Elegant composer The Silent Room shares his debut single ‘You’ll Never Know’
The Silent Room (solo moniker of UK composer and keyboard player Tim Oliver) has shared his debut single, ‘You’ll Never Know’ on the 6th of September, 2024 via his Meddle imprint. The single premiered on esteemed tastemaker publication CLASH. ‘You’ll Never Know’ serves as a taste of what is to come with his debut EP, Fluorescent, slated for release later this year. Fluorescent promises collaborations with Jess Greenfield (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds), Owen Parker (Robbie Williams), Sam Wilcock (Paul Young) and Iain Hornal (ELO). Prior to spearheading this solo project, Tim Oliver is a versatile musician who has performed as a keyboard player, toured all over the world and played at big festivals with esteemed artists including Neneh Cherry and Boy George, gracing stages at the likes of Glastonbury. He also performed with Lady Gaga on the hit BBC TV show Friday Night with Johnathan Ross. As a TV composer, he has scored shows such as the BBC Landmark Series ‘Jungle Atlantis’ and several episodes of BBC’s prestigious factual series, Horizon, among many others.
From Essex, UK and currently based in Hertfordshire, Tim came from a musical background which included his mother who was a concert pianist and singer with a touring Scottish trio. Tim learned piano and violin through formal grades at school and explored improvisational playing in various settings. These early influences sparked his fascination with creating sounds on keyboards and overdubbing multiple layers on cassettes. He began his career as a peripatetic piano teacher in and around West London, while gradually building his career as a session musician. In addition to performing, Tim has established himself as a television composer, earning acclaim for his work on high-profile documentaries for the BBC, Discovery, and Sky. Most recently, he has worked as an assistant to award-winning composer Nainita Desai.
Influenced by Pink Floyd, The 1975 and Peter Gabriel (among others), The Silent Room’s unique sonic landscape indulges his love for dreamlike film soundtracks and layered album productions. His sound is a dreamy synth scape reminiscent of M83, TOTO and Cannons. The forthcoming EP, produced by Tim himself, was mixed by double Grammy-winner Julian Kindred (known for his work with stars such as Ellie Goulding), and mastered by Robin Schmidt (The 1975, Michael Kiwanuka, Wolf Alice).
‘You’ll Never Know’ is a twinkling fantasy steeped in nostalgia and yearning. Delicate arpeggiated synths dance around resonant drums and other meticulously-arranged instrumentation as Tim’s impassioned vocals, layered with depth and effects, soar over the fray. The track is a testament to The Silent Room’s deft grasp on composition and production and his artistry as a songwriter – a promising first offering.
