'5 Questions With': Olivia Swann
"Despite COVID and its many negatives, it’s actually given me the time to reset and realign."
Citing her inspirations as Outkast, Erykah Badu, Chet Baker and Amy Winehouse, Olivia Swann’s aesthetic oozes cool, and her playful songs are a tongue-in-cheek amalgamation of R&B infused masterpieces built from years of honing-in her craft as a Berklee College of Music graduate and mentee of Grammy award-winning producers and songwriters such as James Fauntleroy, Rico Love and Rance Dopson. With the dedication to her style an aspect that makes her so promising as an artist, Olivia explains: “I am an eternal tomboy, handbags and heels just aren’t my thing”, and with that being said, the straight-talking songstress is bursting back onto the scene after the success of her previous offering ‘Two Faces’, bouncing back with energy on her candid follow up ‘So Many Friends’. Olivia’s no-nonsense track, attitude, and à la Lily Allen lyricism is addictive and infectious and pips her as one of the R&B scene’s most exhilarating new prospects.
Read the full interview below…
Words & Interview by Danielle Temeng
EQ: Hi Olivia, welcome to EQUATE. Can you tell us a little about how you got your start in music, and who you’d cite as your main inspirations?
OS: Hello there! Well since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with listening to music. I started with my Walkman (I actually miss it so much) buying whatever CD’s I could, strictly Hip-Hop and R&B of course! I didn’t actually take music seriously though until I got recommended to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA. I was over there for 4 years, and it’s there where I really started to write my own stuff and discover and develop my artistry. Berklee was principally a jazz school, so whilst I was there, I fell in love with jazz music on such a deeper level. I learnt so much and feel very lucky to have had that experience. So, my musical inspirations are very diverse as a result, I love Amy Winehouse, Chet Baker, Kurt Elling, Eva Cassidy, Outkast, Eminem, the list is endless!
EQ: You took a short hiatus and now return with an absolute vibe of a track ‘So Many Friends’. What did that time away from releasing music teach you about your artistry?
OS: Despite COVID and its many negatives, it’s actually given me the time to reset and realign. I’ve developed my sound, written a bunch of records, and started co-producing my stuff too, which has been amazing. I’m now more ready than ever to kick ass this year and super excited for people to hear what I’ve been working on!
“…luckily, I am able to choose my friends so I can make sure I have only real ones around me!”
EQ: …and on the track, it’s very relatable lyrically and is a pop-RnB crossover and your vocals are flawless. The main theme is that of fake friends, do you feel like it’s within the industry relationships that appear to feel this way, or personally too?
OS: Oh yeah, for sure, they’re everywhere! I think the nature of the music scene though is full of success, fame and money which definitely influences people’s behaviour, so obviously I’d say I see a lot more of those types of people in the industry. Luckily, I am able to choose my friends so I can make sure I have only real ones around me!
EQ: ‘So Many Friends’ is going straight to the top of our playlist for summer. What are you listening to at the moment? Anything our readers should be put on?
OS: Well, I am currently loving Jodie Harsh’s new single ‘My House’ - I saw her set at Night Tales the other week, her energy and mixes are the best! I’ve also been listening to Jane Handcock, who featured on my track ‘Salty’ last year, she’s always putting out fresh, but timeless, new music! Finally, Kim Petras is also a must for any summer playlist!
EQ: With summer on the horizon will we catch you performing anywhere? And what are the rest of your plans for 2021 - any exclusives you can let us in on?
OS: So, the rest of 2021 is a busy one for me! I’m dropping releases for the rest of the year and I’m so happy to finally be able to say I have some live shows booked! I’m going on a mini-tour (of the UK of course) and honestly cannot wait to get back out there, not being able to perform live for all this time has felt like I’ve lost my left arm! Thank God we’re coming out the other side of this pandemic.
YouTube/OliviaSwann
Stream ‘So Many Friends’ HERE
Follow Olivia Swann on socials:
Instagram: @oliviaswannmusic
Twitter: @oliviaswann_
Facebook: Olivia Swann Music
Website: www.oliviaswann.com
