Recommended Tracks: “Cold Coffee,” “Dominoes,” and “Modern Love”
Artists You May Like: Holly Humberstone, Famba, Carlie Hanson
Olivia Lunny: if you don’t know her name yet, then you should. The 22 year-old singer-songwriter has already released two EPs, been nominated for Pop Artist of the Year at the WCMAs, and won first place on The Launch. With the release of her eponymous LP, the Canadian songstress can add another success to that list.
Olivia opens the album on “Worth It,” a subtle, yet intricately produced track. The song serves as a starting point for the common thread of the album: Olivia is honest about struggling with forming healthy connections while trying to have a healthy relationship with herself.
The lyrics on “Crazy Love” are relatable: we’ve all had a relationship (romantic or other) that feels like the other person is just saying that they feel a connection when they don’t follow through. It can drive you crazy, and I appreciate that Olivia was able to write about it without making it too heavy. Similarly to “Crazy Love,” the lead single “Sad To See You Happy” manages to be a bit lighter while it’s still about the angst and introspection of pining after a breakup. “Too much love and not enough logic” is such a crisp tagline, and it captures the theme like a screenshot of something shady your ex said. While you may not have a perfect dating history, this song means you can listen to a perfect bop.
I fell in love with “The Walls” immediately thanks to the acoustic progression of the beginning. The bare nature of the song brings a craving to know what happened: why did this relationship fall apart? How can you describe a heartbreak without tinging it with the pain you once felt and the details you cannot forget? The ache of the melody, alongside the overlay of harmonies and adlibs do just that, though. Olivia sings about longing for something you know you can’t have or shouldn’t want anymore, and she makes it hurt just as much.
“Cold Coffee” implies a central focus, but the true story of the song is in the details. There’s also a unique switch-up in the song’s momentum—it only happens twice—and it caught me off guard in a really good way. “Talking like you know me / You only know my body,” is one of my favorite lines from the album. It further cements how low-key yet impactful Olivia’s lyrical digs can be.
“Dominoes” is sugar and spice – and fun wordplay, too! The song has a positive outlook, rather than sounding like she was expecting someone to save her after her past relationships. Olivia’s extended metaphor is sweet, especially with lyrics like, “You made love black ‘n’ white.” Funky, free, and flirty – she has her own power and is unapologetically confident in “Who Could Say No.”
The swells on “Modern Love” feel close to orchestral, but they’re coated with electronic tones. As the conclusion of the record, I almost want more because the experience was soothing even though the subject matter wasn’t for most of the songs.
Olivia Lunny and her team have managed to capture what I feel like pop should be. Her unique lyrical intonation and syncopation are impressive showcases of artistry, as is her stylistic fluidity. She encapsulates the enigmatic nature of love in an electronically connected and emotionally disconnected world. How do we navigate this landscape? No idea. When we know someone else feels how we have and there’s a soundtrack to get us through, it does get easier though.
Listen to Olivia Lunny’s Album on Apple Music or Spotify
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