Ollie Wride is far too humble to see himself as a steward of synthwave, even if that’s the way a legion of genre fans see it.
“To have that in the back of my mind would be an unhealthy influence,” says the English singer-songwriter. “As an artist, you’re doing it because you were convinced you had something to get off your chest.
“When it resonates with the audience, that’s icing on the cake, and it’s wonderful that it does.”
Despite his genuine protests, there’s no denying Wride’s status among the synth faithful. Gifted with opera countertenor vocals, Bowie-like showmanship and a love for Ray Brown custom suits, Wride is tailor-made for a sound steeped in neon-lit nostalgia.
“I wear my influences on my sleeves,” he says. “They’re kind of like a scrapbook and a focusing lens. I view it as an extension of the music.”
An instant favorite since breaking out in 2016 with the genre-defining “Running In the Night,” the singer is embarking on a North American tour to promote his second album, The Pressure Point, and will make his long-awaited Las Vegas debut March 16 at Fremont East’s Backstage Bar & Billiards.
The 20-stop tour marks Wride’s return to the U.S. following a handful of 2023 shows—a test run of sorts, but a wildly successful one that kicked off with a sold-out performance at LA’s historic Troubadour, with genre peers Sunglasses Kid, Jessie Frye and others in attendance.
“That is humbling. You do feel under a microscope in a good way, it’s a healthy pressure,” he says. “And that’s the wonderful thing about this scene that sort of took me under its wing, it’s very supportive.”
Wride didn’t set out to become a synthwave star, though he’d always gravitated toward artists that broke out in the sophisti-pop and glam rock genres—Freddie Mercury, Roxy Music and the aforementioned David Bowie. Dreaming of a music career influenced by his idols, Wride struggled early on to find industry allies.
“I was told my sort of style and artistry would never land,” he recalls. “It was described as ‘not relevant’ and that threw me into an identity crisis for a while, because my work is intertwined with me as a person.”
The synth community felt differently. After that rejection, Wride’s bandmate, vocalist Josh Dally, introduced him to Dutch producer Jordy Leenaerts (aka Timecop1983), leading to their 2015 collaboration “Wild Love.” Wride then went on to work with San Francisco-based Colin Bennett (aka FM-84) on 2016’s Atlas, the album that brought “Running in the Night” to the masses and catapulted the singer to the forefront of the synth movement.
“It was vindication, because I’ve always been told I couldn’t do this, and in a way the scene kind of adopted me,” he recalls. “The fact that there was an avenue for this kind of music, inspired by a decade I love, it was like a godsend to be appreciated and counted.”
Wride’s first solo album, 2019’s Thanks In Advance, was poised to take his star to the next level. Then came 2020. The planned tour was put on hold. The wave of publicity to accompany singles “Back to Life” and “Never Live Without You” never crested, and the singer found himself in his Brighton home searching for a creative outlet.
That’s where the seeds of The Pressure Point were planted. Mastered at London’s famed Metropolis Studios, with Wride working out of George Michael’s writing suite, the sophomore effort is part self-examination, part social commentary.
“My songs are about triumphing over adversity and trying to keep the faith, and isolation forced me to turn the pen on myself and the world around me,” he says. “It’s rooted in maturity, there’s this thread of continuity as far as the narrative, but every track can stand on its own two feet.”
The Pressure Point album cover reflects those last words—the image of Wride, solo in the spotlight in a tailored dress shirt and flared pants (he’s been rocking them since long before Kendrick hit the Super Bowl stage), captures an artist who’s confidently ready for center stage.
Las Vegas better get ready, ‘cause Ollie Wride will be here soon.
OLLIE WRIDE March 16, 7 p.m., $25+. Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.
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