Olivia Rox – Go For It

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) My sound is pop, infused with influences of rock, soul and jazz in my vocals. It’s filled with dynamics, soul and positivity. I grew up in the music industry; my dad is a jazz saxophonist, and my mom was an alternative rock artist turned music producer, so I was surrounded by just about every genre growing up. I think that incredible childhood helped form a really unique sound by osmosis, being on tour and in the studio with such great musicians on a daily basis.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Oh gosh, I have very broad taste. I listen and draw influence from musical excellence – anyone from the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Billie Holiday, The Police, Coldplay, P!nk, Twenty One Pilots, Plain White T’s, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Ella Fitzgerald, Louie Armstrong, Bob Marley, Christina Aguilera and Kelly Clarkson. More recently DNCE, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Katy Perry and Shawn Mendes.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Go For It.”

A) I wrote “Go For It” truly about letting go of what is holding you back and diving right into life. It’s a feel good anthem that is all about going for your dreams. And okay, I’m sure that sounds corny and cliché, but let me explain what that means for me… I wrote it right around the time in my life when I had just been offered a huge record deal from Warner Brothers, then months later lost my deal because of a big company shift where the CEO (who was the one signing me) was fired. Literally, the next day I was asked to be on “American Idol” and made it as a finalist in the Top Ten only to be eliminated so close to the finish line. It was after those experiences and “near successes” (even though they were, in actuality, huge accomplishments and successful in their own right) that I felt a bit discouraged. But something in me told me to keep going – to keep fighting for my dreams.

It wasn’t long until my burning desire to do music couldn’t be contained any longer and I realized that no matter what obstacles stood in my way I wanted to be a musician. Music was no less important to me than the air in my lungs or the blood in my veins. Not following that passion would have devastated me. But at that point, I was honestly sick of leaving it all up to other companies who could easily toss you aside when they grew tired of you. Both of my parents are thirty plus year veterans in the music industry and have literally lived through just about everything. So, my parents and I decided that if indeed this was the path I was choosing, to be an artist, that we would do it on our terms. That was the decision that changed my life.

Together, we formed Songbird Records, a record label that focuses on artist integrity, and full-service management from start to stardom. As a 17-year-old when we first got started, I had no idea how a record label actually worked. Luckily, my parents did and taught me through firsthand experience. Being homeschooled my entire life, and as someone who valued self-learning, I dedicated myself to learning everything I could about the inner workings of the industry. Through hard work and extremely late nights, I went from a young, 16-year-old artist who had a vision but didn’t have the power to execute it into an educated, entrepreneurial artist in the driver’s seat of my life.

“Go For It” was written right as we decided to form Songbird Records, and in a lot of ways, was the embodiment of how I was feeling; I didn’t know how it would go, if I would succeed or fail – but I just knew we had to Go For It.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) On a daily basis we’re faced with obstacles that test our willpower and having such a strong message in a song that speaks to our incredible strength within can help you to realize your We, especially as women, have so much to overcome. I’ve had people reach out to me that tell me how this song has helped them navigate through challenges in their lives and built up their courage to speak their mind or follow their dreams. And, truthfully, if we’re going to live life so cautiously, where you’re never nervous about succeeding or failing, what’s the point? We haveto take risks, speak our minds and follow our dreams. I know, for me, I never want to look back on my life and regret a single thing. I’m not just passively living life; I’m building my legacy. Years from now I want to look back and say, “I can’t believe I actually did that. I am a badass.” So, I hope my song continues to inspire others to feel that way too.

Q) How did your love for Snow White inspire the video for and play into the message behind the song+?

A) As a kid, my all-time favorite movie was Snow White and the Seven Dwarves – I probably watched it a hundred times. When I was two and a half I got onstage for the first time in front of five thousand people at one of my dad’s (Warren Hill) concerts and sang “Someday My Prince Will Come” from the film. It was that very first performance which spawned my love of being on stage and I begged to come on stage and sing again at practically every one of my dad’s concerts after that. So, ever since I was little, Snow White has been a very meaningful part of my life, attached to so many memories that truly shaped who I am now.

When we were conceptualizing the music video for “Go For It” we imagined it being this effervescent spring day, a feeling of inspiration, unencumbered by any fears or things holding you back. That image brought back memories of the scene in Snow White, just after she was running through the dark woods, when she found the sunshine and the adorable animals came out of hiding to comfort her. That scene always made me feel like the past was behind her and a new beginning had arrived – the exact sentiment of my song “Go For It.” My inner kid came out and I definitely had a blast bringing this video to life with my director, Tamara Van Cleef. (There may or may not have been a literal squeal of excitement from me seeing the animated animals come to life.)

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) You know, I write music and lyrics at the same time. Sometimes I use a piano or guitar for accompaniment. Sometimes I don’t have access to one of them and I’ll just sing it acapella. Every song starts with a spark of inspiration, which is completely unpredictable – be it a fragment from a conversation, an overall vibe from a city I’m visiting or an emotion that triggers something. Once that spark hits me, it’s a race to document it and the entire song unfolds itself within an hour. Recently, I’ve been playing a sort of game and timing myself from start to finish. It’s funny because my favorite songs that I write usually take the shortest amount of time. I equate it with being in a flow state and I’m not necessarily in my own head about making it “the perfect song,” but rather I let go of inhibitions and just write for the love of it. If it turns out to be a crappy song, oh well, tomorrow’s another day. But most of the time I use songwriting as a sort of journal – letting every single thought and emotion that I’m feeling at the time seep into my lyrics. So, every song I write has a purpose to me, even if it’s just for my enjoyment.

