A couple years back Flora took Chicago by storm, throwing energetic shows where they filled every stage with vibrant instruments and even more vibrant personalities. Covid hit and, like many, the band was forced to sit with their musical goals and visions without the hustle and bustle of booking shows. Now, with a year plus of growth and reflection as both people and artists, and a brand new name to go with, Flora is back as Olive Avenue…matured, re imagined, and sitting on a brand new single to share. 

Both Chicago lads and total sweethearts, Olive Avenue’s main duo consists of Max Miller and Ryan O’Toole, who’s relationship dates back to them being elementary school little league rivals. Eventually, they were in a highschool musical together and then connected in college as bandmates.

“When we first collaborated and wrote music together, I could tell it was something different and something I wanted to chase,” shares Ryan.

Their differences and similarities collided in a way that would continue to define their musical style. ‘Olive Avenue’ references the street right behind Ryan’s parents house in Andersonville. And following that nostalgic sentiment, Olive Avenue likes to describe their sonic vibe as “movie montage music.” Digging into that sweet spot where sadness meets happiness meets longing and you’re swept away in memory…that’s what Olive Avenue evokes. Their music is certified to give you your own “main character moment” walking down the street with headphones in. 

Their second single under their new name drops October 28th and it’s timed perfectly with Halloween to double down on the spooky themes of the song. Titled “Maybe He Never Will,” the single, written by Ryan, was surprisingly written in 2019 just before the pandemic hit. However, touching on political unrest, climate change, and more, the song feels almost eerie now knowing how much it foreshadowed the spotlight that would soon be put on our mental health in 2020-2021. Countering that intensity, Olive Avenue pairs their new single with a bloody, murdery, horror-esque music video. The video was shot with a budget close to 0$ on an iphone with all their friends, which is a sentiment of their growth and progress. Where in the past, the band would have let social and financial pressures affect them, Olive Avenue leans into their personalities, friendships, and simple resources to let their true hearts shine through. Shooting the video was therapeutic for everyone involved and full of laughter, which is a metaphor in itself for the way we lean on each other to heal and move on from feelings of hopelessness. 

Find Olive Avenue’s new single on Bandcamp and Spotify. Find their Music Video to accompany their song on Youtube.