Quinn Oulton - Lead You To Water EP
Quinn Oulton continues to push the boundaries on his new EP ‘Lead You To Water’ Buy Vinyl
Over the past year, prolific multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Quinn Oulton has been refining his sound and production style. Collaborating with artists including Linden Jay, Reuben James and Col3trane, and relocating from his London base to LA and Berlin, he’s been on a creative drive, pushing his forward-thinking RnB to new places. As a culmination of his efforts, Quinn is excited to share his ‘Lead You To Water’ EP, out now on DeepMatter Records.
Across the project, Quinn takes on a range of immediately relatable subject material, spanning from heartfelt love songs like ‘When You’re Near’ - a soulful reflection upon love’s infectious and mind-clouding qualities - through to ‘Heavy Breathing’, where Quinn strips away superficial worries and uncovers a change of perspective when a loved one receives worrying news about their health. He shares: “I started this song just after my partner received some scary news about her health - our life went from totally normal to suddenly questioning what our future could look like. Thankfully everything turned out okay, but it gave both of us a very different outlook on how we appreciate our lives and make the most of what we have whilst we have it.”
Across the project, Quinn takes on a range of immediately relatable subject material, spanning from heartfelt love songs like ‘When You’re Near’ - a soulful reflection upon love’s infectious and mind-clouding qualities - through to ‘Heavy Breathing’, where Quinn strips away superficial worries and uncovers a change of perspective when a loved one receives worrying news about their health. He shares: “I started this song just after my partner received some scary news about her health - our life went from totally normal to suddenly questioning what our future could look like. Thankfully everything turned out okay, but it gave both of us a very different outlook on how we appreciate our lives and make the most of what we have whilst we have it.”
Elsewhere, title track dives back into themes of self-destruction and alcoholism, a subject material taken on by Quinn and Col3tranepreviously on their collaboration ‘Lately’, whilst ‘Just Calm Down’ takes a look at how different people process anger and frustration, encouraging listeners to focus on positive intentions, rather than succumbing to a negative mindset. The four tracks are woven together with Quinn’s signature, off-beat production style and his ear for memorable melodies, making for a captivating listening experience.
Elsewhere, title track dives back into themes of self-destruction and alcoholism, a subject material taken on by Quinn and Col3tranepreviously on their collaboration ‘Lately’, whilst ‘Just Calm Down’ takes a look at how different people process anger and frustration, encouraging listeners to focus on positive intentions, rather than succumbing to a negative mindset. The four tracks are woven together with Quinn’s signature, off-beat production style and his ear for memorable melodies, making for a captivating listening experience.
‘Lead You To Water’ marks a new chapter for Quinn, built around the foundations of 90s and 2000s RnB, whilst carving room for his unconventional production techniques and distinctive songwriting voice. Sitting somewhere in between Sampha, Mk.gee and Nick Hakim, a central thread to his approach on the project is simplicity – rather than relying overtly on production elements to embellish the sound of the songs, Quinn instead sought to create spacious pieces that stand on their own, stripping the core of his creativity down to voice and acoustic guitar. He shares:
“For years, I’ve been obsessed with pushing my production skills as far as I can, exploring unique ways to manipulate conventional sounds in ways that I haven’t heard before. Following on from my album and a series of singles from through which I began to truly form my own voice, I aimed to consolidate everything I’d discovered into one project. My goal was to create a truly cohesive, refined EP that features one consistent sound at its core. The songs stand strong on their own in this context, which allowed me to build and around their foundations in any way I wanted, whilst always making sure that each song has space to breathe and shine in their own right.”
Quinn Oulton - Lead You To Water
The third single lifted from his forthcoming EP, ‘Lead You To Water’ picks up on the themes of alcohol dependence explored by Quinn previously on 'Lately' - his 2023 collaboration with Col3trane - diving into the struggle of dealing with a friend’s self-destructive habits, and the frustration of trying to help someone who won’t change. The title track from his forthcoming EP, it's an understated alt-RnB bopper, featuring his signature weaving saxophone flutters alongside an intimate vocal performance and acoustic guitar tones that are the centrepiece of his forthcoming EP.
The third single lifted from his forthcoming EP, ‘Lead You To Water’ picks up on the themes of alcohol dependence explored by Quinn previously on 'Lately' - his 2023 collaboration with Col3trane - diving into the struggle of dealing with a friend’s self-destructive habits, and the frustration of trying to help someone who won’t change. The title track from his forthcoming EP, it's an understated alt-RnB bopper, featuring his signature weaving saxophone flutters alongside an intimate vocal performance and acoustic guitar tones that are the centrepiece of his forthcoming EP.
