Meet Oliver Opus | Singer Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Oliver Opus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Oliver, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
As a singer songwriter getting told “no” is inevitable. You can also land a sick opportunity only for it to fall through in the end. This can be soul crushing if you let it or you can accept that some things are just out of your control. On the contrary, some things are in your control and those are the factors that should determine whether or not you should persist. Asking realistic questions like “Do I have the skills to compete in an extremely competitive field?”, “Are you putting in the work?” and “Are you willing and able to accept failure?” are practical questions any person with a passion should really ask themselves. The only person that can stop you from pursing your passion is you. If you know you have the talent, drive & skills do not let anyone tell you different. Keep going.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
To put it simply, I’ve fought tremendously hard to get to where I am today. Growing up in the evangelical Christian church as a closeted pansexual came with many obstacles & challenges. Eventually I would go on to move to Atlanta to work with my favorite Christian artist at the time, Jamie Grace. It was a dream come true until I was outed and given the choice to leave the company or go to conversion therapy so I could remain working with them. I went as far as filling out the application to “de-gay” myself but ultimately made the decision to pack my things and leave the company. I then stayed in Atlanta for a few years, struggled with no money, family and very little support but it was all worth it in the name of self exploration. Now I am proud of who I am and I’ve learned to never waiver my authenticity for acceptance. This level of honesty has made me a more authentic songwriter, artist & human being overall. I would say I’m extremely lucky to have gotten to where I am today so I refuse to waste the opportunity. I just want to make honest music and use my voice to encourage others to love & be proud of who they are.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m currently based in Stockton California. It gets a bad rep sometimes but a fact that not a lot of people know about is, Stockton is the most racially & ethnically diverse city in America! Here in Stockton the art & food scene come hand in hand. I work with a lot of the local spots here to throw shows & art events in my community. The art scene here is phenomenal and has been the perfect place for me to grow as an artist and a person. One of my main collaborators is Cast Iron Trading Company. Eric Lee the owner has such a heart for the community and opens up his business to give opportunities to the local artists here in Stockton by letting us host concerts, art shows & other events. Cast Iron is a no brainer if you come to my city. If you want to chill and grab a drink Empresso is the place to go. I guarantee that you’ll run into some of my friends because Empresso is home for Stockton artists & creatives. It’s where I met most of my ride-or-dies and collaborators. Stockton is so diverse and I’m proud to call my home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Jacob Montague has been a key factor in bringing my music to life. He has had a hand in every song I’ve put out and I honestly am so lucky to be working with such a talented & hardworking individual. Jacob Montague is a LA based producer/artist. You can check out his work on all major streaming platforms by looking up “Jacob Montague”, “BRANCHES” & “Tsutro”. You can also look up the music we’ve made together, also available on all major steaming platforms by searching “Oliver Opus”.

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/OliverOpus

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/OliverOpus

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/OliverOpus

Other: You can connect with me on all your favorite social media platforms by searching “@oliveropus”