Josie Oliver’s new EP, Listen to This When You Buy a House, is a poignant exploration of young love’s emotional turbulence. The Midlands-based indie-pop singer-songwriter has already amassed an impressive following, and this release solidifies her reputation as a rising star with a gift for heartfelt storytelling. Across five tracks, Oliver delves into the highs and lows of her first serious relationship, capturing the bittersweet beauty of fleeting moments and lessons learnt along the way. A deeply personal love story that manages to remain universal.
“The EP delves into the turbulence of young love. Written during my first serious relationship, it reflects the highs and lows of navigating love for the first time, and what we hear in the album is exactly that. Opening with the tender and mellow Wake Up (I Love You), Oliver sets the stage with airy vocals and delicate acoustics that blend warmth with the charming uncertainty that arises not only from youth but from the vagueness of love as well. Produced by Jay Flew, the track captures the rush of new love while hinting at the anxieties that often accompany it. This emotional tension develops further in Standing at Our Grave, a haunting reflection on relationship instability. Co-produced by Jules Konieczny and Oliver herself, the song weaves introspective lyrics with an atmosphere of impending loss.
The EP’s emotional weight continues with Single Bed, a reflection on the complexities of long-distance love, with lyrics that easily but effectively embody this feeling, like “Just promise me you will stay” , before arriving at Standstill, produced by Shute. Here, Oliver explores the ache of savouring a relationship she knows can’t last, a sort of "when you know, you know" feeling that works for better or for worse. The closing song, Do You Really Have to Go?, is perhaps the most vulnerable moment on the EP. Returning to Jules Konieczny’s production, Oliver navigates the heartbreak of emotional disconnection, balancing tender hope with painful acceptance.
Throughout Listen to This When You Buy a House, Oliver’s ability to translate personal moments into universally relatable narratives is remarkable. Each song is a world on its own but also part of the same complex concept that the word “love” embodies. The title itself originates from a voice note saved on her phone — a private message to her future self that now resonates as a reflection of her journey. Paired with nostalgic visual imagery — a lone bed placed in the middle of a forest — Oliver’s storytelling extends beyond sound, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in her world.