‘Lead You To Water’ marks a new chapter for Quinn, built around the foundations of 90s and 2000s RnB, whilst carving room for his unconventional production techniques and distinctive songwriting voice. Sitting somewhere in between Sampha, Mk.gee and Nick Hakim, a central thread to his approach on the project is simplicity – rather than relying overtly on production elements to embellish the sound of the songs, Quinn instead sought to create spacious pieces that stand on their own, stripping the core of his creativity down to voice and acoustic guitar. He shares:
“For years, I’ve been obsessed with pushing my production skills as far as I can, exploring unique ways to manipulate conventional sounds in ways that I haven’t heard before. Following on from my album and a series of singles from through which I began to truly form my own voice, I aimed to consolidate everything I’d discovered into one project. My goal was to create a truly cohesive, refined EP that features one consistent sound at its core. The songs stand strong on their own in this context, which allowed me to build and around their foundations in any way I wanted, whilst always making sure that each song has space to breathe and shine in their own right.”
Across the project, Quinn takes on a range of immediately relatable subject material, spanning from heartfelt love songs like ‘When You’re Near’ - a soulful reflection upon love’s infectious and mind-clouding qualities - through to ‘Heavy Breathing’, where Quinn strips away superficial worries and uncovers a change of perspective when a loved one receives worrying news about their health. He shares: “I started this song just after my partner received some scary news about her health - our life went from totally normal to suddenly questioning what our future could look like. Thankfully everything turned out okay, but it gave both of us a very different outlook on how we appreciate our lives and make the most of what we have whilst we have it.”
Elsewhere, title track dives back into themes of self-destruction and alcoholism, a subject material taken on by Quinn and Col3tranepreviously on their collaboration ‘Lately’, whilst ‘Just Calm Down’ takes a look at how different people process anger and frustration, encouraging listeners to focus on positive intentions, rather than succumbing to a negative mindset. The four tracks are woven together with Quinn’s signature, off-beat production style and his ear for memorable melodies, making for a captivating listening experience.
He shares: “I’ve always admired artists whose voice alone can fully carry a song. I remember finding a video of Rich online, just him singing at his piano, and his voice totally blew me away. I’ve often found myself trying to make my music denser or more complicated, out of fear that the song won’t stand strong without the distractions – with this project I’ve tried to hone in on this, and having Rich on When You’re Near is such an honour given his impact on this part of my creative process.”
Quinn Oulton - When You're Near (ft. Rich)
Quinn Oulton embarks on a fresh new journey into the realm of alt-RnB with heartfelt love song, ‘When You’re Near’, featuring LA-based singer-songwriter Rich.
Quinn Oulton embarks on a fresh new journey into the realm of alt-RnB with heartfelt love song, ‘When You’re Near’, featuring LA-based singer-songwriter Rich.
Over the past year, prolific multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Quinn Oulton has been refining his sound and production style. Collaborating with artists including Linden Jay, Reuben James and Col3trane, and relocating from his London base to LA and Berlin, he’s been on a creative drive, pushing his forward-thinking RnB to new places and amassing millions of streams in the process. A culmination of his efforts, Quinn shares ‘When You’re Near’ – the lead single from his forthcoming ‘Lead You To Water’ EP.
Featuring LA-based singer-songwriter Rich, ‘When You’re Near’ sets a marker in Quinn’s journey into the realm of alt-RnB. The heartfelt love song reflects on how easy it can be to forget what life was like before finding that special someone, and the blend of Quinn’s captivating melodies and Rich’s soulful refrain create an atmosphere to get lost in. The strength of the songwriting is front and centre, with a warm, minimalist arrangement featuring lush acoustic guitar and glistening piano motifs, aided by sparse saxophone flutters, connecting back to Quinn’s jazz roots.
He shares: “I’ve always admired artists whose voice alone can fully carry a song. I remember finding a video of Rich online, just him singing at his piano, and his voice totally blew me away. I’ve often found myself trying to make my music denser or more complicated, out of fear that the song won’t stand strong without the distractions – with this project I’ve tried to hone in on this, and having Rich on When You’re Near is such an honour given his impact on this part of my creative process.”
Quinn Oulton - So Much More
Reflecting upon the effects of Parkinson's Disease, Quinn Oulton releases ‘So Much More’, a touching tribute to his late Grandmother.
