DEREK OLSEN, SONGWRITER
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It's great to meet you.

I'm Derek Olsen,
Composer & Lyricist
Based in Tacoma, WA.

I write high-quality, original songs for new musicals.

Please enjoy my song portfolio below, which features original songs for three musicals performed by my students.

What makes a quality song?

Exceptional songs in musical theatre create a kind of "magic moment" when the audience feels something poignant and meaningful. The Greeks called this feeling pathos. Quality music reveals in all of us the timeless nature of our joys and sorrows, and the lyrics take us on a poetic journey filled with fun, drama, and heartfelt moments of human connection. The pathos​ is what makes us love and appreciate all aspects of life.

Every Day It's Another Mess

Turn on closed captioning (CC) on the bottom-right corner of the Youtube screen for subtitles.

How do musical theatre writers collaborate?

As a composer and lyricist, I work closely with playwrights who want quality songs interwoven throughout a play. I depend on the originality of the playwright's ideas and characters in order to make these songs engaging and fitting to the moment. My approach to collaboration is to listen first and understand the whole show and its purpose. Together, we create a show concept and structure that naturally feeds the poetic value of the songs, which in turn enhances the power and pathos of the playwright's story.

Theatre companies and schools interested in commissioning a high-quality, original musical, please contact me using the form at the bottom of the page. Look forward to working with you!

    To contact me, please use the online form below:
    Your collaboration and friendship are welcome.

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About Me
Musicals
Songs
Albums
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  • Home
  • Contact
  • Musicals
  • Songs
  • Albums
  • Travel
  • Novels
  • About