Ohly, an interview
Photo: Alexis Backus
A few months ago, indie folkster Ohly sent us a preview of his upcoming record, Miracle, and it completely blew us away. Today, the first single, “Maybe It’s You,” is available to the world, so we thought we’d sit him down and get a few details on his songwriting, the new record, and his plans for the future.
UpToHear: Your plan is to release six singles this year before ultimately dropping the entire album in the fall. Was this always the plan?
Ohly: The plan was always for an LP, but I wasn't sure how many songs it would be or what the release cadence would look like. I learned so much about myself, my songwriting, and how to work with others in a studio between the time we started and finished recording.
UTH: With so many artists releasing the random single here and there, what led you to choose a full album?
O: The producer and I are big fans of packaged, cohesive, records and with the two EPs I’ve put out so far, a full length just seemed like the next move.
UTH: Will the record be available in physical format? Or will it be strictly digital?
O: It will be available in physical format. Not going to share anything specific, but let’s just say it’s not limited to CDs and cassettes.
UTH: You let us hear the first six tracks, but you ultimately decided on “Maybe It’s You” as the lead single. We’re not going to deny that it’s a fantastic choice, but did you know it was going to come out first once you wrote it?
O: Thanks for saying that - it really is meaningful to me. I wasn't sure it’d be the first single when the track came about. After writing it, I remember for the first time in my songwriting history really thinking to myself... "man, this song is fun to sing." I love the melody and the way it dynamically covers my vocal range. It reminds me of some of my favorite artists in the best way.
UTH: How did you decide on the order of releases?
O: The release order is honestly still up in the air, but given folks’ attention spans these days, whether they mean to or not, a majority of listeners won’t hear the whole album front to back, so I’m being mindful of that and releasing singles I don’t want to be missed. There are a few songs I’m very intentionally saving for the LP due to their weight to me personally.
UTH: In “Maybe It’s You,” you’ve managed to capture the tone of the acoustic guitar very well, which we know is no easy task. What’s your secret?
O: Haha, as much as I’d like to, I don't think the secret is mine to tell. I will say two things: 1) This year marks one decade since I first started playing acoustic at coffee shop open mic’s. 2) John and Tom, the producers, have about 15 - 20 years of gear they’ve collected over the years. We picked the perfect guitar for each part we recorded, and are quite happy with how it turned out.
UTH: Did you record any of it at home?
O: The song was recorded at JK (Not Kidding) Studios in Shelby Township, MI. John likes to call it a studio home.
UTH: Did you hire any additional personnel?
O: I had a few friends do some session work. Jimmy Showers played guitar, Ian Lukas on bass, and Brodie Glaza on drums. To me, as a singer-songwriter, recording and performing music got so much more fun once I found a community of musicians who were excited about my work. While I play guitar and dabble in a few other instruments, the record would not be what it is without the other Detroit musicians who worked on the project.
UTH: Many of the artists we meet often mention that much of their material was written over lockdown. Is that the case here? If not, where did you find the time? And what inspired you?
O: The music hustle has really consumed most of my time outside of my day job since 2019. I’ve spent most evenings and weekends writing and recording and have really just started to let up from that the past 6 months. I was inspired by the life events of my 20s. Though the specifics are unique to me, the general topics of the stories I share are ubiquitous.
UTH: Speaking of lockdown, did you collaborate with any other artists during that time?
O: Oddly enough, I connected with so many musicians online during the pandemic. If I had a nickel for everytime I told someone “yeah I think we dm'd on instagram...” I’d have loads of nickels. I did some virtual shows and lowkey releases, but mostly developed relationships that led to collaboration on the record.
UTH: What is your main goal as a musician? Are you releasing this record for the world or for yourself?
O: I want to inspire the artists I look up to, and many of those are in my own neighborhood. I’d absolutely love to tour, write, and record for a living, but I’d say my current goal is to keep writing songs I love playing and continue to improve as a songwriter. The rest is really a bonus.
UTH: You mentioned touring… How is that looking? Any gigs on the books or artists you’d love to open for?
O: I’m working on booking some shows this fall, but man, it takes a village. I hope to do a proper tour later this year or in 2024. I’d also love to get to a place where somebody like Ben Gibbard or Wesley Schultz hears a song of mine and afterwards they ask me to have a cup of coffee. I’d love to play a solo writer’s round with Marcus Mumford in a 100 person listening room, but I’d also love to rock a stadium with Phoebe Bridgers. I think whatever style of songs I pump out for a follow-up record will determine which one is more likely.
-TM