanates from ‘Press On’, there is a modern-day vibe adding edginess to ‘Press On’. Add Olson’s rich vocals and you have a ferocious feast of infectious music.
As I mentioned, the song is about being in a high-pressure situation and the insanity of the melody contributes to feelings of impending doom. Yet, just as there is despair lurking in ‘Press On’ there is also encouragement and empowerment. As Olson shares, “Focus on what you can do instead of focusing on the problem…whatever you focus on expands, so focus on one thing you can do right now that could make the situation better…if you focus on solutions, you get solutions.”
Brian Olson is new on the scene but I am 100% sure he will be on the tips of everyone’s tongues very soon. Highly recommended!
For more from Brian Olson, check out his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
