FEATURE: Spotlight: Olive Jones — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Olive Jones

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I am looking forward…

to the release of For Mary. What is going to be a magnificent album from Olive Jones, maybe some new interviews will be published around it, as there are not too many recent ones out there. Never the less, I wanted to spotlight this incredible artist, as she is someone that you should know about. To promote the album, she has some great in-stores coming up, so go and see if you can. I might try and catch her in London. Jones is a wonderful songwriter who I have just discovered but am really interested in. There is not much in the way of intervbiew archive, so instead I am going to grab from a few articles that highlights her music. There is a 2024 interview with bringing in. For Mary is going to be a wonderful debut album. PRS for Music provide a little background and information about Olive Jones:

“London-based singer, songwriter and guitarist, Olive Jones draws on soul, jazz and folk to create her sumptuous melody driven music. Growing up singing along to the records of jazz greats; the voice and its ability to captivate and evoke emotion has always been at the forefront of her musical passion.

Her debut album, For Mary, aims to capture an essence of humanity; exploring topics of love, loss and the nuances of her observations and lived experience. Expect honey-drenched vocals, luscious production, beautiful harmony and songs that will stay with you long after you’ve listened”.

I hope there is press coverage around For Mary. Some interviews with Olive Jones. Kingdom is her latest single and it has this cool and swagger to it. Jones’s remarkable voice right at the centre. The video bathed in red. Our heroine scarfing down cake and dancing. Looking super-cool and entrancing, it is very different to a song like End of Time. That is lightly and more soulful/jazzier song. Its video sees Jones on a bicycle with headphones on.

The way she can switch styles and visuals yet retain this fascinating and distinct core. Before moving on, Band on the Wall provided some biography whilst promoting her gig there in 2024:

“Growing up singing along to the records of jazz greats and soul icons, the voice and its ability to captivate and evoke emotion has always been at the forefront of her musical passion. Her songwriting aims to capture an essence of being human; exploring topics of love, loss and communication observed through her lived experience. Expect honey-drenched vocals, luscious production, beautiful harmony and songs that will stay with you long after you’ve listened.

Olive has toured as the featured artist with Leeds soul outfit Gotts Street Park and collaborated with them on their leading album track “Tell Me Why” as featured vocalist. The single was playlisted on BBC6 Music and championed by Elton John on his Rocket Man show on Apple Music. She has supported rising star Jalen Ngonda on his 2023 and 2024 tours in UK and European cities as well as opening for the legendary Nitin Sawhney on his UK run earlier in the year”.

It would be great to hear from Olive Jones now. She has done so much since 2024. With that debut album ahead, it is the perfect time to capture new fans. I would love to see her played on some of the biggest radio stations in the country. I am not sure whether BBC Radio 6 Music have played it, but she seems tailormade for them. A phenomenal songwriter who everyone needs to connect with. The songs she put out last year were so incredible. Talk About Love is so powerful, beautiful and evocative. A song that I have come back to. Again, very different to something like Kingdom or Colour on the Wall. Such a broad palette.

I did not know that Olive Jones was once in a group. Mancunian Matters chatted with Jones in 2024 ahead of her Band on the Wall appearance. Jones discussed lyrical vulnerability, touring and her songwriting process. I do think that this year is going to provide some exciting new possibilities for Olive Jones in terms of stages she plays. International demand. In fact, in April, she does start some European dates. Taking her brilliant music beyond the U.K., I feel she will get more demand across Europe, the U.S. and beyond once For Mary arrives:

“Also known as lead vocalist in electro-soul, hip-hop outfit Noya Rao, the artist is taking her solo career further with her latest project, Three More Nights.

Moving from a career in a band to making music as an independent artist has invigorated Olive.

“It’s so exciting,” she said. “We are creating whatever sonic world we want and I think you can hear that honesty and freedom in the music.”

Revealing a softer acoustic take on soul after previous electronic singles ‘Planes’ and ‘Summer Rain’, the new EP has Olive’s same distinctive vocals and genuine lyrics. Released at the end of October, the four-song project conjures up ideas of a cosy night in with relaxing vibes rivalling Gilmore Girls.

Rich and warm single Nobody Knows from her first EP Three More Nights

Opening with title track Three More Nights, Olive uses a combination of smooth vocals and honest lyrics to create an EP which is comfortingly relatable.

