Montreal-Based Alt-Rockers Oliver Forest Perfect the Art of Slowing Down In Introspective “No Rush”
Slowing down is an art, and learning to savor the moment and live life on life’s terms is a lesson in maturity. Montreal-based alt-rockers Oliver Forest captures this philosophy in their new single “No Rush” – available now – along with its accompanying music video featuring the contemporary dance stylings of Maycie-Ann St-Louis.
An introspective guitar-and-piano relaxed jam with a sunny, soulful, and soaring quality, “No Rush” explores the urge to hurry up and grind whenever we really want something, and how that’s a detriment to true achievement.
“When I was a boy, I was excited for the fantasies that came in a toy
Now I’m indicted for the fantasy of wanting much more
And I can’t stop myself from feeling like I’m in over my head“
Through the song’s steady progression, we accompany the narrator on their journey, realizing that as long as they know they’re working hard, they shouldn’t be exhausting themselves trying to reach an arbitrary destination. “I’m thinking there’s/ No rush/ I know that I’m working hard so there should be/ No rush.”
The corresponding music video (directed by bassist Rob L’Houmeau) depicts a young woman, dancer Maycie-Ann St-Louis, baking an apple pie in a remote cabin. She watches the pie cook for a while until frustrated, she goes outside into a vast snow-covered landscape to dance and enjoy just being. At the end of the video, she sits outside next to a roaring fire, finally enjoying her perfectly baked pie. The video is artfully shot and makes use of the gorgeous snowscape against St-Louis’ all-white wardrobe.
For Oliver Forest, the song is personal.
“We often find ourselves in a perpetual state of striving, always pushing to achieve more,” the band said. “But amidst these moments of self-doubt and uncertainty, something special can arise. The realization dawned on us that we were just trying to rush things along rather than let them take their course organically.”
“We hope that our music can serve as a reminder to take life one day at a time and appreciate the beauty in every moment,” they added.
Oliver Forest has taken the Montreal indie music scene by storm with their dynamic fusion of folk, pop, and rock. Their sound is a testament to the band’s artistry and creativity, blending powerful melodies and rich instrumentation into a truly unique listening experience.
As they gear up for an exciting 2023, Oliver Forest has already begun unveiling their latest EP, featuring six new songs that showcase their evolution as artists. The EP’s upcoming single, “No Rush,” is a perfect example of the band’s catchy melodies and refreshing honesty.
Watch the lyric video for “No Rush” below and learn more about Oliver Forest via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself?
We’re Oliver Forest, an indie alternative rock band that’s been together for about 7 years now. Rob, the bassist, Josh, the singer, guitarist, and producer, Megan, the singer, and Jon, the lead guitarist. We all really love each other, so it’s a nice vibe. You may notice that no one is called Oliver. I like to think of it as Oliver – all of our – Forest. We are all in our little forest together.
Tell us about the process of writing “No Rush?”
Josh and I (Meg) were outside on our balcony a couple of years ago, feeling really overwhelmed, because we felt like we were working so hard with Oliver Forest and seeing basically no results from it. We wrote this song to remind ourselves that it’s okay for things to take time and that sometimes the most beautiful things come from patience. It was a really sunny, calming day, and it was easy to feel at peace as we wrote it.
What’s it like being a musician in Montreal?
Honestly, we’ve been together for 7 years but I feel like we’ve really started understanding the Montreal music scene only in the past couple of years. There are a lot of absolutely amazing artists and musicians here. There is no shortage of talent, you just have to know where to look. And there are some great venues, like Petit Campus, who have been so nice to us this year. We’ve played there 4 times already. Sometimes though, it can be hard feeling like there’s not a ton of support out there for indie musicians in terms of the industry.
Who was the first Canadian artist to blow you away?
Meg’s is for sure Avril Lavigne. I remember seeing her in a mall in Laval in grade 3. Iconic.
Josh listened to whatever his old brothers listened to when he was younger, but Alexisonfire definitely stood out at the time. As a kid, Rob found the key to loving music from his father repeatedly playing Patrick Watson’s songs on the piano.
For Jon, the band Moist left a deep mark with their unique musical style and powerful lyrics.
You’ve been making music for a while now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
There is absolutely so much to learn when you first start out, it can be really overwhelming. For the music industry, it’s always hard to find concrete info on the internet for example, as everyone seems to be giving their own opinion all the time. We’re still trying a bunch of stuff out all the time to see what works and what doesn’t. I think we always have to be looking for new ways to improve our strategies (getting people to listen, posting enough online, marketing, releasing music, etc). Honestly, I would say be yourself, and make sure to surround yourself with people that you love and vibe with. That’s when the best things happen.