Every now and then someone asks why we us an odd “O” as a band symbol. It isn’t a random design choice. It isn’t there to make the logo stand out or look clever. It has a story behind it, and it’s one that’s quite personal to me.
I’m part Welsh on my mother’s side. My maternal grandfather, Dafydd Thomas, was born in the South Wales town of Llanelli. My grandmother was fluent in Welsh which I never understood, but loved to listen to! Although I spent over half of my adult life in New Zealand, I’ve always felt a connection to that part of my heritage. It’s something I’ve become more aware of over the years, particularly as music has become such a central part of my life.
One idea from Welsh Celtic tradition has always resonated with me: Awen. Awen is often described as the flow of creative inspiration. It’s the spark that inspires poets, storytellers, musicians and artists. Rather than creativity being something you simply possess, Awen suggests that inspiration is something you receive, something you listen to and follow. I love that idea. As songwriters, we all know those moments when an idea seems to arrive from nowhere. A melody appears while you’re driving, a lyric suddenly makes sense after weeks of struggling. A musical phrase almost feels as though it was waiting to be discovered rather than written.
Whether you see that as mythology, spirituality, psychology or simply the mysterious way creativity works, it makes perfect sense to me. There is also the concept of following the path of the awenydd — someone who chooses to listen to that inspiration and continually grow as a creative person. I find that a natural way of thinking about creativity.
When we were creating the ‘logo’ for OLDER, I wanted to acknowledge that influence without directly copying the traditional Awen symbol. So we designed our own stylised “O” that quietly nods toward it while becoming something uniquely ours.
Most people will never notice it or care. Those who do probably won’t know what it represents. And that’s perfectly okay. Not every symbol has to explain itself, sometimes it’s enough that it carries meaning for the people behind it.
There’s another reason I like it. As far as I know, there aren’t any musicians or professional creatives in my family history. Sometimes I’ve wondered where this lifelong obsession with music came from. Maybe it’s coincidence, maybe it’s simply how I’m wired. Or perhaps it’s my own way of feeling connected to generations that came before me.
Whatever the reason, the “O” reminds me that creativity isn’t something to force. It’s something to stay open to and seek the inspiration. So next time you see the OLDER logo, you’ll know the story. It isn’t just an “O”. It’s a quiet nod to Welsh & Celtic culture and to creativity.
