Hi Olla, let’s get into it. What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
I can truly call myself the happiest person when I sing. The whole creative routine of writing, recording and experimenting with sounds gives wings to me, and this is definitely my own sort of meditation. The feeling of completion when I sing is nothing else but an identification that music is indeed a thing for me.
Introduce us to you and your musical history.
I was dreaming about performing and singing for as long as I can remember myself. As a kid I would sing in front of my parents imagining I was Whitney Houston 😉
Unfortunately, I couldn’t proceed with this passion of mine for quite a long time. Life came in on the way (ahah).
I got married pretty early, and I became a mother soon after that. My family wasn’t quite supportive of my ‘hobby’, and I didn’t have a chance to focus on music completely.
At some point my marital status changed. I left for Los Angeles to study music and to work with vocal coaches. I was also lucky enough to meet someone who became my main supporter, the source of inspiration and the love of my life 😉 I’m grateful that I have finally received an opportunity to dedicate myself, my time and my thoughts to the things I love the most, singing and songwriting. Life and time shaped me and turned me into a grown up who knows what she wants and who has something to tell the world.
So here I am, finally releasing my new single and feeling incredibly happy about it 😉
Nice one, Name me your 3 favorite Albums?
Whitney Houston – “The bodyguard “
Michael Buble – “Call me irresponsible “
Beyoncé – “Dangerously in love”
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
Patricia Kaas “Mon mec a moi”
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, How do you feel you are doing?
The music industry is indeed a hard one to progress in. But I follow my own tempo and perception of the whole process. Success and progress is something very subjective, so I try not to depend on common stereotypes but create my own trends and pace. Feeling comfortable in what you do and being happy when you do it is what pushes you towards great achievements, in my opinion.
We are seeing a lot of debate about women not feeling safe at music gigs, any thoughts on what we need to do to help?
I believe you have to prepare yourself, first of all mentally, for all possible ‘issues’ like that. And this does not concern female artists only, it could always relate to our male colleagues as well. Security is one of the important components in the organisation of any show, so it should help a lot. Otherwise, you just have to accept the fact that anything might come up in life.
Though everything has been smooth so far on my performances. My audience was always appreciative, well-mannered, and pleasant. And I’m happy that my music attracts people that I feel safe with.
As you develop as an artist and develop using socials what ways do you get new ears on your music? Any tips?
Socials are obviously something crucial in an artist’s career right now. Following trends in content creation is important for reaching new audiences. But the hardest thing is to make them stay with you and turn them into someone who will truly appreciate what you do.
For that we make sure to produce a high-quality sound, experiment with ethnic instruments, and apply some other creative techniques. I release my songs in Dolby Atmos format as well which allows my audience to experience my songs on another level.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you?
Two truths: I am a Mrs. France 2018 and I’ve studied music in Hollywood.
I have released some songs in Korean language, but that’s a lie 😉
What’s your thought on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
I feel like Spotify made it easier for people to find new music through various playlists by genres, moods, etc. It is obviously a great and very user-friendly tool for the listeners. We could call YouTube a monopoly as well 😉
Personally, I know many people who are users of other alternative streaming services.
What was the worst experience on stage?
Once, all electricity went off right in the middle of my performance. It got completely dark and silent. But everything was fixed quickly 😉
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about?*
I guess, my age could be a surprise for many people 🙂 I am 39 years old.
What makes you stand out as an artist?
The semantic context of my songs and the overall musical aesthetics are one of the strongest features of my work.
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about “Monte-Carlo”?*
I had the urge of writing a song about this place from the first time I visited Monaco. This was a love from the first sight for me, and I just couldn’t help myself. We had different versions of the song, and I’m happy that I finally found the perfect one that I am ready to share with people. “Monte-Carlo” is the song that fully reflects the elegance of this city. And even if you hear it in 10 years from now, you’ll still be able to feel the atmosphere and the vibe of this incredible place.
Talk me through the thought process of “Monte-Carlo”.
There was a lot of thought put into the lyrics. I wanted to display all the main iconic places of the surroundings, such as Hotel de Paris, Monaco harbour with its yachts and ships, etc. I had to convey the elegance and exclusivity of Monte-Carlo in my lyrics and music.
Romance is another important characteristic of Monte-Carlo and I raise it in my text. This is the place where I met the love of my life. So I mention Monaco-Nice road which is a very romantic and beautiful route.
I wanted to have all those details and names for listeners to be able to focus their emotions on the most pleasant, gentle, chic and intimate associations.
What was the recording process like?
We had the base to work on that was accumulated from my previous versions of this song. But the recording process of the final master was very interesting, as we had the guitar and accordion recorded.
There was also a native French speaker who would correct my pronunciation of French words.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing “Monte-Carlo”?
French pronunciation 😉 The accent is something you have to work on, and as an English speaker I had to improve my French pronunciation 😉
Would you change anything now as it’s finished?
Nothing, to be honest. I have worked on many different versions of this song, and this one is perfect.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
There are many things I’d like to share with you 😉 But I’ll be brief – stay tuned! New songs are coming soon, and each none of them will have its own unique sound, context and story.
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