Oliver Gil navigates two worlds—by day, he’s a hospital psychiatrist in Montreal; by night, Oliver Ghoul transforms his home studio into a sonic playground, crafting hypnotic nu-jazz loops and psych-funk odysseys about love, vulnerability, and human connection. “When I write music, I don’t wonder if someone will listen to it on their subway ride,” he says. “I wonder if they’ll play it in their interstellar cigar lounge.”
Music runs in Oliver’s veins. As a child, he jammed with his father, a guitar-playing psychiatrist, who instilled in him a deep love for all styles of music. He studied classical piano, played drums in rock bands, and dreamed of a career in music. But as medical school demanded his focus, music took a back seat. That all changed in his first year of psychiatric residency when he stumbled upon FKJ and Tom Misch’s live looping performance of Losing My Way. Inspired, Oliver realized he didn’t need a band—just a willingness to learn every instrument himself.
Enter Oliver Ghoul: a groove-obsessed musical monster. From driving six hours through a blizzard to buy his first guitar in Northern Quebec (and another six to get it repaired) to obsessively teaching himself recording, production, and synthesis through deep YouTube dives, he’s relentless in his pursuit of sound.
Despite his intensity, Oliver’s signature irreverence keeps things light. “In my day job, I deal with brutal and difficult situations,” he says. “Humour isn’t just a way to disarm—it’s a way to build bridges between worlds.” That same approach fuels his music, where unexpected lyrics and left-field samples invite listeners into his universe, one groove at a time.
Name:
Oliver Ghoul
Genre:
Psychedelic indie funk with a sprinkle of jazz and post-rock.
Founded:
2019
# of Albums:
1
Latest Album:
Fool For You
Latest Single:
Moonwalker
Latest Video:
“Moonwalker”
Favourite musician growing up:
Impossible to answer, but I must have listened to Cypress Hill’s Live at the Fillmore album a good thousand times or so in my formative years.
Favourite musician now:
El Michel’s Affair has steadily been in my always-on line-up for the last few years. He’s my fetish producer and a huge influence.
Guilty pleasure song:
The Moana soundtrack. I blame my toddler. My guiltless pleasure: the 101 Dalmatians, the Aristocats and the Jungle Books OST are hot fire.
Live show ritual:
Still working out the kinks on the old «live» thing, as I’m mostly a basement studio-dwelling hermit.
Favourite local musician:
I’ve been into this great MC, Kris the spirit. Killer voice.
EP or LP?
LP
Early bird or night owl?
Night Owl
Road or studio?
Studio
Any shows or albums coming up?
My first LP, Fool For You, recently released
Where can we follow you?
Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Soundcloud
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Rapid Fire Local Questions:
What is your favourite local restaurant?
It just closed, unfortunately; it was called Marconi in Little Italy.
What is your favourite street in your city and why?
De Gaspé, home of the legendary Makina Studio.
What is your favourite park in your city and why?
Jeanne-Mance. It’s super lively..always bursting with action. Cool vibes. I never actually go in anymore, but I love passing it and people-watching.
What is your favourite music venue in your city?
Le Gésu, love the acoustics and the cozy intimate vibes.
What is your favourite music store in your city?
Moog Audio.
