“Slightly weird, slightly deep R&B” is how singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Quinn Oulton describes his sound, though from our chat it seems he’s happy to let listeners draw their own conclusions. “Reading the room, I find that so valuable. There’s this stigma around making music ‘for people,’ but you are making music for people. My best work comes from seeing how someone takes in what I’m showing them,” he explains over a Zoom call. “People who don’t see the process and just hear the music, that’s the real judgement.”
London-born Oulton’s sound is built on a jazz foundation, a genre he began exploring with the saxophone at age eight. After studying at the World Heart Beat Academy and the Royal Academy of Music, he began experimenting with vocals and production, encouraged by peers to create lyric-centred tracks. Just a year later, he released his self-titled debut EP in 2017, marking the beginning of a journey that led to his debut album ‘Alexithymia’ and a series of EPs, including his latest, ‘Lead You To Water’.
“Something I really strived for with this project was only allowing myself X amount of elements at any one time,” he shares. “Take away all the extra layers you add as a crutch for the main idea – what’s the point of muddying the story?” Through live solo sets, collaborative efforts, and time spent creating in LA and Berlin, Oulton honed a sound for ‘Lead You To Water’ that’s strikingly direct, aiming to distil his music down to its most essential details.
One of the EP’s singles ‘Heavy Breathing’ transforms Oulton’s personal experience of a hospital waiting room into something universally relatable. “I wanted it to be cheesy, so if you’re listening and you don’t know it’s like ‘is this about stress, or heartbreak, or cheating?’ But actually it’s about the strength of a relationship through something external,” he notes. Oulton enjoys when listeners connect personally with his lyrics, even if their interpretations differ from his intention: “It’s really satisfying to think about what level of personal you make something – striking the balance between something being deeply personal, but universally relatable.”
Beyond his latest project, Oulton has built a thriving creative community around collaboration, working with the likes of GRAMMY-nominated producer Linden Jay, Col3trane, and musician Reuben James, all while sharing behind-the-scenes snippets across social media. Yet, he’s reluctant about online engagement. “Social media sucks. I go through waves but it’s the biggest strain on me as a whole, which is sad because it’s so pointless. It doesn’t matter, it’s not worth being really sad or anxious about what people think.” Despite his reservations, Oulton recognizes it’s a tool he will have to utilise, concluding that “social media is the most valuable asset to have as an artist it seems.”
Oulton also finds himself at a turning point as a producer: “Being a producer is about making other people’s visions come alive.” While he’s been cautious about blending others’ input with his own creative ideas, he’s starting to see the value in collaboration: “I feel a bit precious about my own sound, like this is my thing, but I’m definitely starting to see the benefits of opening up to other people.” This openness to collaboration came with a newfound sense of creative confidence. “I feel like I’ve found my thing,” he says, referring to the stripped-back aesthetic and emotional honesty that characterise ‘Lead You To Water’. With that foundation, he now feels more comfortable bringing in other creative voices, recognising that outside perspectives can enrich his sound without compromising his vision. As he puts it, “I can now start to see the benefits of getting other producer and writer minds involved to bring something else, which is probably a bit of a confidence thing.”
As for what he hopes listeners take away from ‘Lead You To Water’ Oulton reflects on what first sparked his love for music. “That feeling of tingles you get when you listen to something for the first time – like with jazz, I wanted to understand what was going on. That feeling of ‘how is that possible?, when you hear sounds you’ve never heard before, that is why I listen to music. I hope this project provides listeners with that feeling.”
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WHAT: Alternate R&B
WHERE: South London
3 SONGS: ‘100 Degrees’, ‘Just Calm Down’, ‘Heavy Breathing’
FACT: Plays the piano, guitar, bass, drums and saxophone.
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Quinn Oulton’s ‘Lead You To Water’ EP is out now.
Words: Sophie Harman
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