Hot Picks: Olive T selects some of her favourite records

5 Minute Read

Music

Kickin’ down doors from Brooklyn to Berlin – Olive T is a rising star on the circuit producing high brow house with deep rooted knowledge.

This Saturday Olive T will hit the slopes of Verbier for a special set as part of a special day of music curated by Detroit Love at Polaris Festival. It is the latest high profile set for a rising DJ who has captured the attention of key names across the realm of House and Techno.

Originally from Brooklyn, Olive T has amassed a reputation as a fierce selector with a deep connection to the roots of dance music. Her knowledge and ability to command a dancefloor is unique as she draws upon a range of broad influences from funk, soul, jazz, house, drum n bass and beyond.

Olive first began djing back when she was 16, blending and mixing sounds from records in her bedroom attempting to recreate mixes and sounds she fell in love with from Hip Hop.

Since then she has homed her craft, amassing a broad collection of music and more recently beginning to produce and release music herself. This playlist showcases her diverse array of musical influences and emphasises the importance of broad taste and understanding in respect of style and genre.

Topics

Olive t

LISTEN

Osunlade - Pheramones

“The swing on the drums is entrancing, and the deep driving grooves entice you to listen to the entire 10:46-minute run time.Osunlade’s vocals fill the track so warmly that you can feel it inside of you as your feet move to the ongoing percussions, only to break halfway through to provide relief and reflection.”

Osunlade - Pheramones

“The swing on the drums is entrancing, and the deep driving grooves entice you to listen to the entire 10:46-minute run time.Osunlade’s vocals fill the track so warmly that you can feel it inside of you as your feet move to the ongoing percussions, only to break halfway through to provide relief and reflection.”
Calibre - Feeling Happy

“I started listening to dnb around the late 90s early 2000s and was always impartial to the more soulful melodic tracks with vocals, aka the “liquid” side. Calibre really knows how to balance the skittish drums of dnb and the smooth, deep sounds of rnb in a way that’s really catchy. This track reminds me of graffiti, taking trains & walking around NY in the fall. It has an optimistic grit to it, which I love.”
Everything But The Girl - Temperamental (DJ Spen & Karizma Club Remix)

“I’m a big fan of EBTG, Tracey’s songwriting is incredible, and I’m glad this remix takes this song to a different realm and enhances Tracey’s voice in a way the original doesn’t. The pianos and bass dip in and out of each other for a very nice interplay. It’s also a long one to really work it out on the dance floor to.”
Luther Vandross & Janet Jackson The Best Things In Life Are Free (Def Version) *David Morales & Frankie Knuckles

“I remember the movie Mo Money and its accompanying soundtrack very vividly, even though I was very young when it was released. The Best Things In Life Are Free was the standout track for me because I adore Luther Vandross’s voice but prefer more uptempo music than traditional r&b, so when this came out, I instantly loved it.This remix is new to me, and it features a classic, beautiful, sprawling orchestral first six minutes, which I’m going to guess was the Frankie Knuckles side of the production. After six minutes, it drops into pure happiness and positivity, with Janet and Luther’s vocals chopped up and accenting this amazing piece of music.”
Servo Unique - Ba' Dum Bah Da

“When this track first starts, you have no idea where it’s going to go, as it sounds like prime 90s pop electronic music. When the drums start and the bass slides in that’s when you recognize it’s a seriously funky house nearly techno type track. Distinctly Detroit in its sound and approach, it’s Jeff Mills in an early house moment, and I think it’s great.”
Chaka Khan - Eye to Eye (Remix)

“There’s some great Chaka Khan house remixes out there, and this is one of the top ones for me. Excellent lyrics, great production, and that peak 80s -super clean sound with an almost balearic airiness to it—this remix fits the song like a glove.”
Jean-Luc Ponty - Computer Incantations for World Peace

“I first heard this in a live Ron Trent DJ set, and I was surprised to learn what year it came out, as I thought it was a more recent techno track. It’s beautiful and reminds me of E2 E4. The progression of the song takes your mind on a journey. The way the violin spins into the synthesizers and goes into a fascinating solo that sounds as if a story is being told.”
Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again 12" (Side B, 1978)

“Every now and then this track gets stuck in my head, and I spend a whole day listening to it over and over. There’s just something about Arthur Russell’s productions that engulfs me for a period of time. When I listen to his disco productions, I think of that time period and what it must’ve been like in NYC when my parents used to go to clubs and how people would dance to almost 13 minute long records and have the time of their lives for the night.”