Oliver Richards

Local singer blazes ahead with fire service charity song
By Laura Smith on Tuesday 16 September 2014 Share


Oliver Richards is blazing his way around the UK on a tour with a difference.

Most artists will release a single and take on a packed schedule of gigs in the hope of gaining fans and getting their music into the charts.

But the Aberdeen singer has been putting in hours in the studio and hopping on a tour bus to promote a cause not of his own.

His new single Sometimes, released last Sunday, is raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity.

To raise awareness of the charity's plight, Oliver has slung his guitar over his shoulder and set off on the Ring of Fire tour.

Staged by the Fire Brigades Union, it aims to rally support for the nation's fire and rescue service and spread the message of “investment not cuts”.

Oliver, 29, explained: "I got involved with the Fire Brigades Union who are campaigning about the severe cuts they've had to the service in the past three years.

"They feel it's making it dangerous for the public as a lot of stations are closing and they've lost over 5000 fire fighters."

During the Ring of Fire tour, Oliver will complete a gruelling 20 gigs in 25 days, primarily around England with one date already performed in Glasgow last weekend.

"I've already been to some amazing places and met some amazing people," continued Oliver.

"We've just launched [the single] so the word is slowly getting around and a lot of people seem to think it's a good idea."

The Fire Fighters Charity was set up in 1943 and continues to support wounded members of the fire and rescue service and their families, as well as retired fire fighters.

Oliver goes on to explain that, so far, the tour has been an eye-opening experience.

He added: "On the tour I've been talking to a lot of fire fighters. They told me that if they get injured they have just three places to go for respite, all run by the charity solely through charitable donations.

"I had a single ready to go and thought it could be a good way to help them out.

"As far as I'm concerned, The Fire Fighters Charity does a really important job so hopefully it will go some way to raise funds for a great cause."

Oliver Richards' charity single Sometimes is available to download from iTunes, Google play, Spotify and Amazon - STV

In times of perceived economic gloom, we look for escapes and ways to lighten the drudgery of day to day life. Many of us in the UK head off to sunnier shores; some make a shorter journey down to the local pub. For those in need of instant cheer, they can listen to Kick and Pull by Aberdeen based singer-songwriter, Oliver Richards.

The first track, Gimme Love, starts with a soaring arpeggio and strings reminiscent of the joyous dance music of the 90s which pulls up the listener just in time to hear some gorgeous finger picking on acoustic guitar, Oliver’s signature to this uplifting song. The lyrics offer a simple, plaintive message which is sung pleadingly and sweetly in a near whisper.

Go Baby is a more sultry affair with bossanova driven minor chords and seductive suggestions in husky undertones. This calming piece of music is a pleasure to listen to and acts as a lovely counterpoint to the less subtle pick-me-up of the first track.

Things become more urgent and driven with Poison Ivy. The relentless rhythm raises the heartbeat and the fractious keyboard riffs jolt the senses. Oliver’s acoustic guitar is there too, palm-muted and as lively as the kick drum and double time hi-hat. The lyrics ring true with anyone who has been in an acrimonious relationship, with the eponymous Ivy being held up as a prime example of a dangerously beguiling lover.

Yeah No is more of an ensemble piece, with a full band sound in which the acoustic feel is adorned with electric guitars, bombastic drumming and pumping bass. Although the intimacy of the EP is somewhat lost in this track, the fullness of sound and production quirks make this an enjoyable listen.

The final track, 19th July, is a soaring masterpiece of acoustic folk where Oliver gives his voice a rest, bares his Scottish folk roots and reminds us what he can do with an acoustic guitar. The flurry of fingers combined with an awe inspiring church hall sound makes this song a fantastic finale for a well crafted EP full of surprise, joy and fervour.

Kick and Pull is a wonderfully crafted piece of work, well thought out without being forced or overindulgent. The production is phenomenally good, managing to combine acoustic beauty with hard-wired electronica, rock power and Oliver’s diverse vocal range. For an artist still young in his years, his music has a maturity that can speak for itself, urging you to listen as it will make your day just that little bit better.
- INSIDERPHIL

Looking over the multitude of murmuring heads and towards the stage, I spy the slight frame of Oliver Richards stood behind his guitar greeting the crowd with a shy grin and a modest introduction awaiting the start of his supporting act for the legendary Midge Ure. Alone apart from his instrument and the beam from a solitary spotlight, Oliver eased into his set as the crowd hushed in anticipation at hearing some relatively new talent. With Oliver’s eyes down to a full house, a strong, confident voice danced through the seated audience and he introduced everyone to his music.

