In an era where genres blur and attitude reigns supreme, Olive Vox is making it clear that rock is far from dead — it’s just been waiting for a new voice. The Dallas bred, Orange County based quartet is rewriting what alternative rock can sound (and feel) like, channeling the punch of Cage the Elephant, the chaos of Turnstile, and the grunge grit of Nirvana — all while carving a lane entirely their own.
The band — made up of Parker James, Caden Shea, Ben Reid, and Dayton — first burst onto the scene in 2021 with a steady stream of fiery releases that built them a loyal online following and spots on bills alongside acts like Ty Segall and Puddle of Mudd. Fast forward to now, and Olive Vox is stepping into their biggest moment yet as one of Big Machine Rock’s newest signees — and they’re wasting no time making noise.
Their latest single, “T.A.N.G.O.”, dropped today (October 24), and it’s already proof that Olive Vox is a force to be reckoned with. The track layers bright verses over a thunderous rhythm and a chorus that practically begs to be shouted: “T-A-N-G-O, she hates me this I know.”
“‘Tango’ came together super last minute,” Ben Reid tells Celeb Secrets in an exclusive interview. “Caden went over to Parker’s apartment and they put together the chorus in a blink, shelved it, and forgot about it. A couple months later the EP was short a song and we rediscovered it through voice memos.”
From there, the song practically wrote itself. “Caden, Ben, and Dayton sat down to fully flesh out a potential addition and the song came together from there,” Parker James adds.
For a band that thrives on energy and emotion, “T.A.N.G.O.” captures the chaotic chemistry that defines Olive Vox. “Each member of the band has fairly different tastes in music,” Parker shares. “But we utilize our differences, bringing our fresh ideas and unique inspirations together to create one song.”
That push-and-pull dynamic extends to everything they do, whether it’s crafting an anthem in a late-night session or navigating life on the road. “I think recently we’ve started striving to push ourselves out of our comfort zones to push the limit of creativity,” Parker says. “We’re always trying to make something that feels real.”
That search for authenticity shines on their earlier single “Dying Breath,” their first release with Big Machine Rock, which marked a turning point for the band. “The story is based on some very real things that happened within Parker and I’s life,” Caden Shea explains. “It talks about grief, self-reflecting, and the regrets you may hold after losing someone you love. The song means so much to us that we knew we had to start by releasing it.”
For Olive Vox, real is everything — in both sound and storytelling. “Lyrically, I’m just gonna continue to sing about my experience with life and create stories so that I can satisfy whatever I’m feeling in that moment,” Parker adds. “Sonically I think we’re shooting for a realer sound, something that is authentically us and something we can all be proud of.”
Their creative process is rooted in collaboration and experimentation. “It starts with an idea, whether it be very small or an almost completed idea, then we’ll all usually collectively expand on what’s there to make it something we couldn’t imagine it would be,” Caden says. “That’s the exciting part about writing for us.”
The band’s sound — which Caden describes as “four people coming from four different places to make one sound” — is a fusion of grit, groove, and guts. “We love both heavy and alternative music,” he says. “So we like to mix the two together to break up our songs in a way that keeps things interesting.”
That musical identity has been shaped by both of their home bases: the Texas grit and the California cool. “Orange County has a lot of skate culture which I feel we were very inspired by early on,” Caden says. “You can definitely put an Olive Vox song to a skate edit. When we moved to Texas, all we had to do was write music because it’s the only outlet we had, not having many friends from the start.”
With that kind of dedication, it’s no surprise that Olive Vox has had some major “pinch me” moments lately. “I think the first big moment for me is that very first time we went to Nashville and walked into the studio,” Parker says. “Seeing all those people in the control room and knowing their history, dedicating their time to help us get our vision across, was that big oh s**t moment.”
Caden agrees that recording has been one of the most rewarding parts of their rise. “Honestly, recording these songs has been the biggest dream of all,” he shares. “Having the luxury of time to be able to put into this music to make it perfect has been the greatest thing we’ve been able to do. That being said, being cooped up for too long drives you crazy. We’re ready to tour and reach people with our sound.”
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When it comes to the live stage, the band has already had its share of unforgettable moments. “I think the greatest shows we’ve ever played were on The Jin’s tour,” Parker recalls. “That felt like our first true opportunity to show people who we are. Chicago was definitely a stand-out show — it was the largest capacity venue of that tour, and it was nearly sold out if not sold out. The crowd was absolutely electric and we just fed off the energy.”
Caden adds that one of their biggest milestones so far came at Summerfest in Milwaukee. “It was something new for us and it was an amazing show,” he says.
Even as they keep racking up career highlights, the band stays humble and hungry. “I’m hoping that day [our breakout] is close,” Parker says, “but at the same time I wouldn’t mind thriving in that underground community for a little bit and truly finding ourselves as musicians. That way once faced with a larger audience, we’ve had the time and experience to create music to our greatest potential.”
Of course, they’ve still got goals — and big ones. “I think my biggest milestone personally is being able to sell out our own shows,” Parker says. “No matter how big or small, that just shows you’re doing something right.”
For Caden, the dream is simple: play, connect, repeat. “We’re a live band, we want to play,” he says. “Either it be touring, at festivals, or at your mom’s house… as far away as you can get us. That’s the dream.”
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And while they might be serious about their craft, Olive Vox definitely doesn’t take themselves too seriously. “We always get into some sort of verbal altercation when it comes down to where we’re eating,” Parker laughs. “And it’s never high-quality food. It’s always out on the road having to choose between Taco Bell and White Castle. Somehow someone will always have something to say.”
There’s another secret, too — none of them are old enough to even rent a van. “None of us are legally old enough to rent a van to tour in,” Caden admits with a grin.
Still, despite the road bumps and late-night fast food debates, one thing is clear: Olive Vox is building something special. “We always feel close [to our breakout moment],” Caden says. “Your moment can be any day — there’s no way of knowing when something will pop off, and for us that keeps us going. I think headlining our own tour, big or small, would be a breakout moment in our eyes.”
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As they look ahead, their mission stays grounded in connection. “We want people to enjoy the music,” Caden says. “If it makes them feel anything at all, that’s enough for us.”
With “Dying Breath” setting the tone and “T.A.N.G.O.” raising the bar, Olive Vox’s next chapter feels unstoppable. The band’s upcoming EP promises to showcase their full range — from grunge-laced vulnerability to high-octane chaos — and they’re more than ready to bring it to the stage. “I think my biggest milestone personally is being able to sell out our own shows,” Parker says. “No matter how big or small, that just shows you’re doing something right.”
And something tells us Olive Vox is doing a lot of things right.
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