A Monaco-based rising star Olla started singing as a kid at the age of 4. Born in a family of extreme sport lovers, Olla struggled to prove her interest in music as her true and serious passion. Yet she held on to her dream and, once coming of age, she started doing regular classes with a vocal coach and got into Musicians Institute in Los Angeles. Eventually Olla moved to Monaco where she felt like her “artistic image and singing style would nourish and be the most organic”. In 2018 she released a single titled “Monte-Carlo” which became a big success in Monaco. As a result, Olla performed at multiple private events in Monaco, as well as at the Monaco Charity Film Festival and “Miss Cannes” in Parc du Cap.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Olla. What made you want to become a musician?
This dream and desire of being a singer has been in my head since my childhood. As a kid I couldn’t explain this urge of wanting to be on stage. But as I was getting older I’ve realised that this is what I’m meant to do. When I sing and when I write songs I literally feel like I’m in the other universe, as if nothing else exists at this moment.
Who helped you most in your musical journey?
I don’t want to sound cocky or bumptious, but my determination and work was what helped me the most in my journey. My passion for music wasn’t treated seriously by my family, but that never stopped me from working on it. I was able to fully dedicate myself to music quite late by the industry’s standards. But as scary as it seemed to be, I never thought to quit. Even though I have a kid and a family to take care of, I still keep on studying, working with the vocal coach and songwriting. And I will not stop pursuing my dream.
Your latest release is 'Monte-Carlo'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
“Monte-Carlo” is my musical tribute to this amazing city. I fell in love with the place as soon as I’ve first come here. It was definitely love from the first sight ;)
The idea was to reveal the romance and elegance of Monte-Carlo, that you can’t easily catch as a tourist sometimes. Monaco is definitely an iconic place that is associated with prosperity, chic and wealth. But to me this place is also penetrated with love, romance and an extraordinary beauty of its nature.
We recorded some instruments as guitar and accordion for this song, as well as used some French words in the song to convey the atmosphere of the city. And I believe this song can make you ‘travel’ to Monte Carlo once you turn it on.
What social issues are you most passionate about?
As a female artist, I guess women empowerment is the issue I tend to think about the most. Women fighting for their rights and equality is very reassuring, and we can clearly see the shift in perception of females as leaders, managers, executives, etc in the recent years.
Yet I’m always trying to keep the balance in things. From what I see in the news, equality is being misinterpreted sometimes by both men and women. As a result we are slowly moving from one extreme to another, from women being unable to vote and work to women turning into men who are supposed to carry everything on our shoulders.
Women having an opportunity to contribute their knowledge, expertise and mind to the world and to speak out is one thing. And it doesn’t imply that men should just stop being gentlemen and stop being our support, protection and source of inspiration.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest musical trends?
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to stay up-to-date nowadays. I am going through YouTube suggestions and playlists on streaming platforms to see which music and video content is popular. I watch what the top artists do, as they are usually the trend setters in the industry. And I also keep an eye on the rising artists and young musicians. Even though they might not be super popular at the moment, they definitely have a flare for new cool features music- and image-wise.
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
There is always a meaning in my music. I believe it’s a responsibility of every artist to actually share something meaningful with the audience.
As I’ll be releasing more songs in the nearest future it will be more obvious, but the idea is to share a set of positive thoughts and insights that would help my audience to find their inner happiness and balance. I wouldn’t call it a hidden meaning, I’m not going to bury my listeners in a pile of metaphors and unclear phrases. I prefer to keep it rather simple and clear but in a pleasant-for-ears-and-mind way ;)
What’s an average day like for you?
My average day always includes music, whether it’s a recording session, songwriting session, classes with my vocal coach, etc. I also do sports every day. It keeps my thoughts clear and my body healthy ;) Audio-books is another big part of my daily routine. And I make sure to maintain healthy sleep hygiene and proper nutrition.
When it comes to days of shoots or performances, the schedule is obviously different ;)
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans.
I read all the comments and direct messages on IG, FB and YT. Even though I am not always able to respond to everyone, but I do my best to do so.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
A universal piece of advice would be to believe in yourself. You shouldn’t confuse it with an extreme self-confidence or arrogance though ;)
One of the keys to success is being able to objective self-awareness and self-evaluation, knowing your strengths and weaknesses. Identify what makes you truly happy, not what should make you happy. Use your strong sides, work on your weak spots and follow your dream. This is a proven recipe ;)
What are your plans for the future?
I am planning to release an album that would be a set of all the insights and thoughts I want to share with my audience. I want to integrate some psychotherapeutic techniques for my songs to actually relax and heal the minds. So stay tuned not to miss it coming. My next release is on the 31st of March ;)