Los Angeles-based composer Jacob Olofsson, known as Olovson, has returned after a two-year hiatus with his new single ‘THINGS I COULD’VE LEFT BEHIND’, released September 26, 2025 via his imprint 1136 Diamond. The Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum producer has worked with industry giants including Frank Ocean, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson, Diplo, Silk City, and Camila Cabello. He boasts over 3 million streams across platforms, with his debut album Storytelling (2022) receiving support from Wonderland Magazine, PopMatters, CLASH Magazine, Rolling Stone India, and others, while airing on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 6, NTS Radio, and Worldwide FM. Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Olovson now embarks on a new chapter led by his own vocals for the first time. Written, produced, and mixed by Olovson himself, ‘THINGS I COULD’VE LEFT BEHIND’ showcases his classical touch with relaxed keys that ooze vibrance, a gentle swing evoking dimly lit jazz bars, and soft vocals that add soulful depth—a remarkable track launching an exciting new era for fans of Nils Frahm, Blood Orange, James Blake, and Flawed Mangoes.
Tell us about you, how long have you been making music? What inspired you to start?
I’ve been surrounded by music for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was constantly hearing jazz, soul, and classical records playing around the house, and my father playing the piano and trumpet daily. I started playing the piano at 7, but it wasn’t until my teenage years that I got into songwriting. From that point, it became an obsession—writing, playing, creating—it just pulled me in completely and never really let go.
The music industry is super competitive these days, was there a moment in your life that you wanted to give up on music? How did you manage to stay focused and achieve what you want?
It comes down to obsession honestly. You have to be a little crazy to keep going through the ups and downs of it all. I have always leaned into the need for making music and I’ve held onto the belief that good things will follow if I just keep doing what I love, and stay consistent.
How would you describe your creative processes? Are the music and lyrics written in conjunction, or separately?
My process almost always starts by the piano or by my synths. The music, chords and melodies come first, that’s usually what unlocks a certain emotion or feeling, and from there, a lyrical theme starts to take shape. Occasionally, the music and lyrics come together in the same moment, which is rare but kind of magical when it happens. I have tons of voice memos, fragments, and rough sketches that I revisit and eventually shape into full songs.
Where did the inspiration come from?
For this upcoming project, my first release ‘THINGS I COULD’VE LEFT BEHIND’, was the starting point. I had had that melody recorded for a long time and I always found myself coming back to it. Then over the summer, I decided to finish that song finally and the rest came very quickly and naturally.
Writing music has always been a form of therapy for me—a way to slow down, reflect, and find peace, especially when I’m at the piano. As the songs started to take shape, I realized the theme that kept coming up was about letting go; releasing the things that weigh us down and making room for stillness and healing. I wanted the project to carry that feeling, and hopefully help others process their own version of that too.
What’s next for you?
Right now, the focus is on releasing this new batch of songs, which I’m really excited to share. I’m also preparing to bring them to life on stage—which feels like a new chapter for me. I can’t wait to connect with audiences live and build a deeper connection with the community around the music.
Beyond that, I’ve got some collaborations in the works and more music that I’ve produced for other artists coming out soon, so there’s a lot to look forward to.