Born and raised in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire England.
The official version we think! although there are rumour’s he was actually born at junction 13 on the m1!, that’s why if you ask him where he’s from he’ll tell you not Buckinghamshire or Bedfordshire, but Watford gap service station. Joking aside this is why he says he was born to do it. He was brought into this world in the foot well area of a ford escort Mexico. Like most artists, He sees life from a slightly different angle, not the view of the foot well area view from sitting on your bookshelf if you like.
He is a 31 year old singer songwriter with a heart melting smooth folk-ish voice which upon hearing is both captivating and exciting. The songs are empathetic and interesting lyrics
The Childs family, who are originally from London, crouch end. Have all kinds of different expertise, Oliver’s grand father frank Doel, was a very talented English literature specialist, you may recall a 1983 film which was based on him, 84 Charing cross road, Frank Doel played by Sir Antony Hopkins and Oliver’s grandmother played by Dame Judy dench. And his father was a successful rally driver in the 70’s but retired to save the family business and Be devoted to his children.
Ben Oliver and Catherine.
“ I grew up listening to what ever my mother had playing in the car or what was on the radio, I distinctively remember hearing golden brown by the stranglers and fell in love with that classic harpsichord riff.
After a rather sudden divorce of my parents I started finding deeper emotions within myself and was listening to all kinds of music from classical to cat Stevens.
As I got older I discovered rem and crowded house. They gave me everything I’d ever wanted from music. Neil Finns fantastic melody’s and harmonies, and Michael stipes blissful bending of the notes, it’s always the melody that has pulled me in then I’ve listened to the lyrics, what I love about music is no matter how bad the story or situation behind the song it never comes out the other end reflecting the darkness, almost like it’s going through a cleansing machine ridding it of the darker side of life. It’s true, joking aside, what music could you ever hear that causes pain or terror?
I’m grateful to be involved in making it.
Learning to play and sing was such a great expression tool for me, I have never been great at communicating how I feel about things without getting frustrated, but music showed me a path that was so rewarding and fun at the same time.
I like to write about every day situations, things we don’t understand. Heart break is always up there, what percentage of the worlds songs, are written about love?
My music is alternative folk, but if you really must its pop too, after all if you want to do well you must sell records and if you sell lots of records that makes you popular
I’m late starter in many aspects of my life, I only started playing guitar at the age of 19, I asked my father repeatedly from the age of 10 for a guitar and he would try and dissuade me from it and encouraged me to go into motor sport.
I fancied myself as an f1 driver when I was younger, but although I was competitive, the track is not for me and my first choice was always music.
When I was old enough to decide for myself I just went out and bought one,
I bought a second hand sigma, made by martin. I loved it. I would get in from my job as an apprentice mechanic, pick it up, and not stop playing it until I fell asleep; I actually woke up a few times with the string marks on my face where I had been sleeping with it pressed up against me.
To this day I can’t even pick my guitar up to move it else where in the room with out having to play it for an hour or so.
In the journey so far I have met some great artists and musicians along the way.
In 2002-2003 winter seasons I was playing out in the French Alps at ski resorts.
It was here that I met various members of superfly, now to be known as the feeling.
My song writing buddy Dan Cox and I collaborated with the drummer Paul Stewart and keyboardist cairan jeramyre to form a sub band if you like and we called ourselves superfreud.
We were very successful, all gigs were ram packed and we rocked the joint!
My greatest gig to date was playing with them in meribel (French Alps) at the ronde point. I did my first ever stage dive, and I was buzzing for days afterwards.
Music is for every body and I would like to share my music with the world.
I’m not too fussed about making money because I think it can delude us in to false sense of status. But I do want to sell records. For me it’s about the record, I am at my best when in the studio surrounded by the musicians that I respect and love.
At the end of the day I just wanna do it, I think I’ve got something to say and I want the world to hear it.”
Hello, from Canada, Mr. Childs. I look forward to enjoying your humour and your music. And maybe getting to know each other enough to become friendly if not friends.
I might just make it back to Bucks next year. I'm doing everything possible to arrange my Parisian and Irish buddy to join me in London. I'm out of the wheelchair mate! Hardest thing I've ever done, but this is one tough dude right here. 4 broken vertebrae in my neck and I am walking! I think a lot of good music helped me, yours included! Cheers!
OH my GOD!!! ITS YOU WHO DID THE fACEBOOK SONG!! I KNEW I recognised the voice but couldn't put two and two together! Its awsome and legendary in Bristol!! hope your well n say Hi to Tudor if you see him its been a long time. x
Hey Ollie! Hows it going hun? Love the tunes! When is your next gig?! The other day I randomly came across a couple of pix of you and your doodled guitar in New Zealand,it all feels like a million years ago! oh well....just need to plan the next trip! xx
sup ollayy, jon boy here, just spreading the word down her in bristol, getting my mates to add your tunes etc. just doing my bit to help! hope your all good mate. comment bk. Peace x
