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Singer-songwriter Thomas Oliver shares a Mixtape of songs that first introduced him to artists and genres he grew to love.
Thomas Oliver Photo: supplied
As Melody Thomas discovers, singer-songwriter Thomas Oliver doesn’t do things by halves.
Whether it be the relentless pursuit of a career in music, perfecting an especially difficult skateboarding trick or - as illustrated by his Mixtape - the discovery of new artists and genre, Thomas never hesitates to jump straight down the rabbit hole - the bigger and darker, the better.
Towards the end of 2015, Oliver released ‘If I Move To Mars’, the first single from his forthcoming debut album as a singer-songwriter.
The song was quickly playlisted on commercial radio and spent five weeks in the NZ Music charts - but the peak of its success would come nearly a year later when it took out the country’s top songwriting award, The 2016 APRA Silver Scroll.
The Hawke's Bay-boy accepted the Silver Scroll in front of his musical peers, acknowledging APRA for hosting an award ceremony celebrating song and composition rather than “who’s cool or hot right now”.
He payed tribute to the indigenous music of Aotearoa and thanking his ex-girlfriend and ‘guest of honour’ Hayley Gray for the original suggestion to write a song about Mars.
It was a speech that oozed Thomas’ trademark laid-back charm, no doubt winning him more fans in the audience but giving little clue as to the years of hard work that got him to that point.
More about Thomas Oliver
Mixtape Music details
Artist: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Song: This Old House
Album: American Dream
Label: Atlantic
Artist: Joni Mitchell
Song: My Old Man
Album: Blue
Label: Reprise
Artist: Ben Harper
Song: Whipping Boy
Album: Welcome to the Cruel World
Label: Virgin
Artist: Ryan Adams
Song: New York New York
Album: Gold
Label: Lost Highway
Artist: B.B. King
Song: Please Love Me
Album: Singin’ the Blues
Label: Crown Records
Artist: The Roots
Song: Datskat
Album: Do you want more?!!?!!?
Label: Geffen
Artist: Aretha Franklin
Song: Ain’t No Way
Album: Lady Soul
Label: Atlantic
