Inspired by several huge pop icons, including Adele, Olivia Penalva writes music many can relate to. As an artist unafraid to put her heart on her sleeve – and on audio – she’s won over fans worldwide with her lyrical and vocal talent. Following the release of her EP Assembly Required last month, her fanbase continues to grow.
A huge fan of Halloween, she spoke to XS Noize about her plans for the spookiest night of the year and shares what the songs on her new collection represent to and for her personally and professionally.
Who or what first made you want to get into music? Was there an album you listened to or concert you attended that made you think: ‘I want to do this.’?
As a kid, I always loved music, but it wasn’t something I ever considered until I was 11. I remember being in the car with my family, and my siblings and I sang along to the radio together as we always did. At some point during the ride home, my mom turned around and asked my siblings to stop singing but for me to continue. When I did, everyone was quiet, and she told me I actually had a nice voice. We joke that it must have gone to my head because all of a sudden, I went from being a girl who was never on stage to signing up for every local competition I could find. And that was it – I never looked back.
Your music is often referred to as influenced by power icons of pop – who are they, and how exactly do they impact the music you make?
When I started music, I was definitely influenced by some amazing pop icons, specifically artists such as Ed Sheeran, Adele and Colbie Callait. But before that, it was actually jazz and R&B that I connected to more. My parents always played music by artists such as Norah Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Corrine Bailey Rae. Lyrically, I feel that the pop side of music influenced my songwriting, and the jazz and R&B side influenced my voice. I am still inspired by all of these people today and wouldn’t be where I am without them.
You released your EP’ Assembly Required’ at the end of last month. Where’d the title come from?
The title ‘Assembly Required’ came from the idea that we all come a little broken and come with a little baggage. When we wrote the song, I wanted to talk about how scary it is to start new relationships when you feel like you have so much “Assembly Required”. It’s the idea that although love can’t solve all your problems, it can help you heal a little easier and that our baggage doesn’t make us unworthy of love either.
Which song on the collection are you most proud of and why?
It’s hard to choose just one because I am proud of all of them. Each song came from a very important time in my life, so they all have special meaning, but if I had to pick just one, I would say “Assembly Required”. It’s always resonated with me a little more than the others, and honestly, for no particular reason. To me, all of the songs represent different chapters of a story, and “Assembly Required” just felt like it captured the whole concept of the EP. I’m proud of all of them because it’s hard to open up so vulnerably and share such personal things with the world, but I’m glad I did it because if these songs could help just one person, then I’ve done my job.
Where do you tend to find ideas for your songs, and how easy or hard can and do you find the songwriting process?
The inspiration behind my songs always changes, and so does the writing process. Most of my songs come from real things that I’ve gone through or things that people close to me have experienced. To me, the most important quality that needs to be in all of my songs is honesty and vulnerability. That’s how I connect with people. So, when it comes to the writing process, If it’s a co-write, I like to start the session by just talking and catching up so we can write about what is most natural in the moment. Sometimes I come with pre-decided ideas, and sometimes I have no ideas and have to work a little harder for them. It’s always different.
Are any tour or performance plans in the works to support the EP? What’s an Olivia Penalva show like?
As of right now, there are no set plans to tour this EP, but it is something I would love to do, and it’s definitely in the conversation. To me, the best part of writing and releasing music is getting to perform those songs live. Being able to connect with a crowd through my own songs is the craziest feeling, and I’ve missed it a lot since covid happened. Hopefully, if you were to come to one of my shows, you would love it. We’d laugh, sing and maybe cry a little together and it would be amazing.
If you could play one venue with three bands or artists, living or dead, where and who would you pick?
I’ve always thought that playing at the Hollywood Bowl would be an insane experience. If I could choose anyone, dead or alive, to perform with, it would have to be my hero, Elton John, Celeste and Harry styles, of course. They are all so talented, and I have their songs on constant repeat. Performing with them would be a dream.
How do you feel about social media, and how important, or not, to you is it that you can be interactive and engaged with your fans around the world?
I have a very 50/50 viewpoint on social media. I love that I can engage with my fans and supporters because, at the end of the day, I do what I do to connect with them and find common ground. On the other hand, I find social media to be exhausting and, at times, stressful and toxic. I love being creative and filming fun videos, but truthfully, I started as a songwriter who wanted to share her stories with the world by singing, and it’s hard to keep up with every single algorithm and a new platform that is released. But these days, if you don’t adapt and promote yourself, nobody is going to know you exist. So it’s a sacrifice I’ll make to connect with the people who have helped me get where I am.
Finally, we’re now in October, a few months away from the end of the year. Firstly, do you have any plans for Halloween and second, how will you be seeing out 2022 both personally and professionally?
Halloween is my all-time favourite holiday. I treat it like its own season. As of yet, I have no crazy spooky plans, but you can bet that’ll change soon. As for saying goodbye to 2022, I’ll be spending it with my family and most likely preparing for the release of my next project, which I am so excited about. It is kind of my part two to ‘Assembly Required’, and I can’t wait.
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