East London artist Modern Oli, born Oli Higginson, steps into music with his debut single “One of Those Faces”, a self-aware indie-pop track that balances humor with quiet vulnerability. The song hits the airwaves today, January 23, almost exactly a year after it was written on New Year’s Eve 2024.
The release signals a new creative lane for Modern Oli, whose acting work, including Netflix’s Bridgerton and a run of well-regarded theatre productions, has already introduced him to a wide audience. “One of Those Faces” does not trade on that visibility. Instead, it starts somewhere more inward. The song sits with the low hum of anxiety that comes with ambition, recognition and the feeling of hovering just outside the room, especially in creative spaces where being seen can matter as much as talent.
Musically, the track unfolds like a wry inner monologue set to buoyant indie-pop. Classic UK indie instincts meet modern pop clarity, with echoes of Pulp’s observational edge, The 1975’s polish, and a hint of Bowie’s theatrical curiosity.
The song took shape during an intense one-day session at British Grove Studios in February 2025. Oli recorded live with his full band alongside producer Louis Souyave and engineer Felipé Gutierrez, capturing drums, bass, guitars, Bosendorfer piano, and analogue synths in real time. What followed were months of home-studio layering, weaving in field recordings from Peckham streets, London Overground trains and subtle electronic details.
Spoken-word moments from actress Meaghan Martin add another narrative layer, while the song gradually shifts from restless introspection into something lighter and more celebratory. The result feels knowing without turning cynical. Lyrically, “One of Those Faces” reflects on the ideas of recognition, ambition and the unease of existing on the edge of visibility. The title borrows a phrase familiar to actors, one that can feel both flattering and quietly diminishing. Oli treats it with wit rather than weight, letting the song open up instead of closing in.
With upcoming appearances in American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre and Bridgerton Season 4, Oli continues to move between acting and music. This debut single positions the two as parallel paths. “One of Those Faces” lands as a clear, self-assured opening statement, observant and self-aware, from an artist who seems comfortable sitting with contradiction and poised for what comes next.
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