Oleh

Hailing from sunny Dunedin in the deep south of New Zealand, Oleh (pronounced ‘o-lay’) is a musician with a difference. Taking influences from dubstep to blues, reggae to swing, and basing his entire solo act around the crossover of electronic and live-instrumented sound; Oleh’s live show is truly something to behold. The music is created entirely on the spot through the use of a Boss RC-50 Loop Station - the looper popularised by artists such as Dub FX and Beardyman. This allows for a full band’s worth of sound to be created live and in sync, capturing and propagating the raw goodness of the music as it is created. Each track is built from layers of live beatboxing, electric guitar and vocal harmonies, and then blended with conscious, meaningful lyrics and dynamic song structures to create a memorable and powerful musical experience.

Oleh has recently released a 4 track EP titled ‘Homebrewed EP’ which was recorded with live performance in mind. Each track is able to be fully reproduced in a live context, as are a host of other original tracks, with more material being written constantly. Homebrewed EP was released at Sammy’s in Dunedin to a highly appreciative crowd on the 4th of June 2010, with a beer being brewed on the night and art displays as well as EP covers being sewn on the spot for people and even audience members sewing their own. The packaging of the EP is 100% recycled and is sewn together from old sheets, curtains, tablecloths, off-cut leather and 2nd hand buttons.

Oleh has played several outdoor gigs in 2010 such as Subduction and Circulation Festival , as well as many other gigs around Dunedin. Plans are currently in the works to hit Queenstown and Wanaka over the ski season as well as a performance at Otago University’s Re:Orientation week. After this, a national summer tour is surely in order. Oleh’s music reflects his varied influences across the spectrum of electronic and bass heavy music through to classic instrument based music such as reggae, blues and swing. One thing is for sure - an Oleh show is one not to be missed.