Oliver Eng

Oliver is a 22-year old singer/songwriter from Providence, RI. He has also been a published classical composer for quite some time. When this New Jersey native was 16, he branched into other musical fields and picked up guitar, thereafter writing and performing rock. However, Oliver's classical training has prevalent undercurrents on his debut album, Ordinary Things, which he co-produced with Matt Ballister and was released in fall of 2003. Since its release, Oliver's music has been featured on radio shows and has been receiving airplay on radio stations throughout the country. DJs have praised Oliver's music, saying, "Oliver and his truly uplifting band will bring your spirits about while engaging you in comfortable acoustic tones...songs keep you swaying with their romantically, inventive lyrics make you want to sing along." Reviewers describe tracks from Ordinary Things as, "...comparable to the hits from Duncan Sheik and Vertical Horizon." On the whole, Ordinary Things would be best described by the phrase easy-going. Oliver's sincere lyrics complement perfectly the soulful, full-bodied sax and pleading violin on such tracks as "Chapter Five," and the upbeat guitar riffs in "Subway Stranger" and "Better Off Without You" evoke some of the seductive feel-good power found in the Dave Matthews Band's style. The combination of an energetic undercurrent and Oliver's smooth vocals make his songs easy and fun to listen to but at times also elicit a contemplative sentiment, such as when he talks about a girl looking in the mirror in the title track. Overall, Ordinary Things has a melodic, relaxing vibe that would make it perfect background music for late-night talks over pizza and Mr. Pibb-any album deserves at least one spin based on that quality alone.