Meet Canadian Pop Princess: Olivia Lunny
Image by Louis Browne
You may not know Olivia Lunny yet, but I can guarantee you she’s an artist you’ll want to keep an eye out for. The 22-year-old Canadian pop princess first stepped into the spotlight when she appeared on and won the singing competition show The Launch. Her debut single “I Got You,” scored her first Top 40 hit, and her EP To The Ones I Loved, has raked in millions of streams. The four-track EP tells her story of love and heartbreak and showcases her ability as a captivating songwriter.
During the pandemic, she sang a cover of “Lean On Me,” alongside fellow Canadian natives Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber, and Michael Buble, for the Canadian Red Cross. Olivia is set to release her self-titled debut album on July 9th. The album is filled with emotionally raw electro-pop anthems that will proudly live rent-free in your head. You can stream her most recent singles “Sad To See You Happy,” and “Who Could Say No,” to get a small taste of what is to come. Unpublished was able to ask Olivia a few questions about the upcoming LP.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell me about your musical journey. How did you get started? When did you know music was a career you wanted to pursue full time?
[OLIVIA:] Growing up my parents would play music 24/7. Early on I was influenced by Norah Jones and Fleetwood Mac. As I grew older and started going to concerts, Coldplay became one of my favourite bands! Attending concerts ignited my passion for wanting to pursue music as a career path. To this day I can always look to live music for inspiration and as a reminder as to why I started this journey in the first place!
[UNPUBLISHED:] What was it like being on the singing competition show The Launch, and how has that experience shaped you as an artist?
[OLIVIA:] Being on the Launch was truly a life-changing experience. It pushed me to remain authentic as an artist and allowed me to meet and learn from so many established artists and industry people. The show also allowed me to explore the genre of pop which I am forever grateful for and excited to continue exploring.
[UNPUBLISHED:]Who are some of your biggest inspirations both musically and personally?
[OLIVIA:] I've always loved John Mayer and Coldplay. Personally, I love Rihanna's sense of style and Dua Lipa's too.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How would you describe your music in three words?
[OLIVIA:] Electro, pop, and honest!
[UNPUBLISHED:] We hear your debut album is dropping on July 9th. Can you tell us a little bit about this project?
[OLIVIA:] This being my debut album and first full-length project, I wanted to demonstrate my artistry to the fullest. I'm very excited to share the range of sounds on this album (there are ballads, upbeat pop songs, indie vibes, etc!). Going into the writing process I had no expectations and goals beyond making music that felt really true to me and my experiences in the past few years. I can't believe it's almost time to share!
[UNPUBLISHED:] How does it feel to release your first full album? What are you most excited for? What’s your favorite song off the record?
[OLIVIA:] It's cathartic for me to be releasing this collection of songs! My Favourite two would have to be "Cold Coffee" and "The Walls." These songs were both written with an acoustic sound which shows my roots!
[UNPUBLISHED:] How do you want people to feel when they listen to your new album (and your music in general)?
[OLIVIA:] My biggest hope is for people to resonate with these songs. I always write with my heart on my sleeve. Whether these songs comfort people or make them want to dance, I hope for these songs to become the soundtracks to people’s lives!
[UNPUBLISHED:] We loved the track “Dominoes.” Tell us a little bit about the track. What was it like working with Melanie Fontana?
[OLIVIA:] Dominoes is a happy upbeat love song. It's about the relief that follows finding the "One.” Working with both Melanie Fontana and Whitney Philips was a dream! Both of them possess such great charisma and incredible talent for writing. As an up-and-coming artist/writer, it was very inspiring to work in this environment and create magic together.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about your music-making and songwriting process. Do your lyrics come from personal experience?
[OLIVIA:] My writing process has always been very spontaneous. Throughout the day I'll write down lyric ideas or phrases on my phone or hum a melody on a voice memo. Sometimes when I sit down to write a song one will come out in its entirety, other times I'll write a hook or verse idea! In my experience, the best songs have usually come from writing about my personal experiences.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What would your dream collaboration be?
[OLIVIA:] Ed Sheeran, hands down. Gingers unite!
[UNPUBLISHED:] Where do you see yourself and your career five years from now?
[OLIVIA:] 5 years from now I'd love to be traveling the world and playing shows in different countries! I'd also love to write songs for other artists to release.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Now that Covid restrictions are slowly being lifted, is touring in your plans for the future?
[OLIVIA:] We've been taking everything day by day. I will say, as soon as I can, I will be playing this new album live as much as I can!
[UNPUBLISHED:] What’s next for Olivia Lunny?
[OLIVIA:] I'm constantly writing... so a lot more music will come and hopefully some very cool collaborations. Stay Tuned!