East London artist Modern Oliborn Oli Higginson, steps into music with his debut single “One of Those Faces”a self-aware indie pop song that balances humor with quiet vulnerability. The song hits the airwaves today, January 23, almost exactly one year after it was written on New Year’s Eve 2024.
The release signals a new creative trajectory for Modern Oli, whose acting credits include Netflix Bridgerton and a series of well-regarded theater productions have already introduced him to a wide audience. “One of These Faces” does not trade on that visibility. Instead, it starts somewhere more inward. The song sits with the low hum of anxiety that comes with ambition, recognition and the feeling of floating just outside the room, especially in creative spaces where being seen can matter as much as talent.
Musically, the track plays out like a wry inner monologue set to lively indie pop. Classic British indie instincts meet modern pop clarity, with echoes of Pulp’s observational skills, 1975s polish and a hint of Bowie’s theatrical curiosity.
The song took shape during an intense one-day session at British Grove Studios in February 2025. Oli recorded live with his full band alongside producer Louis Souyave and engineer Felipé Gutierrez, capturing drums, bass, guitars, Bosendorfer piano and analog synths in real time. What followed were months of home studio layers, weaving in field recordings from Peckham Streets, London Overground trains and subtle electronic details.
Spoken-word moments from actress Meaghan Martin add another narrative layer, while the song gradually transitions from restless introspection to something lighter and more festive. The result feels knowing without being cynical. Lyrically, “One of These Faces” reflects on the ideas of recognition, ambition and the anxiety of existing on the edge of visibility. The title borrows a phrase actors know, one that can feel both flattering and quietly waning. Oli treats it with wit rather than heaviness, letting the song open up instead of closing in.
With upcoming performances in American Psycho at the Almeida Theater and Bridgerton season 4Oli continues to move between acting and music. This debut single places the two on parallel paths. “One of These Faces” lands as a clear, confident opening statement, observant and self-aware, from an artist who seems comfortable sitting with contradiction and ready for what comes next.
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