Hi! Olivia, “Spiderwebs” is about losing identity in a relationship. How did this theme become central to your new single?
A: Around the time I wrote “Spiderwebs” it felt like I was going through my own identity loss of sorts and I, doing what I normally do, wrote about it. I wanted to show what it felt like to have to change things about yourself in order to be good enough for someone else and how doing that can make you lose yourself completely if you aren’t careful. Something I think so many people can relate to.
Produced by Ryan Stewart, what unique aspects did he bring to “Spiderwebs” that set it apart from your previous work?
A: Anything Ryan touches becomes gold. We have been working together for years and I think this song is a testament to how much we’ve not only grown as collaborators but how much we’ve come to understand each other on a creative level. He’s a great producer because he is a great listener and one thing I love about how Ryan works is that he is always encouraging me to dig deeper and fight for a song. We almost didn’t write “Spiderwebs” the day we wrote it because we were supposed to be working on something else and Ryan encouraged me to say what I wanted, not what was expected. What sets this song apart is just that he is involved. Every producer brings something different and unique to the table and I’m just lucky I had Ryan at mine for this one.
As your debut full-length album’s first glimpse, how does “Spiderwebs” represent the direction of your upcoming music?
A: “Spiderwebs” is very honest and vulnerable and tells a story of someone losing themselves to a relationship. It reminded me of how messy life can become and how hard it can be to get yourself unstuck when you’ve been stuck for so long. It inspired me to explore more of the complex feelings and emotions we experience in this sometimes messy life.
You’ve been releasing music since 13. How do you feel “Spiderwebs” showcases your evolution as an artist and songwriter?
A: I’ve always wanted to tell stories since I was a kid, but it took me a little while to find my voice. I knew I wanted the stories to be about my life, but it was hard to share them. So for a period of time, I wrote what I thought others wanted to hear, instead of what I really wanted to say. I think what sets this project apart and really shows the evolution of my work, is that for the first time, I am no longer holding back. Everything about this project is very much me, whether it’s about my life, or inspired by those close to me, this project is like sharing my diary with the world. Which in itself is intimidating, but people just want to feel heard and understood and if me sharing what I’ve gone through, makes other people feel those things, I think that’s pretty cool.
Your music, including “Spiderwebs,” has emotional depth. What’s your process for translating personal experiences into relatable pop-dance tracks?
A: I tend to write down a lot of what I’m feeling or inspired by. Music has always been my creative outlet and for me writing songs about things I’ve experienced is kind of how I process my feelings and emotions. I think what makes them relatable is the fact that we as humans go through so many of the same emotions in life, even if the circumstances are different. It helps us feel understood and I think it’s so special that music can do that.
With over 25 million streams to your name, how do you anticipate “Spiderwebs” will resonate with your existing and new listeners?
A: I hope when people hear it, that they’ll love it, but also that those who have ever experienced what “Spiderwebs” talks about, will feel understood. What I love about this song is that it can apply to so many scenarios, whether that be losing yourself in a romantic relationship, in a business relationship, or in a friendship, we’ve all at one point or another tried to change into something we aren’t to please someone else and this song is a reminder that we shouldn’t have to.
“Spiderwebs” is described as a melodic pop-dance track. Can you share insights into the songwriting and production process?
A: When we wrote “Spiderwebs”, I was actually sent to the studio to write something more “pop”/Ariana Grande style”. As amazing as she is, I am not her. So when I got to the studio, I looked at my producer Ryan and was like “I can’t write this”. Luckily, he agreed with me and instead, we got our co-writer Nolan Sipe on the phone and we wrote “Spiderwebs”. I had a lot to get off my chest that day and I am so glad we fought to write something in a style that was entirely me, rather than write something that has already been done. If we hadn’t, this song wouldn’t exist. After that, Ryan used his producer magic to bring the song to life!
Reflecting on your journey, how does achieving a Top 20 spot on Canadian radio and entering the US market influence your approach to “Spiderwebs”?
A: I am so proud and honoured that I got to experience that with my last releases. It truly is amazing. But when it came to “Spiderwebs” I took a different approach. I think the difference is that this time rather than writing something for radio, I wrote it for myself. Radio is amazing, but it is also particular with what it adds or qualifies as a radio song. So as artists sometimes we get lost writing for that purpose rather than writing what we really want. So with this one, I wasn’t thinking about a Top 20 or Top 50, as amazing as that would be, I was more thinking about what I wanted to say to the world.
As a Canadian pop phenomenon, how do you see “Spiderwebs” contributing to your growing impact in the pop music scene, both in Canada and internationally?
A: I just think this song shows a more honest and vulnerable approach to my work. Sometimes that means talking about things that are hard to say, but we all experience them and I think it just brings us one step closer to feeling understood and connected with people who have shared experiences.