Olivia Lunny might be a fairly new face on the music scene but the last few months have certainly seen her make her mark on it. From being championed and supported by numerous outlets, to featuring on an all star charity single in support of those working tirelessly in the fight against Covid-19, despite how rough of a year it’s been so far, Lunny is most certainly doing her best to make the most of and see the positives in it. PopWrapped caught up with her to chat artistic inspirations, the ‘double-edged sword’ that is social media and her plans for when some sense of normal life resumes.
At what age did you know you wanted to make music a career?
Olivia Lunny: By grade 11 I had a very clear idea of which paths I didn’t want to pursue. Music was always a casual hobby of mine, as I began to play more coffee shops and local gigs, it grew into me wanting to pursue it full time! Not going to post-secondary was definitely going against the grain but I’m really happy with that choice thus far.
Which one band or artist were you the biggest fan of/inspired by in your younger years and has that inspiration/love changed at all?
I grew up listening to a lot of Norah Jones, Coldplay and Fleetwood Mac! I think it’s fair to say I have tons of diverse influences! I’m also influenced by my environment and my personal experiences. Although I’m constantly discovering new artists to add to my playlist, it’s safe to say I always circle back to music I’ve loved from a young age.
Is there any particular band or artist you might say you sound similar to or are often compared to, or are you an artist looking to leave their own unique mark and sound on the music world?
I’ve been told my voice is quite unique and distinct. Being so early on in my career I haven’t been compared to tons of other artists, however, I’d be very curious to hear what others think!
As an artist from Canada, which has seen several huge stars emerge from its towns and cities over the years, including Avril Lavigne and Justin Bieber, do you ever feel any pressure to live up to their success or are you more someone determined to be themselves and let the chips fall where they may, so to speak?
Along with being a very determined individual and being an up and coming Canadian artist, I do not feel any pressure-rather I feel inspired and excited to observe other Canadian’s make huge waves and prove the possibility of achieving great success being from this amazing country!
Is there a particular story behind your recent track “Bedsheets” and what made you decide to release it as a single?
Music has always been a positive vice for me. When I’m having trouble navigating a situation or feeling a lot of emotions, picking up the guitar and singing has always helped me better understand myself. Music is such a beautiful thing. The idea for “Bedsheets” was one that came very organically. This song is about longing for connection in a relationship.
Your music has been featured on Tidal’s Rising Pop and included in Amazon Music’s Artists To Watch 2020 playlist. To what extent do you find coverage like that helpful in terms of getting your music out there to an audience and expanding your reach? With that in mind, how do you feel about streaming services and it’s growing impact on things like the charts – do you miss the days when everyone went out and bought a physical copy of something or are you just content to let technology and our consumption of music change with the times?
Ultimately, having support from those platforms is extremely helpful and I’m very grateful to them for the exposure! At the end of the day the more people you can get your music in front of, the more chances you’ll have at growing potential fans. There will always be something special about having a tangible album or record to spin on a record player. I do however think that there is way more opportunity to share your music to a much larger audience now in this new digital era!
The Covid 19 outbreak has seen artists share music and interact with their fans in more intimate ways than ever, while several have released tracks benefiting NHS and medical front-line workers in an effort to raise much needed funds for equipment. You are one such artist and lent your voice to a rendition of “Lean On Me” which features Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne and several more of your Canadian counterparts. How did you get involved with the song and how have you found the response to be so far?
It was truly an honour to be a part of a project with such incredible artists representing our amazing country. My friend and fellow musician Tyler Shaw helped start the initiative and involved me. As far apart as we are right now, it’s been so beautiful to come together with others to spread the message of hope. The response to the song so far has been incredible.
How have you personally been coping with the Covid 19 pandemic and how has it affected any performance/tour release plans you had lined up?
Covid-19 definitely put a hold on summer performances I had planned but, with those unexpected changes, I have shifted my focus to writing and releasing a lot more music! It’s been really interesting to adapt to these new ways of collaborating such as zoom sessions etc…
How badly do you feel this virus has impacted the music business and its artists and do you think a recovery from said impact is possible? If so, how would you like to see it happen?
I think it’s safe to say everyone in every industry has been impacted in one way, shape or form as a result of this virus. Although the majority of these effects have been negative financially etc, I do think it forced us all to pause and re-evaluate some necessary changes in our lives! Music will always be a connecting factor between everyone in the world, I feel blessed to be able to make music and share with others in hopes of brightening their lives even in the smallest way.
As and when this virus is over and the world returns to some semblance of normality, what’s the first thing you plan to do? Will you be looking into some live performances or maybe booking in some studio time?
I will 100% be looking to perform more as I’ve released all of this music and I’m super excited to arrange it for my live set!
Social media often gets a bad rap for allowing too much freedom for people to say what they want without repercussions, but it’s audience and user numbers also continue to grow. How, as an artist and an individual, and taking into account the many pros and cons it can and does over for a performer such as yourself, do you feel about our society’s seeming reliance on the likes of Twitter and Facebook?
I think social media is a double-edged sword. Being an artist, it plays a super important role in how you can connect with others and share your music. I think creating a positive space on social media has proven to be beneficial for myself. It’s so easy to get caught up in comparison when only seeing people’s “highlights” of their lives. Being authentic and honest in my music and on social media is really important to me and I hope to see the world shift towards love on social media as we continue to come together in these trying times.
Finally then, as a fairly new artist who is most certainly making waves, what are your top three goals? What do you want to tick off your professional bucket list and what to you does and will one day represent your idea of having “made it”?
Being able to play a large show in every major city would be a huge goal of mine. I love to travel, so being able to travel for work -music – and perform while doing so would be an “I’ve made it” moment! Beyond that – I would love to write and get in the room with some established writers in the near future as writing is such an important pillar to who I am!
Olivia Lunny’s new single “Think Of Me” is out now and you can check out the video below. For more information on Olivia, visit her website, give her page a like on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.
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