Interview: Oliver Wilde

Bristol’s own Oliver Wilde is becoming a firm fixture on the Simple Things Festival bill but forget what you saw last year, this year will be completely different. Laura Williams speaks to the local musician to find out more…

How do you rate Simple Things festival?

Simple Things really is one of my favourite festivals (and nights) of the year. Living in Bristol, it’s a two minute walk from my house so I can literally chuck my gear and band in a cab to get down there and walk home to bed after. It consistently has an interesting, unusual, brave and challenging lineup which is a real rarity for festivals these days and it’s scattered with bands that never come and play Bristol.

What can people expect from your Simple Things festival performance?

We’ve been lucky enough to play Simple Things for the last couple of years, which has been so good. Each year, it’s exciting for me to attempt something new and different from the previous year, basically to give people reason to choose to come and see us again; if we turned up and did the same thing every time then I guess people wouldn’t need to come and see us. I shouldn’t really give too much away but we have a selection of special guests who will be joining us on stage, alongside a selection of brand new songs. It will be different for sure.

Who would you most like to play alongside at a festival?

Most of the artists I would choose to share a festival lineup with are dead or split up so happy to go with whatever; not really sure who I’m suited to be billed alongside. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to curate a stage or bill at a festival though, that would be fun, no one would buy tickets though.

Other than songwriting, what do you think is the most important skill to have as an artist?

Well, I don’t think I really have any position to be offering advice, who am I? I guess finding something you do well and being comfortable with that, working on progressing in that area to a level you are happy with. That takes skill. It’s a skill not to go over the top or sell yourself short, to be reserved enough that you don’t flood people with your music and appear like you are begging them to listen. Also having the confidence, self assurance and trust in yourself to take the creativity you apply to music and apply it to all aspects of being an artist – including art, shows and the internet etc.

You’re part of the Howling Owl collective. What does that mean to you?

Howling Owl means a great deal to me, none of this chapter of my life would exist without them. I never actually meant for any of this to happen, my music was a private exploration and it took Joe and Adrian to give me the confidence (they forced me) to put some of it out there. I will never break my ties with those guys, I still go to them for advice, they’re like family now.

Also, it is really important in cities to have that handful of individuals who actually care enough about their cultural surroundings to make the effort. Most people are lazy (like me) and it takes a huge amount of work, no money and patience to achieve what they have done. Alongside a few other labels and collectives in Bristol, they have shaped this city’s music scene into what it is.

See Oliver Wilde play this year’s Simple Things Festival on Saturday 24 October. More info and tickets at www.simplethingsfestival.co.uk