It feels like a vulnerable project, as Olive explained: “I think it’s through songwriting that I process the world and my experiences of it and therefore inevitably my songs have a lot of ‘me’ in them.

“I’m a very resilient, positive character day to day and it seems my music is where I choose to channel some of my sadness, frustration and introspection, as well as joy, love and happiness.

“I would say the older I get, the easier I find it to write more vulnerable lyrics as I care less about how they reflect on me.

“I hope people will be able to find their own meanings in my words and feel comforted by my honesty and vulnerability.”

The EP brings to mind the similarly sophisticated Rosie Lowe, and lyrically delicate Billie Marten. Olive mentions La Force’s album XO Skeleton immediately as one of her biggest musical influences, alongside artists Feist and Alabama Shakes – influential both musically and in terms of production.

As you might expect from the openness of her EP, Olive described her songwriting process as both a “form of procrastination” and a “meditative practice”.

“Lyrically some songs fall out of me with ease but others require a little more patience to be articulated in the right way,” she said. “Lyrics are very important to me and I have always strived to write words that are personal yet universal.”

For this release Olive worked with producer James Wyatt, who has worked with the likes of Pixie Lott and Lianne La Havas – a process she described as “inspiring”.

“He strives to find something special from each corner of a song and his dedication to my project has been so encouraging.

“We are both so aligned with our vision and our skill sets really complement each other”.

Twistedsoul spotlighted Olive Jones back in December. Although I am a late convert to her clear brilliance, I would encourage as many people as possible to listen to her music. Go and check out For Mary when it is released on 13th March. There is so much competition and such a crowded scene with so many different artists each offering something of their own. I don’t think there is anyone quite like Olive Jones out there:

“With great enthusiasm, March 2026 will see the release of the debut full-length from London’s Olive Jones. The singer, songwriter and musician has steadily been bubbling away, cultivating a sublime catalogue of music along with a listener-base eagerly awaiting more to wrap their ears around.

Following a selection of initial standalone singles dating back to 2023, Jones’ first EP came in the form of ‘Three More Nights’ in 2024, solidifying her partnership with veteran Canadian label, Nettwerk. Boasting an incredible showcase of global talent across a variety of genres, styles and continents, Nettwerk have long held a dynamic approach to nurturing artists and helping them chart a course through an ever-evolving musical climate. And amongst an expansive line-up of Nettwerk artists covering everything from jazz to off-kilter pop, Olive Jones stands tall.

A slew of single releases after ‘Three More Nights’ has kept Jones prominent while the puzzle pieces for ‘For Mary’ have meticulously been slotting themselves into place.

There’s a natural flair to Jones’ music that places her within an alt-folk bracket but listening that little bit closer unveils an affection for authentic soul music that elevates the singer-songwriter’s aesthetic to a much more intricate plateau. The 2024 single, ‘End of Time’, would surely prove an essential port-of-call regarding any necessary introduction to Olive Jones’ music: there’s a wonderful hint of quintessential soul about the song (a sound typically synonymous with the delectable sounds of say Timmion Records or We Are Busy Bodies) which is backed by a charismatic video of Jones cycling through the park – listening to a cassette Walkman no less.

The Walkman again is such a nice touch – an affectionate quirk that affirms Jones as more than just an old soul, but one who bucks trends and carves her own path.

Hers is an intimate tone that invites warmth and sincerity throughout her music, and the yellow brick road that Jones’ music has paved lead to the 2026 release of ‘For Mary’. A debut full-length that feels like a long-time coming but a project that no doubt will be met with a rapturous reception when the complete version reaches prospective listeners”.

Her music is so fascinating. Kingdom is perhaps her most compelling track to date. Voxwave covered the track and included this in their article. Words from Olive Jones about the song’s meaning: “division in society, the search for hope, and common ground in a world that seems increasingly divided. About the song, Olive herself says “Brexit upset me enormously, and even more so the arrogance and ignorance of Britain at that time. So ‘Kingdom’ is my political anthem about the fool who made it all happen”. Switching between these intimate and touching songs to something bigger and mor politically-charged, this is an artist with great sonic, lyrical and emotional depth. If you have not discovered Olive Jones yet then do go and connect. Such a brilliant musician who is going to be making music for a very long time to come, I feel For Mary will stand alongside…