Reflecting upon the effects of Parkinson's Disease, Quinn Oulton releases ‘So Much More’, a touching tribute to his late Grandmother.
Quinn Oulton's ‘So Much More’ is a poignant reflection upon the life of his grandmother, who lived with Parkinson’s Disease for as long as he can remember. Written from the perspective of Quinn’s grandmother, the track details her fighting spirit and love for life, despite the adversities she faced. It’s a deeply moving tribute to a woman who had no time for self-pity but spent a lifetime pouring love into the world and helping others. Quinn contrasts his tender lyrical approach with a frenetic combination of acoustic guitar, electronics and dulcet saxophone tones, creating a musical representation of the complexities of living with Parkinson’s.
On the track, he shares:"This track is dedicated to my grandma, GK, who had Parkinson’s for almost as long as I can remember. She was cheated out of life experiences, but despite being born into unimaginably difficult circumstances and fighting for a life she was proud of, she didn’t wallow in self-pity. Instead, she took it upon herself to learn every dark detail about the disease that was eating away at her, and focused her brilliant mind on helping others in any way they needed.”
Quinn Oulton & Col3trane - Lately
Quinn Oulton teams up with celebrated RnB artist Col3trane to explore the negative effects of regular, low-level alcohol consumption on ‘Lately’.
Quinn Oulton teams up with celebrated RnB artist Col3trane to explore the negative effects of regular, low-level alcohol consumption on ‘Lately’.
‘Lately’ further explores Quinn’s blend of alt-RnB, jazz, and innovative production, with bouncing, rhythmic vocal lines phasing into a conversation between voice and saxophone in the choruses. The song discusses the often-ignored negative impacts that casual drinking can have on our physical and mental states and the difficulties of saying no to drinking when it’s so deeply ingrained in our social lives. The collaboration came about after Quinn recorded saxophone for Col3trane, and the duo struck up a creative partnership.
On the track, Quinn says: "I started writing Lately one morning lying in bed after having a few drinks the night before. Not badly hungover, yet still feeling like getting out of bed was too much to handle. It made me realise how much of an impact even casual drinking can have on your physical and mental state. Cole resonated with this a lot, and he took it a step further in his verse - thinking about how casual drinking can easily become something much more serious if your habits go unchecked for too long.
Quinn Oulton - Throw Your Weight
Quinn Oulton takes an introspective look into his teenage years on his new single ‘Throw Your Weight’. It continues a prolific streak of releases which have included his 'Alexithymia’ Deluxe album, and the COLORS and BBC Radio 6-backed collaborative single ‘100 Degrees’, which saw him partner with Reuben James and Linden Jay.
Quinn Oulton takes an introspective look into his teenage years on his new single ‘Throw Your Weight’. It continues a prolific streak of releases which have included his 'Alexithymia’ Deluxe album, and the COLORS and BBC Radio 6-backed collaborative single ‘100 Degrees’, which saw him partner with Reuben James and Linden Jay.
Similarly to ‘100 Degrees’, ‘Throw Your Weight’ utilises a gripping hook and Quinn’s signature blend of jazz-infused instrumentation and leftfield electronic/RnB production. After performing the song throughout the UK and Europe over the summer, it’s become a mainstay and audience favourite in his live set due to its relatability and sing-back qualities.
On the track, Quinn says: "When writing ‘Throw Your Weight’, I dug into my teenage years, thinking about the social dynamics of growing up and learning to deal with feelings of inferiority and jealousy. Kids can be mean, and a lot of the time it feels as though you’re left to fend for yourself. This song is a look into the toxic relationships that can develop at that stage in your life, and how you create defences against them as you grow up."
Quinn Oulton's '100 Degrees' arrives in good company, featuring Reuben James & Linden Jay
Quinn Oulton’s teamed up with Reuben James & Linden Jay for the song of the summer, ‘100 Degrees’
Quinn Oulton’s teamed up with Reuben James & Linden Jay for the song of the summer, ‘100 Degrees’
Following strong sustained demand from their fans, the trio have finally given the people they want and delivered this beautiful studio recording of '100 Degrees' - building it into a laid-back R&B summertime gem zoning in on the importance of slowing down to appreciate life and the fleeting moments of summer.
Quinn Oulton reveals brand new Alexithymia (Deluxe Edition)
Following the release of his debut album 'Alexithymia' in May 2022, Quinn Oulton releases the Deluxe Edition, featuring Ella Grace, Monica Martin, Hemai & more.
