OLIVER MITCHELL

OLIVER MITCHELL (guitar/singer/writer) founded the band " ZINC GIZMO " in 1997. Performing mostly original songs, Olly plays electric & acoustic guitars & the Turkish Saz. In 2010 the band's name was changed to " The GRUNTLES " with Arif " Sonny "Mitchell also on guitar. In 2013 the name changed again to " OYA ". Oliver bought his first electric guitar at 15 in 1967 , a Vox Phantom while at school in England and was inspired by the great Beatles, Stones, Floyd, Clapton, Led Zep, Doors, Zappa and especially Hendrix, and began tune-smithing on acoustic guitar as well. Attending Sussex University , he was immersed in jazzier world music, and jamming with friends, till dropping out, he travelled to Istanbul where he studied Turkish art and music, and began to play the "Baglama Saz",(a seven stringed Turkish lute.) Oliver's musical influences are varied & multicultural, as he grew up in many countries. He lived in Tokyo, (where he recorded at Sony Studios as a 9 year old), London, Vienna, Edinburgh, Dacca and Vancouver, has toured Europe often, and immigrated to Canada in 1986. In the 1990's he moved to Vancouver Island & formed a band called " ZINC GIZMO ", who released 3 CD's. Then in 2009 the name of the band was changed to "The GRUNTLES" with Oliver's son ARIF MITCHELL also playing guitar. In 2011 OLIVER and partner YVONNE founded the band "OYA ", and wrote several songs together. 2024 Oliver has new tunes to share. Hear on Spotify or Apple : " EAR GILLS "

Victoria, BC