Serious Songwriter: Olivia Royal
Olivia Royal
Location:
Oak Park, IL, USA
Tell us about yourself:
I am a singer/songwriter/producer from Chicago, IL. I will also use any form of media to express myself including video, dance, visual art etc. I began singing when I was three, writing songs when I was seven, and producing my own music in high school. While I mostly make music which falls between pop and R&B, I am inspired by many different genres. I love love songs and all that can be expressed within them.
Name of your most recent release:
Why are you a songwriter?
I began writing songs because it felt so natural to me. I had so many melodies in my head that just had to come out. I was inspired by the artists I was listening to as a kid and I wanted to make music just like them. Now that I'm older I use songwriting as means of understanding my internal world more and to open myself up emotionally. Through singing what I've written down I can use music to reach out to others as well as remind myself of how I am connected to the world at large.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
I don't put much stock in things like awards and numbers that can indicate accomplishment, especially when it comes to art. I feel most accomplished when I've written a song that I absolutely love and that other people love. I'm just amazed every time someone tells me how much they love a song I've written. Those moments make me feel accomplished.
Share the most interesting writing experience you ever had:
I think it's funny when I hear a song in a dream. In my dreams the song will be fully fleshed out and then I wake up but it very quickly slips away so I have to record what I can remember of the melody in my groggy, half asleep voice. Then when I go to write later in the day when I'm fully awake I have to try to decipher whatever it is I recorded that morning while I was sleep singing.
What makes you unique as a songwriter?
I think this is a bit like asking what makes you unique as a person. I could say I have curly hair and brown eyes and am creative and confident, but each of those things could apply to a lot of people. I think it's this way with songwriting as well. The familiar features are what makes a song relatable and accessible but it's the particular way all these features are arranged that makes me and my sound unique. I think that arrangement can't necessarily be defined it's just what is natural and particular to me.
If you could write with anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
I would love love love to write with Stevie Wonder. I think he is one of the most brilliant musicians of all time and has the ability to craft a song like no one else on earth. It would just be an honor to work and learn from him. He has an amazing ability to vacillate between depth and lightness and create songs that feel timeless.
How can the Serious Songwriter community help you?
I would love the opportunity to collaborate and work with more songwriters. I think there is so much generative power in collaboration that I would love to tap into.
What can you help the Serious Songwriter community with?
I think I am quite a proficient songwriter and musician. I believe that my knowledge with regards to writing, producing, musicianship, vocal training help me every time I write a song and can be useful for those I collaborate with. I also think my intuitive understanding of melody, especially hooks make me an exciting partner. I'd really like to contribute to a community which is driven by supporting artists.
Fun Fact About You:
I really like fantasy books and movies.