Olivia Lunny is poised as the next breakthrough Canadian artist/songwriter and has been preparing for this moment since she started writing music at age 12. The captivating songstress harnesses a mellow vibe with her velvety vocals that yields a truly special sound. At the age of 17 she released her self-titled EP in early 2018 that garnered her a Western Canadian Music Award nomination for “Pop Artist of the Year”. That success led to her appearance on season two of CTV’s The Launch, resulting in her winning episode 4 and recording the Top 40 hit “I Got You” – which hit #26 on the charts and has racked up over a million streams. In the wake of that milestone, Olivia went on to perform as opening support for the legendary Lionel Richie. She released her second single “Blacklight” in October 2019 and has more music slated for this year.
With a few releases and over a million streams under her belt, Olivia’s new single, “Think of Me,” is an infectious post-breakup anthem. Once I heard it, I was blown away by Olivia’s voice and storytelling lyrics. I was lucky enough to talk to the breakthrough artist, here is how it went down;
Hi Olivia, and a big welcome to you, it’s an absolute honor to have you here. I heard your song ‘Think Of Me’, and after it I was speechless, I just said Wow! But before we get to that, I want to know, how and when did you develop your passion for music?
Olivia: Thank you so much! Music has been a huge part of my life since before I can remember. I grew up with parents who played music and live concert DVD’s in the house constantly, so I think it’s safe to say music is truly ingrained in me. When I was around 10 years old, my dad taught me some very basic chords on guitar. From there, I went on to write my first song at the age of 12. As I gained life experiences, I found myself picking up the guitar more often and writing would help me navigate whatever I was going through. Music feels like a 3rd limb; it will always be a part of me and is 110% my biggest passion in life.
Who were some artists growing up that inspired you and why?
Olivia: Norah Jones and Coldplay are two stand out artists from my childhood. To this day, I love their music. Coldplay was one of the first concerts I ever went to. I admire how authentic they have stayed throughout the years. Their sound is stamped and unique which is something I really strive to achieve within my own music.
Being so passionate about music you entered the Canadian talent show ‘The Launch’, tell me about that experience for you and why you chose to follow that path?
Olivia: I went on The Launch with absolutely no expectations, in return I was met with a very surreal opportunity to have my music heard by a massive national audience. Winning (The Launch) opened up a whole new chapter for me and I’m forever grateful for my time on the show because of that. Receiving validation from industry moguls was 100% the reassurance I didn’t know I needed. It really helped me gain some confidence on the writing side of things and at the same time was incredibly humbling. Overall, the experience solidified this wild path I’ve decided to take in pursuing a career in music. I’m so excited for what’s to come.
Songwriting is such a strong creative outlet, because you get the chance to express your emotions in such a vulnerable way. In your writing do you like to explore your own stories that you’ve encountered throughout your life?
Olivia: I almost always draw inspiration from personal experiences, whether i’m aware of that or not. The narratives in my songs explore the different perspectives and sides to experiencing love. I know that I resonate the best with honest, relatable themes in music, so I aim to accomplish that in my songs. Emotions, (love & heartbreak in particular) are universal and music is the ultimate connecting factor. Being able to contribute to that connection is a beautiful thing.
Now let’s talk about the new single ‘Think Of Me’, what inspired the single and did you write this about anyone in your life?
Olivia: Think of Me is a post break up anthem with a nostalgic feel. I have gone through my fair share of heartbreaks, but this song wasn’t aimed at anyone specific. It was instead written and inspired by the common themes and cliches that tend to come true when going through a breakup.
Talk me through the creative process of the song, who helped you write and produce the song?
Olivia: Tyler Shaw and I wrote this song the first time we met. We sat down and discussed relationships/past relationships and the song came to fruition within hours. I brought the song to AJ Healey who produced it, he added lots of character and magic to it. I’m so happy with how it turned out. Working with both Tyler and AJ made the creative process very fun and spontaneous.
Do you have plans to release an accompanying video for the song and is there anything you can tell us about it?
Olivia: We are currently in the process of developing ideas for the video… STAY TUNED!
Do you have any plans to release an EP or an album? And if so what can your fans expect from it?
Olivia: The plan is to release two more singles to follow “Think of Me” and then release an EP sometime early September 2020! This project is really close to my heart and I cannot wait to share it.
What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far and what made it special to you?
Olivia: Opening for Lionel Richie this past summer was incredibly surreal. My dad has always played Lionel’s music so it was a very special moment to be on stage opening for him and have my dad in the audience. Full circle moment!
What do all your friends and family think about your new found stardom and do you think they play an important part in staying grounded?
Olivia: I have a very close circle of people who are important to me. My family and friends have always been so committed to supporting and encouraging me so I feel very blessed because of that.
Who are some of your favourite artists or songs you are currently listening to?
Olivia: I’ve been listening to The Japanese House a lot recently, Dua Lipa’s new album is amazing, SG Lewis is also a go to of mine.
Lastly before you go I just want to say how much of an incredible artist you are, and we appreciate you stopping by here at OLC! You always have a home here with us so please come by again. But before we depart what does the rest of 2020 hold for Olivia Lunny?
Olivia: I appreciate that so much truly!! pce & luv -liv
