In this interview spotlight, I catch up with Ollie Gullick to discuss the latest music, dream collabs, AI, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

This AI thing is getting way out of control. I have students using ChatGPT to write death metal songs about country music…and country songs about being sad. You can feed some Ais a text prompt and create a Hollywood-quality short film. How do you feel about this new wave of technological innovation?

At the moment, I’m very torn when it comes to AI. When it first came out, I found it very helpful to find specific information that google couldn’t quite hack, and it managed to create some rather entertaining content for my instagram feed. However, I agree that it is getting way out of control, and its ability to create music and film, until now a talent irreplaceable by technology, is very scary and arguably threatening to creatives’ livelihoods. For my music, I have never used AI to help with any aspect of it, and I don’t see myself using it in the future. 

I know it’s hard…but what’s your favorite song and/or favorite artist of all time? If not favorite, in your top 3?

This is a criminal question, however the first song and artist that springs to mind is ‘A Case of You’ by Joni Mitchell. It is one of three songs that have ever made me cry just because of how beautiful the song is, not because I was going through anything that related to it (the other two being ‘Eclipse’ by Pink Floyd and Jeff Buckley’s rendition of Hallelujah). Joni’s lyricism in this song was unlike anything I’d ever heard before, and the simplicity of the instrumental on the original version really allows her lyrics and voice to shine through.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific or different with this project? What’s the back story?

The majority of the songs I’d released before ‘Sushi!’ were on the sadder side, as they were written during my mid-teens when angst and anxiety were at a high, like they are with almost all teens. When I began ‘Sushi!’, I wanted primarily to write a song that would be a lot of fun to play on stage (I can confirm, it is), and also to celebrate my acceptance of my sexuality, after all the struggles I’d had with it over the years.

What drives you to create? What keeps you going, especially on the bad days?

Throughout all the change I’ve experienced over the past few years such as coming out as gay, moving to Abu Dhabi, moving to Boston and becoming an adult, the one thing that has never changed is my love for music. It has been the one constant in my life, and every day I am driven to explore and create with it. Even on my worst days, there is never a doubt in my mind that music is what I was put here to do.

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? Please plug them with a link so readers can check them out.

I would absolutely love to collaborate with David Bowie. He is my biggest inspiration at the moment, and my love for him grows every time I learn something new about his life. He was one of the greatest songwriters, artists and people to ever live, and I feel the chance to collaborate with him would teach me not just how to create, but how to live.

Where is the best place to stay connected with You?

My Instagram account, @olliegullick, or for a look behind the scenes, @andthelads.

I appreciate Your time. Want to say anything else before we sign off?

Thank you for taking the time to interview me! Keep your eyes and ears open for Ollie Gullick, this is only the beginning.