On the heels of his first headline show, Oli Higginson spoke to NYOTA about his upcoming EP, how he expresses himself creatively through music and acting, and what viewers can expect from his character Footman John in “Bridgerton” Season 4.

You’re going to release your debut single early next year. What inspired you to take the leap and start creating original music?

I’ve always written songs and channeled my innermost thoughts — and probably some mundane thoughts too — into words via poetry and songs. That process has always meant a lot to me and has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. A couple of years ago, I kind of woke up one day and felt like I was running out of time and that if I wanted to put out music, play it live in front of audiences, tour it, then I needed to do it right now. So here I am. Here we go…I want my music to mean as much to my fans and listeners as my favorite artists mean to me.

How would you describe the emotions you’re trying to capture in your EP that is set to come out next year?

I think there is a classic British thing going on with my songs; British artists have historically been very good at pairing melancholic lyrics with upbeat, peppy, catchy melodies. That’s what I’ve kind of fallen into doing with this record. I’m an overthinker, a ruminator, a people pleaser. And that’s the headspace my songs live in. They’re far from bleak — I’m a dreamer and probably an optimist, but there is something about grappling with hard truths, hard changes, and identity that run through the songs. I ran my lyrics through an AI thing one day to see what themes came up most, and CHANGE was number one on the list. It’s interesting. We’re in a state of immense uncertainty and change as a society, as a globe. And I think that’s made it into my songs. Modern Oli is about the person I was, the person I am, and the person I will become; it’s kind of like being in dialogue with various versions of myself. And as weird as it sounds, I think this is something everyone feels an immense relationship to: who am I today?

Ahead of these releases you have a headline show on October 30th. How are you shaping the set list since you have a lot of unreleased material?

I think I must be one of the only artists on earth who is doing a sold-out headline show before they have released any music…it’s crazy. But I also think it’s the spirit of Modern Oli — I’m breaking rules and I’m doing it my way, and that’s the main thing. In terms of the set list, I’ve been working with the wonderful Will Sensicle, who has kind of music-directed the show and is playing guitar for it too. He’s a genius, and together we’ve listened through all my songs and arrived at a rollercoaster of an evening with no filler, just massive tunes that take you from tears to tearing up the dance floor. We’re not playing everything — there will be songs that people will have to wait to hear in the new year, but we’re playing about 10 numbers plus a cover. I’m a theatrical being at heart, I love telling stories, so my live shows are all about letting the audience get lost in the world of Modern Oli; it’s an atmosphere and a story I’m telling, not just a bunch of songs played by a band.

Outside of creating music, you act. Do acting and music serve different sides of who you are as a creative?

I think so, yes. Acting is a funny thing. A beautiful thing. I love sinking myself into another character, another way of life, another headspace and mindset. It’s so incredibly freeing. You’re also a vessel, a vehicle, for another person’s vision, be that a writer, a director, or a designer. It is collaborative, of course, but an actor is hired to bring to life the audacious ideas of another creative in a way they could never do themselves. And I love that. You’re for hire ultimately; you offer a service that you do extremely well, hopefully better than anyone else. And you shape shift into what you’re asked to do. I love losing myself in a character. With music and my writing in general, it’s a more consciously self-reflective exercise in serving up some of my personal thoughts and feelings. This does mean that it is draining in a very different way from acting and can be frustrating, too. You’re pitching your ideas and thoughts and perspective in a way that you are only doing a little bit as an actor. So sometimes it feels more personal with writing, and I think it’s slightly harder to shape shift. Potentially. I don’t know. In a way, being an actor/writer/musician, one thing I have learned is that, in fact, they are not drastically different from each other. They are different, yes, but not drastically. I’ve gotten into a rhythm where they feed each other, nourish each other.

Looking ahead, how do you see yourself balancing acting and music — do you imagine one taking precedence, or do you want to keep evolving in both worlds?

I absolutely want to keep evolving in both worlds. I see myself as an artist. I act. I write. I sing. I’m interested in exploring art and humanity through a multitude of mediums, and I want to grow in all areas of my work. I love being challenged, and the best way is to keep trying new things, exploring new things. For as long as I live, I plan to do this as an actor, and I plan to do this as a musician, too.

Without giving away any spoilers, can you shed some light on your character in Bridgerton Season 4?

This is the first time in Bridgerton’s history that we are going to see Footman John in his natural habitat: the downstairs of Bridgerton House. His world is being revealed in this new season, and we’re going to see how he carries himself in different ways when ‘off-duty’ downstairs compared to ‘on-duty’ upstairs. He’s the same adventurous, flirtatious, fun-loving footman we’ve come to know, but we’re beginning to peel back the layers. We see more than ever how much he simply adores being a part of the Bridgerton house. It’s an incredible place to work with the most wonderful family, and John relishes that more than anybody. I’m so excited for audiences to get to know Footman John even better in the upcoming season.