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) So far, every song that I’ve recorded has been an original song, written 100% by me – so these songs are my babies. Because of that I have a huge part in the production. When I write them, typically my vision extends to how I hear each element of the song – from the drum beat to the synths and counter lines. A lot of times I’ll even have the music video concept already in my mind when I write the song, sort of creating a little micro-world of its own.

That said, I have an amazing team that I work with, my co-producers and band are so talented and can truly make the songs bloom. I feel so blessed that my songs have such powerful people behind them. And what’s so cool about music and creativity is that everyone brings a new perspective and creative soul with them. I really feed off of that and love seeing the songs come to life. I work closely with my production team that we call 3M (Three Musketeers). It consists of Tamara Van Cleef, Warren Hill and me. We have a lot of fun with our productions and I think it’s a very cool dynamic since we all come from such diverse musical backgrounds. We love to incorporate live instruments and a “raw,” “live” sound to our work.

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

A) Yes! I actually already have two full length albums out – my pop album with full productions, PopRox, and my acoustic album, Just A Girl & Her Guitar, which was recorded live, one takes – totally raw (no auto tune). I am extremely proud of both albums and still have a few more singles/music videos coming from them, which I can’t wait to release. Those albums have only been released digitally thus far, but I’m happy to say my albums will be hitting stores near you soon! I’ve also been working hard on my next project, which I can’t divulge anything about yet, but it’s epic and will be coming out next year. [winks]

Q) We loved seeing you on “American Idol.” What did you take away or learn from your experience?

A) Aww, thank you! I think the most important thing that I learned was to really be true to my artistry. When I was on the show a few years ago I was only sixteen years old, so it was hard to voice my opinions and be confident in them as a teen. But now, looking back, I think it truly taught me the importance of staying true to myself and having the courage to speak my mind. I appreciate every experience in my life, and know that they have been valuable steppingstones on this incredible journey through life.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) There are so many incredible artists out there that I’d love to work with! A few that come to mind are Shawn Mendes, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa and The Rolling Stones.

Q) With concerts currently on hold, what do you miss most about being on stage?

A) EVERYTHING! [laughs] My favorite part about being an artist (besides songwriting because that holds a special place in my heart) is touring. There’s something about the feeling of being onstage, that just makes time stand still. When I’m performing, I find myself lost in the music, almost in a sort of meditative state. The electricity in the air from the crowd singing along. The lights pulsing to the music. The crew backstage. The inside jokes and pranks we all play on each other. The faces in the audience that are moved by the lyrics. Dancing with my dancers. The outfit changes. The SHOW. It’s magic. There’s not a single thing in the world that elicits the same emotion for me. I truly can’t wait to perform again, holding my guitar in my hand, staring out at the blinding lights over the silhouette of a charged crowd. I’ll see you there! [winks]

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) I’ve been listening to a lot of female artists as of late. Women have so much strength and power and I really appreciate women who make their mark on the music industry. Madonna, Carole King, Ella Mai, Pat Benatar, Grace Potter and Janelle Monae, just to name a few. I really commend women artists out there because I know, as much as we’re striving towards equality, we still have to face a lot of challenges as women. Women are encouraged to dress sexier in order to sell more albums and, in comparison to their male counterparts, still don’t receive equal pay and almost always make up the minority on music festivals and the like. So, anytime I am able to shout out or support other amazing, hardworking women in music, I do so.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I have a love/hate relationship with social media. [laughs] I value it so much because it enables me to connect with millions of fans all over the world, creating these irreplaceable relationships that I treasure. I love reading messages from my fans and having such a direct way to communicate. It’s pretty wild! I get hundreds of direct messages every day, which I value so much, and I want to write meaningful replies to everyone. That’s the compassion in me, I guess. I really love doing live videos for that reason because I get to see everyone’s comments live and have a sort of virtual conversation with them. Sometimes I’m blown away at how loyal and kind my fans are. I have some fans that have been supporting me since I was twelve years old or even younger. It’s amazing.

When I’m extremely busy recording or filming, sometimes I turn into a recluse and I don’t even turn on my phone for the week, so I can stay fully immersed in the “zone.” I think it’s really a healthy thing to do every once and a while – taking that time off from devices and being present in the moment. As a highly creative person, I need that. Social media can be a creative drain if you don’t give yourself breaks. But, overall, social media has been a force of good in my life – helping me to stay connected with fans both internationally and domestically and I’m grateful to have such an easy way for fans to reach me and me to reach them.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan (Roxstars) and supporter of you and your work?

A) THANK YOU. Sooo I absolutely LOVE my Roxstars. I appreciate every single listener, follower and fan. I hope that my music provides a soundtrack to your life. If it just helps you to get through your day, get through an illness, makes you smile, fall in love or ease a breakup. Hearing from my fans how my music changes their lives is all the reward I could ever ask for. I can’t wait for COVID to be over and be able to hug all of my fans in person again. But, until then, words will have to suffice. So, Thank You to everyone supporting me and my music. I love you.