Meet Breakout Canadian Artist Olivia Lunny

Breaking into the pop scene at the age of 17, Olivia Lunny has quickly risen as one of music’s most promising talents. The singer/songwriter first gained attention from critics in 2018 after releasing her self-titled EP. The project became an instant hit and led to the songstress receiving her first Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Pop Artist of the Year. 

Continuing off the momentum of her debut EP, Lunny went on to compete on CTV’s The Launch. After winning episode 4 the ‘Think of Me’ singer went on to record her top 40 hit, ‘I Got You’, which hit #26 on the charts and racked up over a million streams.

Fast forward to 2020 and Olivia Lunny is continuing her upward trajectory to music stardom with her latest EP release ‘To the Ones I Loved’. The heartfelt project showcases her vulnerable side as she dives into heartbreak and love. With each new release, Lunny is proving to be a pop force to be reckoned with.

We were able to chat with Olivia about everything from her EP, CTV’s The Launch, and more. Read the full interview below…

Before we get started, how have you been doing during this crazy time?

“Crazy time” is right! I think it’s been a very transitional time for us all bur overall I have really embraced this time in quarantine and used it to channel lots of inner creativity! 

Can you pinpoint the exact moment you decided that a music career was for you? Was there a music video, or artist that sparked that interest for you? Growing up music was always playing in my house. 

When I turned 12 years old I asked my dad to teach me a few basic chords on the guitar. Fast forward two years and I began gigging at local coffee shops. By grade 11 I had started playing with a band and we were getting booked often. At this point, I knew school wasn’t for me as music was taking over so much of my time and slowly revealing itself to me as a true passion!

You write music, play the guitar, is there an instrument or skill you want to add to your artistry? 

I would love to get more familiar with the technical and production side of things. Writing feels like an extension of me and comes very easily to me- I’d love to have a similar grasp on production one day.

2019 was pretty insane for you, scoring a top 40 hit and being nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. When you look back at last year what five words come to mind? 

Surreal, learning curve, gratitude, excitement, improvement! ( i guess that’s technically 6 but.. :))

We need to talk about your time on ‘The Launch’, what was that experience like? 

Being on this show was a very pivotal moment for me as someone so early on in their career. Through this show, I learned how important it is to stay authentic to your artistry and step outside my comfort zone! forever grateful for my experience on the Launch and the knowledge that came with that time period in my life.

You’ve recently released your EP ‘ To the Ones I Loved’, absolutely fantastic! Can you take us through the creative process for the record? What inspired the project sonically? 

Thank you so much! This project was a chance for me to showcase different sides to my music sonically. On one end of the spectrum we have “Think of Me” an upbeat pop song- and in contrast, “bedsheets” is a simplistic ballad. For me, writing a song captures a moment in time and with that, I love to ride the wave of whatever sounds suit those moments the best.

Is there a specific feeling or message you want fans to take in, during, and after listening? 

The lyrics in these songs are very honest and vulnerable- through demonstrating those feelings in my music and wearing my “heart on my sleeve”, I hope it lets others resonate and build relationships with these individual songs. 🙂

With 2020 almost over (thank goodness! ), what are your goals for the future? 

To make more music and collaborate with lots of different creators (in the music world etc!!)

Make sure to check out Olivia Lunny’s video for her track ‘Bedsheets’ and listen to her new EP here.