New album arriving June 12 is previewed by the single “Dancing in the Sand,” a duet with Peter White.
Fueled by the strength of his ever-present positive mindset, multi-time Billboard chart-topping guitarist, singer, and songwriter Steve Oliver rises from a personally demanding year with renewed purpose and a powerful new album, Inner Fire, set for release June 12.
Providing an enticing first glimpse into the album’s vibrant sound, Oliver released the lead single “Dancing in the Sand,” an exotic Latin-tinged groove showcasing his signature guitar melodies and soaring vocalese hooks. The track features a dazzling duet with acclaimed guitarist Peter White, whose mesmerizing fretwork adds an extra layer of magic to the recording. In its debut week, “Dancing in the Sand” was added to SiriusXM Watercolors, featured on The Dave Koz Lounge, and quickly became the most-added new single on the Billboard and Mediabase smooth jazz radio charts. It’s presently No. 22 on the Billboard chart and rising.
Oliver is a sonic alchemist, fusing vibrant shades of jazz, R&B, and pop into a rich, dynamic soundscape. Guided by his electric, nylon-string, and acoustic guitar work, he weaves expansive harmonies and lush melodies into deep-pocket grooves. As both composer and producer, Oliver describes Inner Fire as a musical journey through adversity, embracing change, overcoming challenges, and ultimately finding inner strength, renewed hope, and the promise of a new day.
“Inner Fire grew out of a year that both tested and transformed me,” says Oliver, a Bay Area native now residing in the Southern California desert. “The title reflects the quiet strength that carried me through, and my belief that music heals the soul. That passion burns deep within me, rising in a voice that’s steady and strong. I believe each of us carries that same inner fire — sometimes soft, sometimes blazing — and all it takes is the courage to rise up and let our voices be heard, even in the face of doubt.”
The album opens with “Hook Shot” on which Oliver teams with 9-time GRAMMY® nominee Gerald Albright (bass) and GRAMMY® winner Michael Broening (keyboards) for an energizing workout.
After “Dancing in the Sand,” Inner Fire offers another Oliver-Broening collab paying tribute to George Benson by adding Oliver’s own “vocal magic” to the legend’s No. 1 hit, “Give Me The Night.” Bringing his own twist to the party, his fresh take is poised to become a new favorite.
“When George attended my show in Arizona, afterwards he said quietly, ‘You remind me of me.’ It was a moment that I will always treasure,” enthused Oliver. “I’ve added my own signature vocalese and dedicate this version to both George and songwriter Rod Temperton, whose artistry and influence have left an indelible mark on the soul of modern music,” said Oliver who has a busy run of concert dates in May to set up the launch of Inner Fire.
“Missing You” captures a deep sense of heartache and longing, carried by Oliver’s lyrical nylon-string guitar and wordless, expressive vocals. “Every goodbye takes a small piece of our heart,” he says. “I wrote ‘Missing You’ while gently strumming my guitar and reflecting on my long-distance love. My hands began to move almost on their own, and soon the melody was saying everything I couldn’t put into words.”
Oliver’s colorful, sun-splashed desert surroundings bring listeners along on an excursion through the breathtaking playground that is “Desert Euphoria.”
“The desert is pure energy — blazing sun, warm sand, and colors shifting with electric intensity,” says Oliver. “Mornings glow gold while nights pulse with red, orange, and blue beneath an endless sky. Hiking the hills, my heartbeat syncing with every step, I feel a rush of freedom and possibility. I wanted this song to move like the desert itself — vibrant, alive, and pulsing with joy.”
“Bounce Back,” which appears on the album as a vocal number and as an instrumental showcasing Will Donato’s rousing saxophone, perfectly captures Oliver’s ethos for the album.
“This powerful vocal track is all about resilience — facing life’s obstacles head-on and refusing to give up when you’re knocked down. It’s a bold reminder that setbacks don’t define us; how we respond does. With an uplifting message and forward-driving energy, the song encourages listeners to stay positive and look for the new day that’s coming. It’s about grit, growth, and the unstoppable strength we discover when we choose to stand strong.”
Optimism and ecstasy along with Oliver’s soaring guitar and vocalese combo propel “Looking Up” to new heights, an anthemic promise of better days ahead. The recording includes Oliver using his guitar to play synth piano alongside keyboardist Dave Kochanski (Rippingtons).
Oliver wrote “Phoenix Rising” as a tribute to the late percussionist Steve Reid (Rippingtons), who welcomed the guitarist-vocalist into his band Bamboo Forrest in 1996. Reid would later serve as a catalyst for Oliver launching his solo career. Percussion on this reverential track was key and Ramon Yslas adeptly steps into the role.
“Steve (Reid) walked through fire in his lifetime, but he carried a quiet strength and deep wisdom that shaped everyone around him. Though he left this world last year, his spirit still echoes in the rhythms. From him, I learned how to rise — again and again — like a phoenix from the ashes,” shared Oliver.
An empowering affirmation, “You Got It” is driven by Pablo Cruise’s lockstep rhythm section, drummer Sergio Gonzalez and bassist Larry Antonino. Oliver explains, “This song is a reminder that life is here to teach us, if we’re ready to learn, and when we learn, we claim the confidence and power that goes with the knowledge.”
Inner Fire closes with the solo guitar sojourn “Summer Tides” on which Oliver’s guitar triggers all the string and synth sounds. His ruminations and reflections roll in and out like the tide sweeping the coastline.
“This song was inspired by quiet moments I spent playing my guitar while gazing at the beautiful Fraser River in British Columbia. I would watch the tides roll in and drift away as the sun slowly traced its path across the sky. The movement was graceful, soothing, and welcoming. It reminded me that there are tides in all our lives that ebb and flow. Through it all, we remain constant — steady and peaceful at the center of change,” said Oliver. “I wanted this to be the message that lingers as the album closes — a gentle reminder of your own strength, stillness, and the quiet power that is within us all.”
During his prolific career, Oliver has scored multiple Billboard No. 1 singles and more than a dozen top 10 singles as a solo artist and as a producer and/or songwriter for other artists, including Paul Taylor, Vincent Ingala, and Brian Simpson. Inner Fire is his first album since 2023’s A New Light. Oliver’s catalogue includes recordings with luminaries Nathan East, Brian Bromberg, Eric Marienthal, Vinnie Colaiuta, Harvey Mason, Leland Sklar, Jeff Kashiwa, Jimmy Haslip, Rick Braun, Bob Baldwin, Michael Paulo, and Darren Rahn. As a performer, he has played major festivals, theaters, and clubs across the U.S. and internationally. In other media, Oliver has created music for television and film, including Academy Award and Emmy-winning director Richard L. Anderson’s Lee’d The Way (2022).
Inner Fire contains the following songs:
“Hook Shot”
“Dancing in the Sand” featuring Peter White
“Inner Fire”
“Give Me The Night”
“Missing You”
“Desert Euphoria”
“Bounce Back”
“Looking Up”
“Phoenix Rising (For Steve Reid)”
“You Got It”
“Summer Tides”
Bonus: “Bounce Back” (instrumental)
To pre-save Inner Fire, go to https://ffm.to/steveoinnerfire.
For more information, visit www.steveolivermusic.com.
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