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Some artists are made in studios. Papillon was made in silence. Before the stage, there was a jail cell. Before the mixing desk, there was a mother telling him to write. And before anyone called him an artist, he had already lived through more than most can put in a verse.
In this exclusive spotlight for Wavy Music Magazine, we introduce you to Papillon— a voice of raw truth, emotional grit, and defiant self-invention.
NAME EVOLUTION: SMOOTH TO SOMETHING REAL
Brian Richard O’Leary’s musical persona, Papillon, didn’t show up overnight. It started with the nickname “Smooth” in high school, shifted to “Ol Dad,” and evolved again when life hit hard—prison time, pain, and perspective. When he returned home in 2015, people started calling him “Papi.” But as the music took hold, that name matured into something layered and symbolic: Papillon—French for butterfly, a fitting metaphor for someone who had to break through walls to fly.
NO CAP, JUST TRUTH: MUSIC AS A LIFELINE
Papillon’s music doesn’t sugarcoat. There’s no fantasy here—just the facts. His style is versatile, personal, and rooted in lived experience. Every track he makes draws from different emotional corners and versions of himself. “I explore everything people don’t want to talk about,” he explains. “The ugly truths, hidden knowledge, mental illness, addiction.” For him, recording isn’t a hobby—it’s survival. It’s therapy with a beat.
From rapping to inmates in jail to racking up 18k monthly listeners in just six months before taking a pause for personal reasons, his voice resonates because it’s real. His fans? They’re not just listeners. They’re witnesses.
NO COSIGNS, NO EXCUSES
What kicked off this journey was a friendship—with Dotti Lyne, an artist signed to Sony Music. Later, it was a chance connection with producer Justin DeGrate that lit the fire. “I moved to Vegas with 2 duffle bags, 22 cents, and no phone,” Papillon recalls. “The day after that mass shooting. I was scared.” But fear didn’t stop him. He taught himself to mix and master by watching YouTube from 8 AM to 3 PM daily. He did it because no one else would.
Now, with collaborations alongside artists like Yung23 and SoWhatImDead, and an upcoming move back to Vegas in the works, Papillon’s momentum is back—and it’s loud.
A VISUAL DIARY AND A NOMINATION
Papillon approaches visuals with the same personal investment as his lyrics. From self- directed videos to meaningful locations in cover art, every piece tells a story. “This is far deeper than music to me,” he says. And that’s not just a tagline—he’s currently nominated for an award at the 2026 NAMAS, a nod to both his creativity and courage.
CONCLUSION: NO CEILINGS, JUST SKIES
There’s something different about artists like Papillon—people who have seen the edge and decided not to fall. He doesn’t chase stardom. He speaks to survival. “Don’t let anyone put a ceiling on you,” he says to fans. “Turn your pain into something you can be proud of.” Whether he’s performing in Cincinnati or writing alone at night, Papillon is on a mission: to make sure no one feels as alone as he once did.
