[PREMIERE]: Olivia Grace’s ‘Blackbird’ Gives Serious Goth Vibes
Just in time for you to build your Halloween playlist, indie pop singer Olivia Grace releases her new single “Blackbird,” which basically sounds like Norah Jones’ sexy evil twin ended up on the other side of the mirror in Wonderland. This darkly seductive track fuses Olivia’s eerie yet beautiful vocals, lyrics busy with metaphors, and daring tempo changes with waves of darkness. Read: major goth vibes, and we love it!
The track has true cinematic feels, making it easy to imagine perhaps on the soundtrack of American Horror Story. Listen to the new track below, with it’s mechanical doll part samples mixed with “Haunted Mansion” organ sounds, and check out our Q&A with Olivia Grace below!
You have a very distinct sound, describe it for us!
I grew up listening to a lot of different artists, from Frank Sinatra to Fleetwood Mac. I’ve always admired artists such as Regina Spektor and Norah Jones. My music can be described as the feeling you get waking up from a dream you can’t really remember. You know it made you feel a certain way but you can’t put your finger on what it is. It’s a mix of fantasy and reality in a way that’s kind of sweet, but also kind of dark.
“Blackbird” has some serious dark cinematic vibes, what inspired you to write it?
At first, I wanted to write something more minimalistic with experimental lyrics — I already had the line “Into the jungle, into the wild” stuck in my head. Once I got into the studio, the song ended up being so much more. It became darker and more experimental than I had first intended, but I think that the production truly brought out the underlying message and ideas I had floating around my head. Blackbird is about finding yourself surrounded by people who don’t have your best interest at heart and finding out who you really can trust and depend on. The blackbird is a symbol of someone who has always been around — someone you wouldn’t expect to be there but at the end of the day is. The blackbird is one the who “flies the mile.”
What soundtrack would you picture “Blackbird” on?
When I write my songs, I often have lots of imagery in my head— almost like a movie that hasn’t been created yet. I think about this quite a bit. I think Blackbird has a darker sound and would fit great with a drama or maybe even a thriller. When the chorus hits and I start singing, “Into the jungle, into the wild…” I imagine someone being lost and panicked, like being in a place you shouldn’t be. When the electronic part/second chorus comes in, I see someone trying to escape or waiting to be saved. Lots of quick cuts and close-ups. I think it’d be great in a fantasy movie.
When you play a live show, what songs do you like to cover by other artists?
I LOVE covering Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games,” so probably that.
You’re an independent artist so far, do you think it’s easier to reach fans with Spotify and Soundcloud?
It’s a double-edged sword. I think technology has allowed us to connect with a wider audience faster. Once your music is online, people all over the world can access it. It’s amazing. You can connect with people you wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. However, there is SO much music out there. When you’re doing it the DIY way, you can’t really be “just a musician.” You have to be your own social media and marketing specialist, booking agent, PR, graphic designer, etc. You can’t just put a song out there and expect it to reach everyone overnight. You have to put in some work. Of course, there’s exceptions. But I think for a lot of independent artists find themselves doing most of it on their own, at least in the beginning.
What kind of fans or listeners are you hoping will be obsessed with ”Blackbird”?
I’m really just hoping to reach people who find a way to connect with the song. I think “Blackbird” has so many different dynamics and parts that, for me, it evoked a lot of different emotions. I just want to make people feel something.
Which is more important to you – cool lyrics that mean something or cool sounding songs?
I think it’s a mix. I’ve definitely written songs that weren’t about anything specific, but once I finished writing it, I realized that it was actually about something. It’s just not always clear or obvious. There’s a lot of layers when it comes to writing. Sometimes it may start out as just a cool sound, but there’s a lot of room for it to blossom into so much more.
You’ve been working on your own without a label on your music, what advice would you have for anyone else attempting to have a career in music?
Don’t be afraid to do something different. People aren’t always going to agree with you. In fact, they might put you down because your ideas are different than theirs. Don’t let them. Don’t be afraid to branch out and pursue your passion. Be open to taking advice and don’t be afraid to reach out for help, but remember your roots.
We’re impatient! When can we have more songs?
Definitely planning to record more songs very, very soon. I don’t have a date set for an album, but it’s definitely something that listeners can expect in the future.
What are your socials so we can stalk you and cop your look?
I’m most active on Instagram, but people can keep up with me on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/introducingolivia
Instagram: www.instagram.com/meetoliviagrace
Twitter: www.twitter.com/meetoliviagrace
Photo by Bianca Garcia
