Premiere: Olive Klug Embodies Their Inner Paul Simon in the Unrestrained “Train of Thought,” a Vivid Folk Reverie - Atwood Magazine

      Taking inspiration from Paul Simon's intricate and enchanting disorder, Olive Klug's "Train of Thought" is a quirky, fast-paced journey into the essence of chaos, creativity, and identity. This exhilarating display of abstract lyricism and liberated self-expression showcases the singer/songwriter at their most playful and unrestrained, charging headlong toward their highly anticipated second album, ‘Lost Dog.’

      Stream: “Train of Thought” – Olive Klug

      In the depths of my mind, there’s a train soaring through the sky, racing off a one-way track...

      * * *

      Olive Klug envisions a train racing through the skies of their imagination, and we’re all welcome to hop on board.

      “Train of Thought” is untamed, whimsical, and relentlessly quick, presenting a continuous surge of creativity and wonder — a folk dream ignited by neurodivergent freedom, lyrical abstraction, and raw authenticity. This track doesn’t merely play; it charges ahead, diving into the enchantment and chaos of a mind in motion. Paying tribute to one of their musical inspirations, Klug opens their mind wide to reveal a rapid lyrical storm that’s charmingly offbeat.

      Train of Thought – Olive Klug

      There’s a train in the sky

      in the midst of my mind

      and it’s speeding down a one-way track

      and I attempt to fasten my suit and tie

      to rein it in

      But there’s this peculiar old

      conductor donning pearls

      and a backward baseball cap

      There’s a shoe on the floor

      opening the door

      to the forbidden book of my heart

      And I’m just glancing

      through the shadows

      waiting for the conclusion to commence, and there’s

      a curious librarian shattering

      all the windows of her car

      Atwood Magazine is thrilled to present the music video for “Train of Thought,” the third single from Olive Klug’s upcoming second album, Lost Dog (set to release on April 25, 2025 via Signature Sounds). Following Klug’s 2023 debut album Don’t You Dare Make Me Jaded, this album sees the Portland-born, Nashville-based singer/songwriter embracing both artistry and conviction, merging their distinct storytelling with a newfound sense of liberation. As Klug notes, Lost Dog explores themes of wandering and wondering — navigating the unpredictability of a nontraditional path while learning to accept the ensuing uncertainties.

      The van-dwelling DIY artist has always chosen the challenging route — and Lost Dog embodies that same restless, introspective essence. Its lead single, “Taking Punches From the Breeze,” opens the album with reflective introspection, depicting a surrender and self-trust as Klug lets the wind dictate their next steps. Meanwhile, the vibrant, zydeco-infused “What to Make of Me” presents a playful take on unrequited love, emanating confidence in the face of uncertainty. Each song reveals a different facet of Klug’s journey as a neurodivergent, queer, and fiercely independent artist navigating their own way — both on the road and internally.

      The third single, “Train of Thought,” deviates from Klug’s usual style, even by their own definition. Originating from a songwriting workshop exercise and influenced by their favorite songwriter, the track exchanges Klug’s standard literal storytelling for a whirlwind of metaphor and motion — embracing a more abstract, loose, and intentionally unconventional approach. It’s playful, poetic, and unapologetically nonlinear — a stream-of-consciousness experience that invites listeners into a neurodivergent mind as it defies classification, welcomes contradiction, and finds freedom within chaos.

      Sometimes the river doesn’t flow

      Sometimes the eye of the storm

      shines bright, like a north star

      or a small-town bar

      or a cheat code

      Sometimes the road isn’t visible

      Or the bright yellow phlegm

      stuck in your throat

      Everything conceals

      In plain sight

      Like the wind shifts

      “I penned this song in Sisters, Oregon during a songwriting workshop I led about crafting a song inspired by the stylistics of your favorite artist,” Klug shares with Atwood Magazine. “‘Train of Thought’ reflects my interpretation of Paul Simon’s complex, magical chaos. I broke away from my typical literal storytelling to delve into the realm of abstract metaphors, allowing the listener to experience what it’s like to be neurodivergent and how I’ve recently embraced this internal chaos rather than trying to control and suppress it.”

      Using a singular spark of inspiration to ignite a broader narrative, Klug crafts an exhilarating whirlwind from the ground up, taking an adventurous ride through the subconscious led by a conductor in “pearls and a backwards baseball cap.” Klug’s lyrics juxtapose surreal imagery with deeply personal reflections, filled with vivid metaphors that blur the distinction between imagination and identity. By embracing abstraction, they create a soundscape that captures the erratic nature of thought itself — both sonically mesmerizing and emotionally revealing