EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
EARMILK EARMILK
EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Acoustic
  • Alternative
  • Indie

Oliver Malcolm explores the darkness that can accompany fame in his new single, "Outside"

  • October 19, 2020
  • Sloan Pecchia
Total
0
Shares
0
0

Celebrities are often painted in a fantastical light. When this happens it gives off the impression that their lifestyle is something that everyone should aspire to. It is only upon closer examination or when a tragedy occurs that we realize that, while fame and fortune have its benefits, there's also a darkness that can rear its ugly head if not careful. One of the newest signees to Darkroom/Interscope Records, Oliver Malcolm, explores this concept in his new single, "Outside."

The track begins with the fingerpicking of acoustic guitar, which creates the initial heavy-hearted tone of the song before Malcolm's vocals come into play. A few seconds before he starts to sing you can hear him take a deep breath, indicating the heavy weight of the lyrics soon to follow. As his vocal is introduced the raspiness of his voice serves in direct contrast to the cleanness of the guitar, creating a pleasing dynamic. He sings, "Oh, it may seem cool from the outside / But this is a crazy life / All my favorite entertainers / Got famous and then they died."  Malcolm explains, "At the time of writing ‘Outside’ I was watching a lot of old documentaries on music and legends of the past… The common theme which threaded through the different stories was that of a twisted, dark side of fame which the artists happened to find themselves in." 

As we reach the chorus Malcolm delves further into the darkness as he sings, "Cause I thought this life was for me / But it might not be after all / I'm hopeless / Hopeless." While he may not currently be quite as famous as the musicians he's referring to, Malcolm is able to relate to the feeling of loneliness that many people feel, regardless of their line of work. Eventually, he gets to the root of how the loneliness can cause someone to spiral during the last two lines of the second verse, "Ain't no one there to cheer you on / Just you and your twisted mind." During the outro we hear a recording of a conversation, from what we can assume is Malcolm and a fellow collaborator.

Overall, "Outside" is a multi-layered record that explores the validity of one's emotions through the path of stardom. The self-awareness shown through Malcom's bold and intimate songwriting provides a safe haven for listeners to join him in this introspective journey. 

Feature image by Kay Ibrahim

Connect with Oliver Malcolm: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • Darkroom/Interscope Records
  • New Music
  • Oliver Malcolm
Sloan Pecchia

Previous Article
  • Indie
  • Music Videos
  • Soul-Hop

Seba Kaapstad celebrate their cultures with "Konke" [Vdeo]

  • October 19, 2020
  • Tayo Odutola
View Article
Next Article
  • Alt-Pop
  • Music Videos
  • Videos

Berlin's LEEPA returns with a work of "Fiction" [Video]

  • October 19, 2020
  • Robin Fulton
View Article
You May Also Like
View Article
  • Grunge

Bones Ate Arfa introspects on privilege on high-octane track "It’s All Good"

  • August 27, 2025
View Article
  • Alt-Pop
  • Soul

ANDRO shares intoxicating and bittersweet offering "Ghost"

  • August 27, 2025
Cybèle
View Article
  • Feature
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • Pop

French-Chinese-American rising star Cybèle shares lush new single “In Another Life”

  • August 27, 2025
View Article
  • Blues
  • Exclusive
  • Interviews
  • Mainstage
  • New Music
  • Rock

Inside Bones Owens’ new upcoming album 'Best Western' and his spot on Whiskey Myers’ acoustic tour [Interview]

  • August 27, 2025
View Article
  • Indie
  • Rap

Gina Zo tastes the forbidden in "Fuck Me Then Leave Me" [Video]

  • August 27, 2025
View Article
  • Electronic
  • Electronic
  • Experimental
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • New Music

Sasha & The Bear make a subtle but powerful statement with “Humanly Small”

  • August 27, 2025
Joyce Manor
View Article
  • Alternative Rock
  • Indie
  • Indie Rock
  • Music Videos
  • Post-Punk
  • Punk
  • Rock

Joyce Manor Enlist Brett Gurewitz on "All My Friends Are So Depressed"

  • August 27, 2025
View Article
  • Post-Punk
  • Punk

karoshi's "hide + seek" is PNW punk nostalgia

  • August 26, 2025
Popular Music
  • Bones Ate Arfa introspects on privilege on high-octane track "It’s All Good"
    • August 27, 2025
  • ANDRO shares intoxicating and bittersweet offering "Ghost"
    • August 27, 2025
  • Cybèle
    French-Chinese-American rising star Cybèle shares lush new single “In Another Life”
    • August 27, 2025
  • Joyce Manor
    Joyce Manor Enlist Brett Gurewitz on "All My Friends Are So Depressed"
    • August 27, 2025
  • Gina Zo tastes the forbidden in "Fuck Me Then Leave Me" [Video]
    • August 27, 2025
Recent Scoops
  • Jay Tone is carving out his space with "Puzzles"
    • July 7, 2025
  • Matt Oakley is redefining country music with heart, soul and modernity
    • May 5, 2025
  • Texas’ Blacktop Mojo does rock music the way it should be done
    • April 29, 2025
  • Tha Rapper Haiti blends authentic style with musical passion
    • April 28, 2025
Community Voices
  • From Machismo To Mujeres: Women As The Face Of Reggaeton
    • July 14, 2022
  • Tyler the creator
    4 things I learned on the 'Call Me If You Get Lost' tour
    • March 31, 2022
  • 4 things every artist needs to think about in 2022
    • January 27, 2022
  • The TikTok Takeover of Hip-Hop
    • January 11, 2022

EARMILK EARMILK
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
All Milk. No Duds.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.