In Oliver’s solo act he shows variation between songs, moving from the quiet, gentle folk of “Stone House Hill” to the soft soul sophistication of “Go Baby” and the foot-stomping jiggery of “Master Chancer”. There is is also variation within his songs, his voice bursting forth then retreating with innate subtlety while he manipulates his guitar with ringing arpeggios, staccato rhythms and dextrous fingerwork from both hands. He blends both voice and instrument to become one entity.

As the evening progressed, the avid listeners more than warmed to Oliver and his music. He needed no pithy introductions between songs as he let his skill and quiet charm do the talking. A disadvantage of playing your own material is that there is less familiarity to grab the audience’s attention. Oliver managed to do this and more through the sheer strength of his songwriting and his ability to use his powerful sound. Even when they became a bit distracted during a short break for retuning, they chatted quietly amongst themselves which died down when Oliver started fingerpicking his next song, providing an aural massage to soothe the restless crowd. Silence and rapt attention prevailed when the singing rang out once again.

There was a blend of influences in his music, combining American soul with accompanying vocal growls and the softly accented whispers and open chords of contemporary folk. None of these seemed contrived or forced, having been part of his musical upbringing. His lyrics are intelligent without being pretentious and down-at-home folksy without being parochial. The guitar playing was technically impressive but not painfully so, the technique being used to provide a shimmer to a performance already full of depth, spirit and character.

This was highlighted halfway through his set in “Master Chancer”, a song that Oliver had been working on since the age of 16. This dedication shone through as the multilayered tune combining rhythmic double stops, slinky fret slides and sizzling trills. The shift from major to minor chords and back again also added to the ebb and flow of the song’s moods.

On the strength of last year’s performance, he was asked back to support Midge Ure, definitely holding his own and providing a fitting introduction to the Ultravox and Band Aid frontman. He used the sound, the stage, his voice and his guitar to full effect, wowing the crowd whose appreciation rang through at the end with their loud applause and respectful cheering. The mixed audience seemed to be won over by this talented young figure on stage, one lady even asking me what cover versions he was playing as he was that good. For a masterclass in understated showmanship, Oliver Richards is an untapped seam of musical gold.
- INSIDERPHIL

A lot of hard work can get someone far in life, and this philosophy has slowly but surely allowed local singer-songwriter Oliver Richards to begin breaking out into a broader music scene. His efforts in Aberdeen include the organisation of a fair few of the city’s acoustic sets and open mic nights, at which he has often been part of the bill alongside other local talent. These events have led to Richards deservedly becoming more well-known throughout Aberdeen’s music scene, as well as to a wider audience.

Richards began writing music at the young age of fifteen, having grown up in a somewhat musical family, accustomed to using instruments from an early age. Since then he has moved on to play local Aberdeen gigs and stepped it up to support Scottish acts such as Dave Arcari. Possibly one of the biggest achievements in Richards’ career is his being asked to support Midge Ure in 2011 and once again in 2012: experiences he humbly says he was ‘lucky’ to have had.

In addition to these great support roles, Richards has been featured on the radio as “Artist of the Week” on local station Shmu FM, and has had music from his new EP broadcast by DJ Jim Gellatly (“the voice of new music in Scotland”), the man responsible for the first broadcast of great Scottish artists such as KT Tunstall and Twin Atlantic. Hopefully, this tells something of where Richards’ career could be heading next.

Most recently, Richards released his debut EP, Kick and Pull, in July 2012. Within it can be found an enjoyable mix of pop, electro, rock and folk sounds. It is music from this record that led to Richards’ radio attention, so it has been a very important step in his quest to become a nationally recognised artist. The music on Kick and Pull is varied, with the best track and the one to watch being the folksy 19th July. This is Richards’ own favourite track, and he promises that there is another EP in the pipeline that will lean towards this brilliant folk/rock sound.

All in all, Oliver Richards’ career is becoming more exciting every day. Opportunities to be seen and heard nationally are coming in thick and fast, and one can only hope that if he takes off big-time, he won’t forget his Aberdeen roots! - Hercules Moments