Play Oliver preps for album

Mike Riley of Play Oliver says he hopes to have his new record out for late spring of this year. The album has not yet been titled and is Play Oliver's third CD since he started playing for crowds four years ago. His music has gone through many stages in the short time; he started out as a solo act, eventually picked up a full band, went down to a duo, and has finally gone back to his roots and gone solo again.

Riley, a Fanshawe student, plays acoustic-emo rock music inspired by the likes of Dashboard Confessional and Bright Eyes. You may have seen him playing on campus at the Out Back Shack almost every Open Mic night. If not, you could have very likely seen him perform at your hometown bar, because he's played in almost every city in Southern Ontario over the last four years.

“I dream of my music going someplace and work towards it everyday as hard as I can, but I realized a long time ago that I'll continue to play music as long as I can,” Riley said.

Although his favourite place to play is Montreal, which is where he plans to move after he graduates from Business Marketing next year, Riley said playing Call the Office in London was one of the most amazing times of his career. Play Oliver also made the finals of the vans warped battle of the bands, and played with other acts, including Shad, Cain and Able, and Shot Gun Rules.

Riley came to Fanshawe with the hopes of getting into Music Industry Arts, and has since decided to stay in Business Marketing. Waking up four times a week at 7 a.m. to get to his 8 a.m. classes he admittedly says has affected his creativity due to fatigue. Although, he said the experience of living in London and meeting new people at Fanshawe has been worth it.

Check out Riley and Play Oliver at www.myspace.com/PlayOliver.

If you would like to be a featured artist, contact Nate at n_nagle@fanshaweonline.ca.