His unique approach to cello makes him a much sought after collaborator. He works closely with composer Mica Levi (featured cellist on the ground breaking Under The Skin soundtrack) and has worked with other brilliant artists such as John Luther Adams, Malibu, Laurel Halo, Jonny Greenwood, Michael Gordon, Mira Calix (previous guest) and SO ON. He is also the go-to cellist for the London Contemporary Orchestra.

For any of you new to this podcast, not only do you get an interview with each guest talking about their music you will also hear us co-write something on the spot in the ‘music making’ episode. We do it all on the same day and only use one instrument and electronic manipulations of it. The way in which we make the music is a perfect demonstration of where his is creatively at the moment. He is making something called ‘cello slime’. An improvisational technique where the element of chance is built into the way he runs cello through his Ableton set up. He will explain much more eloquently in the episode which you can hear below (or find on your favourite podcast app).

In the CHAT episode we be discuss more slime and his previous releases Shelly’s On Zenn-La and Upstepping, his collaboration with Mica Levi as well as his diet of music growing up and his general feelings about being an artist and musician.

I’m totally thrilled to be joined by the incredible cellist and electronic musician, Oliver Coates.

He is someone that grew up playing classical cello but always looking outwardly for inspiration. He has found himself just as well known for his cello infused experimental (and often dancey) electronic music as his distinct presence in the contemporary classical world, of course there are many spaces in between, places he can often be heard. I’ve been looking to get Olly on the podcast for quite a while, I love his music and in fact his album Upstepping (made from mainly cello sounds) is a big inspiration behind this very podcast, it might not exist without that album.

Some of you may have first discovered him when he supported Thom Yorke on his UK and US tours in 2019. Playing with the London Contemporary Orchestra, Olly was featured on a number of tracks on Radiohead’s album ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’ (you can hear a good moment of his cello playing towards the end of Daydreaming).

If you want to explore Olly’s music further I’ve put together a nifty Spotify playlist for you to explore: