If you live in the SoundCloud scene, chances are you’re quite familiar with olswel. If not, it’s time we put you onto one of the most promising new talents we’ve discovered this year. 2019 has been a breakout period for the Bay Area based beat-maker. From getting his music supported by What So Not, to releasing on phuture collective and Lucid Monday, plus dropping a multitude of impeccable tracks with inimicvs and dilip, it’s been nothing but up. Meshing elements of future beat, lo-fi and hard-hitting trap, olswel’s music is always diverse and fresh without straying too far from the sound we’ve come to love. With 2020 set to be an even bigger year, we decided it was due time to connect with olswel for a guest mix + interview. The mix features a grip of IDs, while the interview ranges from how he got into making music, to the impact his age has had on his success, and what’s next.
I heard that you grew up in a very musical family. Can you tell us a bit about your music training growing up?
I had taken piano lessons on and off while I was younger and I had also taught myself how to play bass guitar, which I had stuck to playing for a couple years, until I found about producing haha :)
What led you to producing?
My dad had Logic Pro on the house computer and I had messed around with it a couple of times when I was really little, but it wasn’t until I was about 10 when found out about FL studio and downloaded the demo that I started to get really interested in music production.
Earlier this year you tweeted you were still figuring out where you want to go with your music. Have you gotten any further clarity around this in recent time?
Yeah, I think it was realizing that in the end it’s just about making what I enjoy doing and that I just have to stop putting limitations on myself. Making whatever I want and not caring about how many plays it gets or what other people will think of it has helped my creativity SO much.
What So Not is one of the top reasons I make the music I do today, so I definitely freaked out when I saw that he plays one of my songs almost every time he performs.
How did you feel when you found out What So Not was playing your music? Have any other major artists supported your work?
What So Not is one of the top reasons I make the music I do today, so I definitely freaked out when I saw that he plays one of my songs almost every time he performs. I can’t think of any other artists with as big of a following as he has that have supported my music.
What impact has your age had on your progress in the industry?
Not much from what I can tell as I never wanted my age to be my main selling point, so I try to keep it on the dl for the most part. But when people find out they think your music is a lot more impressive than before lmao.
Do you see this as an advantage or as a hindrance?
It has helped in some ways, but it has most definitely prevented me from getting booked in many situations haha.
actually having chemistry with the other musicians you’re working with is the most important part of collaborating in my opinion.
You seem to have some crazy chemistry with inimicvs and dilip. How did you first link up? What do you enjoy most about working with them?
I think it all started when I dmed ini on SoundCloud saying “oh my god ily” and then he was like “haha thank you bro. You wanna make something together homie?” and the rest is history. He introduced me to dilip and sui.luj and we all met up in LA and worked for a while and became really great friends. Some of the coolest people I’ve ever met and making music with them is super fun and easy, actually having chemistry with the other musicians you’re working with is the most important part of collaborating in my opinion.
An EP with dilip and hopefully a solo album from me 2020!
What should fans expect from you for the remainder of the year and into 2020?
An EP with dilip and hopefully a solo album from me 2020!
What are you most proud of accomplishing this year?
Making some amazing lifelong friends and becoming a lot more happy with the music I’ve been making :)
Tell us about the mix. What was your goal when putting it together? What should listeners expect from it?
Here’s some songs I like and a couple ID’s as well :) It’s gonna be all over the place but I hope everyone enjoys it.
Tracklist:
Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like Its Hot (Kaelin Ellis Edit)
TEK.LUN – ar
Mr. Carmack – this morning was funny
DILIP – krunch w/ inimicvs & olswel
olswel – ID
18ua – OCT_28_137
j.robb – beltwaycallss
Mr. Carmack – Justicia Ahora ft. Gladiator
olswel – ID
laxcity – bird
olswel – ID
inimicvs – 3k w/ olswel, edp & chirashe
Da-P – Deez
Dabow – Woo (With Mo Vibez)
olswel – ID
olswel – ID
olswel – ID
olswel – ID
olswel – 8th note type beat
olswel – ID
