Today we’d like to introduce you to Ollie Brown.
Hi Ollie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a producer, songwriter, and musician from Australia, now based in Los Angeles. I moved here a few years ago to be closer to the heart of a vibrant music community that had always inspired me—from the artists I admired over the years to the producers who have influenced much of my work. Since moving, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with many of those same people on records that feel creatively fulfilling and personally meaningful. I’m lucky to call some of them my close friends now too. It’s been a rewarding chapter, full of collaboration, growth, and a deepening connection to the kind of music I’ve always loved making.
I come from a pretty musical family, my dad played drums, mum sang, and a lot of my extended family play classical music. One of my aunts was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her work in music, which is kind of like being knighted. So music was always around. I remember sitting in the backseat of the car as a kid, listening to the Motown and soul records my mum would play. Aretha, Marvin, Bill Withers. That stuff really stuck with me and I can still hear traces of it in the way I like to record drums and mix vocals. I find I’m rarely using more than 2-3 mics to record a drum kit these days.
I spent a few years after school as a singer/songwriter, released a few EPs, played some festivals and opened for The Beach Boys in Australia, which was a wild time. The more time I spent in studios, though, the more I realised that’s where I wanted to be. I loved being behind the scenes, shaping songs with other artists and building worlds that projected through the speakers. Eventually, I committed fully to producing, co-writing and mixing. I’m currently getting ready to release a solo project that I’ve been working on here in LA.
Back in Sydney, I had this little recording studio in a building called Church St Studios. It was filled with some really talented producers and composers and was a bit of a creative hub in the city. I had this tiny control room but everyone that I worked with seemed to like it. I shared a live room with my studio neighbor Tony Buchen, a great producer, writer and musician who had spent years living and working in LA before Covid. Tony was always working on something great next door and I would often engineer for him when he needed an extra set of hands. I learned a lot from him and he really helped me land on my feet here when I arrived.
Making the move to LA meant starting over in a lot of ways, but there’s something energizing about embracing a fresh chapter, especially in a city with such a deep and rich musical history. The past couple of years have easily been some of the most rewarding in my life—full of growth, new friendships, and creative opportunities—though it hasn’t been without its challenges. I’m grateful to be part of LA’s creative ecosystem.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Moving to LA definitely came with its fair share of challenges. You become a small fish in a very big pond as the new guy. There’s a lot of noise here—so many people doing amazing things—and it can take time to find your rhythm and your crew.
The visa process and general bureaucracy have been tough too. It’s a part of the story that doesn’t get talked about much, but that stuff wears on you. With all the time and money and effort that goes into a visa process, it definitely makes you hungry, focused and 100% committed to creating a life here.
The biggest challenge has been learning how to protect my energy and trust my instincts. In LA, there’s always something amazing going on—so many sessions, opportunities, people to meet—but it also makes it easy to burn out if you’re not careful. I’ve had to learn when to say no and how to stay aligned with what I truly want to create, because musicians deserve the utmost care, creativity, and guidance when bringing their music into the world.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a producer, songwriter and mixing engineer working on alternative, indie, psychedelic and soul music. I take influence from the sounds of the late 60s, early 70s, modern alternative music, and anything that provokes excitement and inspiration within me. Sonically, I tend to lean towards warmer tones, analog saturation and anything that gives me more texture. A little grit goes a long way.
I find I’m drawn to the emotional core of a song — that thing you can’t explain but you can feel — and I see my job as helping pull that thread all the way through. For me, production is all about creating a space where artists feel safe to take risks, explore ideas, and connect to something real. Every project is different, but I try to bring enough direction to move things forward, and enough space for surprises to happen.
My approach to production is kind of shaped by all those early years — I’m often searching for something that feels nostalgic but unique. Some might call it a modern-classic sound. I love working live in the room when I can, capturing the raw energy of musicians playing together before things get overthought. For me, it’s always about feeling — about building a world within song that still leaves room for the artist to shine through. Whether I’m producing, co-writing, engineering or mixing, That human element really matters to me. Also, I’m currently working on my own solo project which I’ll be releasing this summer – stay tuned.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
One of the biggest things is just knowing how to listen—not just to the music, but to the artist. A lot of the job is about creating a space where someone feels comfortable enough to take risks and be vulnerable. If you can do that, the song takes care of itself.
Patience is another big one. Sometimes things click instantly, and other times you’re pulling at threads for hours before anything sticks. I think you’ve got to be okay with both.
Also, taste matters. That sounds obvious, but it really does. Being able to make good calls quickly – whether it’s a sound, a lyric, or a structure – comes from having a strong sense of what resonates. Being able to follow that instinct without second-guessing yourself is essential.
And honestly, just being someone people want to be around. So much of this job is about collaboration and vibe. You can have all the gear and plugins in the world, but if the energy is off in the room, the song is going nowhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.olliebrownproducer.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olliejbrown/
