An Interview with Olivia Dolphin
If you are not really too familiar with the sounds of Olivia dolphin, then let this be the way to introduce you as she recently released a new EP and it's absolutely outstanding.
This record is lush with theatrical backbone, beautiful piano work, and robust vocals that sort of wrap themselves around you and keep you right where they want to.
A lot of the songs on this record feel personal and when you pay attention to the lyrics that's exactly how they come across. You can clearly hear how a lot of this came from some real place and how she pulled from life experience, delivering songs that are not short of emotion whatsoever.
The record is filled with brilliant instrumentation that gives you an almost orchestral or cinematic aesthetic with strings, piano, and more, all built into this release that gives you the essence of someone's persona.
The songs are almost like stories.
I suggest listening to the full EP without stopping, simply because again, these are almost like chapters in her life and each one does tell a story.
You wouldn't skip chapters in a book so I would not suggest skipping songs on this record either.
The record is called All The Time We Spent, and the title alone should give you a sense of where she's coming from with it and how the songs will indeed tell different stories.
Songs like "So You See It Too?" can be so incredibly descriptive, depicting her emotions and letting everything out with a brilliantly detailed approach so that you can really pick up on everything and this helps paint pictures as songs unfold.
A lot of the songs are like that. A lot of these songs really let you visualize what's going on, even though she does stick to that emotional backbone.
You can hear that the record is about someone or maybe more than one person. It's about being with people in any sort of relationship and how that affects your life whether it's ups or downs.
These are the aspects that make the record so insanely connective.
Now, the songs do range in terms of genre and approach, of course. There are songs like "Storm Watching", which actually closes out the record.
This is an example of a track that hits much more of an upswing sort of pop rock feel, still keeping to a bit of a contemporary underbelly but showcasing how she's able to branch off into different directions and give you pop overtones while still hitting some of the emotional pull at the same time.
There are more than a few surprises within this five-song EP and this is another reason why you should be listening to this all the way through, in one shot.
I certainly got hooked on it and by the time it was over it felt like an escape.
The release can be so in-depth lyrically and so beautiful musically, that it pulls you away from wherever you are whatever you're doing and puts you in someone else's story for a little bit.
This is exactly why it's hard to shake it all off.
Upon listening to the full EP, I absolutely had to chat with Olivia about the record, simply to find out where it all actually did come from and what may be coming up next for her.
Here's what happened.
Let's talk about All The Time We Spent! This record was a beautifully built and performed release with some very personal perspectives and some huge soundscape ! Where did this record come from?
What a question! This collection of songs started from an appreciation of the small day-to-day magics in our lives. I wanted to explore the bits and pieces that make up relationships in our lives. Not the big break up, but the months after as you become strangers. Not the falling in love, but the first moment you realize you have a crush and tell the group chat about it.
I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
I’ve been listening to Brandi Carlile for a long time. The way they use piano and strings and voices has been such an inspiration. I’ve always wanted to write big soundtrack-style songs. Other artists that inspire this style: Ingrid Michaelson, Orla Gartland, Sleeping At Last, and The Lone Bellow.
Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio
All kudos to Big Nice Studio in Lincoln, Rhode Island (which also happens to be my hometown!). We worked with Emma Newton again and it’s been so exciting to bring a through-line of style and orchestration within our work. Emma and I both come from a classical music background and I think it shows in our collaboration.
How did this all start for you as an artist?My parents always had music on around the house and when I was really young, my mom wanted a piano. In 3rd grade when you can pick an instrument, I was very drawn to the flute! It’s been a lifelong journey since then, but I always struggled to sing. It wasn’t until maybe 2018 that I started taking voice lessons and turning poems into lyrics.
We spoke briefly over Instagram and you mentioned your husband performed the harmonica! Love that! Who else did you work with on this record?
So many lovely humans! The Olivia Dolphin Band is Luke Leheny, Johnny McMahon, Jeff Kidd, and Sam Jaksa. I bring bits and bobs of songs to our rehearsals and we’ll collaborate on arrangements. They bring out the personality of a song that I can never anticipate. From there, we go into the studio and work with Emma Newton as our producer. The strings are Jackie Scott on cello and Fiona Wood on violin.
Are you performing live right now?
Oh yes! We believe that true magic happens in live music spaces. We mostly play around Rhode Island but are hoping to visit and play some favorite places around New England soon.
Now that this is out, what's next for you?
Rest. and writing. It’s all about input now. Living life and experiencing the daily magics that I wrote about in All The Time We Spent. Then that drives the output of songwriting and working through all the life experiences that I just collected. That’s the creative process baby! Input and output.
Who's in your headphones right now?
A friend posted about ROSALÍA’s album LUX. It’s a work of art and the exact type of music I aspire to make mixing pop elements with orchestral and chamber music. I can’t get enough of Small Fools, Nova One, Space Cowboy Newt, YONKS as some of the local(ish) acts. And of course, my two favorite bands: The Lone Bellow and The Oh Hellos.
What would you tell people they can expect on this release?
It’s a journey. It’s a story told out of order. It’s not about what you think, it’s about whatever it means to you. We can all see ourselves in stories, that's why we love to tell them. You can expect notes of cinnamon and jam, the brine from the last sip of a martini, your hand in mine, and Icelandic fresh air.
Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?
THANK YOU. Music is magic, and without you, we wouldn’t be casting as powerful of spells. I hope you find a bit of yourself in this music and maybe it’ll guide you through your own journey. We’ll make it through like we were meant to.