Following the release of his debut album 'Alexithymia' in May 2022, Quinn Oulton releases the Deluxe Edition, featuring Ella Grace, Monica Martin, Hemai & more.
After teasing us with a series of diverse singles, including a team up with singer-songwriter Ella Grace for Wonderland-backed single ‘Next Time (Ella Grace Version)’, Quinn is ready to share 'Alexithymia Deluxe'. Consisting of six reinventions of tracks from the album, plus the original track listing, this is a special package that reflects a capsule in time in his artistic journey, and hints at what’s yet to come.
With reimagining’s ranging from heartfelt piano duets through to experimental electronic & 808 heavy explorations, Quinn has used the project to recontextualise his music and connect with new collaborators. Alongside his solo reworks, he’s taken the opportunity to team up with Chicago-based singer-songwriter Monica Martin and London-based broken beat & trip-hop producer Hemai.
“The writing and production process for the original album was a time of growth and development in my sound as I toyed with different areas of influence from song to song. For this Deluxe version, I wanted to bring some of these tracks into a new context by stripping away all of the production or approaching them from a completely different angle sonically. I love how different the same song can hit when presented in a new context.”
South London based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist & producer Quinn Oulton exhibits a raw sound, melding soaring vocals and tangled acoustic textures with abstract electronics. His music spans several genres, including jazz, indie and pop.
His debut album 'Alexithymia' was released in May 2022, receiving national radio support from Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan & Cerys Matthews (6 Music), Jack Saunders & Sian Eleri (BBCR1), along with Jamie Cullum (BBCR2) & Jamz Supernova (BBC1X). It includes tracks featuring Moses Boyd and Genevieve Artadi.
Recently Quinn has played shows at the Blue Note in Milan, HEAVEN and Band on the Wall supporting KNOWER, and Woolwich Works supporting Laura Misch. Alongside his solo career, Quinn tours and regularly appears on radio and TV alongside 2020 Mercury Nominee, Moses Boyd, and performs with artists such as Priya Ragu, Yellow Days, Theo Cross, & Conor Albert.
Quinn Oulton - Alexithymia (Deluxe Edition)
Following the release of his debut album 'Alexithymia' in May 2022, Quinn Oulton reveals the Deluxe Edition, coming out April 2023.
Following the release of his debut album 'Alexithymia' in May 2022, Quinn Oulton reveals the Deluxe Edition, coming out April 2023.
Kicking things off with a refreshing take on the original of 'Better', Quinn frees the track from the intricate textures and hard-hitting drums, highlighting the harmonically rich and free-flowing song in its purest form: piano and voice. At the heart of the songwriting, Quinn discusses a sense of jealousy and self-pity around a narrative of unrequited love. Though the song is based on his own experiences, Quinn wanted to write it as if it was someone else’s story, a sort of caricature of himself. Speaking on the track, Quinn said:
“My usual process, when writing songs, is to toy with sounds and textures on my laptop to spark inspiration. Writing ‘Better’ was different - I sat at the piano and composed the song in just under an hour before taking it to my laptop and adding further elements there. It’s now one of my favourite songs. I’m presenting the song as an acoustic version here to show you how I started.”
The second offering is Quinn's rework of 'Never', which sees him experimenting with new production techniques and ways to manipulate sound. With this reworked track he takes the original and completely flips it on its head, adding glitched vocal elements and booming 808s that you can expect to hear in his future works.
South London based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist & producer Quinn Oulton exhibits a raw sound, melding soaring vocals and tangled acoustic textures with abstract electronics. His music spans several genres, including jazz, indie and pop.
His debut album 'Alexithymia' was released in May 2022, receiving national radio support from Gilles Peterson, Huey Morgan & Cerys Matthews (6 Music), Jack Saunders & Sian Eleri (BBCR1), along with Jamie Cullum (BBCR2) & Jamz Supernova (BBC1X). It includes tracks featuring Moses Boyd and Genevieve Artadi.
Quinn Oulton - 'Never' (Reworked)
The second offering from Quinn’s ‘Alexithymia’ Deluxe Edition - ‘Never’ (Reworked) which sees him experimenting with new production techniques and ways to manipulate sound.
The second offering from Quinn’s ‘Alexithymia’ Deluxe Edition - ‘Never’ (Reworked) which sees him experimenting with new production techniques and ways to manipulate sound.
With this reworked track he takes the original and completely flips it on its head, adding glitched vocal elements and booming 808s that you can expect to hear in his future works.
