Olivia Reid reminds us to slow down and enjoy the present in her latest single Quite Simple — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
With warm, autumnal vibes reminiscent of indie folk anthems from artists like Father John Misty, Maggie Rogers, Big Thief and Mt. Joy, the poetic singer-songwriter and producer’s new indie-folk track delivers a comforting message of reassurance in a world where everything feels fast-paced, complex and overwhelming. And she knows what she’s talking about.
The song’s release comes at a heavy time for her — two of her grandparents recently passed away — making the message of gratitude and to enjoy all that life has to offer that much more potent. Inspired by her close relationship with her grandparents, Quite Simple captures a heartfelt conversation with an older man whose life is rich with adventure. His advice to the younger generation is simple: Don’t rush through life.
“I’ve always had this feeling like I’m running out of time to experience life. And this song is a reminder that I’m not,” explains Reid. “I wrote this story to echo some of the most positive perspectives I’ve heard from the older generation and try to share that with my peer group. In old age, it seems there’s so much to look back on fondly and so many experiences that you don’t even know are ahead of you.”
Like many in Gen Z, Reid has struggled with anxiety amidst the high-pressure modern world, where everything feels urgent. “I wanted to write a song that gives people my age some optimism. We’ve got time.” Through visceral storytelling, Reid’s lyrics deliver calming reminders that life is “really quite long” and to chart your own path. “When nobody’s gonna come for you,” you’re safe to explore, and “everything comes with time.”
Mixed by Daniel Neiman (Pom Pom Squad, Meg Smith) and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Jett Galindo (Weezer, The Carpenters, Colbie Caillat) at The Bakery LA, the track imparts an overall warm ambiance with its light acoustic guitar plucking, lush vocal layering, and sentimental instrumental outro. Quite Simple is co-produced by Reid and Benji Cormack. This collaboration coincided with Reid joining slenderbodies on tour in early October, with Tim Atlas — co-producer of the first single from her forthcoming EP Love Don’t Leave — also featured.
A calming vocalist with a strong pen, Reid writes songs that rest well within the soul, full of tempos mirroring the pace of a steady heartbeat and lyrics that articulate the most intimate parts of the human experience. At age six, she started writing songs and learning to play guitar. She released the EPs Earth Water in 2021 and To Be Named By The People in 2023. Her music can be heard in the TV series The Cleaning Lady, Love Island Australia, the film Another Girl, and the upcoming movie Tripped Up. Reid has garnered nearly 50 million streams worldwide, and most recently, her single Above the Clouds earned a gold certification in Australia.
Check out Quite Simple above, hear more from Olivia Reid below, and spend some quality time on her website, Instagram and TikTok.
