ARTIST INTERVIEW: OLIVIA LANE

I N T E R V I E W

OLIVIA JOY LANE

Age:

Newly 23! 

Hometown/currently live:

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas but Nashville is my current home.

What made you want to start writing songs?

The first song I ever wrote was called "Indiana" and it was about me and my high school boyfriend breaking up right before college. I was DEVASTATED. I was searching for a way to get this emotion out of system so I decided to try and write my feelings out and then put the words to a melody that captured the sadness I was feeling; Then I was hooked to songwriting.  For me, it's an emotional release but also about connecting with other's who might be experiencing the same emotions I am.

Do you play any instruments? Did you teach yourself?

I do! I've been playing guitar since about 8th grade and then recently I picked up the mandolin which is SO fun! About 4 months ago my producer Ilya Toshinskiy mentioned I should learn to play mando and I was like "HAH yeah suuuure" and he was like "No...you really should". So I ended up picking it up and teaching myself! Since the mandolin is pretty predominant in my sound and production, it made total sense. It's such a fun instrument to play! Currently I'm toying around with a harmonica. I don't read music very well, just learn and play by ear!

Who are your biggest musical inspirations?

OH boy…there are so many. I would say the big female voices out there like Trisha Yearwood, Linda Ronstadt, Patty Loveless, Sara Evans, Patsy Cline…the list goes ON! I listen to every genre from The Eagles to Michael Jackson so my musical inspirations vary from all walks of music. 

Where do you get inspiration to write your songs?

Everyone. Everywhere. Everything in my life. It's hard to pinpoint where exactly the ideas in my head come from. Some songs are very personal while other's come from a melody that popped into my head or a story I heard that I liked. The process is so dynamic but that's what makes it fun!

Favorite songs you have written/co-written?

I would have to say my single "Steal Me Away." I wrote it pretty soon after I moved to Nashville and I was on CLOUD 9 after the songwriting session with my producer and Lee Thomas Miller, the other co-writers. I called my manger and said "I'M SO EXCITED THIS SONG IS GOING TO BE ON THE EP!" and he said "Well we'll see you've got 6 more months of writing." He had a point but I've heard artists talking about these "gut feelings" about songs and this was for sure a gut feeling happening with "Steal Me Away." 

What moment in your music career is your favorite so far?

Theres so many!!! But I'll talk about 2 highlights. I'm on a radio tour currently for my song "Steal Me Away" so hearing it on the radio has been pretty mind-blowing!!! The other highlight was performing back in February at Galveston Mardi Gras. It was INSANE! The energy from the crowd mixed with the insane fun my band and I have onstage, it was incredible!!! My guitar got nailed with a huge bulky mardi gras necklace…it was stressful and amazing all at the same time.

Finish this sentence…if I could write a song for or with anyone I would choose______. 

WITH THE EAGLES!!! 

Where do you see yourself in a year?           

In a year I want to be touring steadily, continuously building a long term career and meeting as many people as I can!

5 years?

In 5 years I hope to be singing my songs along with crowds of any size, coffee shops to stadiums! I just want to meet as many people as I can, have fun with what I'm doing and put a smile on someone's face with my music. 

If I wasn't a songwriter I would be…

A Zumba instructor (which I did in college and LOVED it) or a kindergarten teacher.

I"m afraid of ______.

Doctor shots. I HATE THEM. Terrified.

I never get tired of_______.

Cupcakes :) 

 Okay, I always ask people to tell me one thing about themselves that is random or strange that most people don"t know! ​

I sleep with the covers over my head and make a little breathing hole so I don't suffocate. It's SO bizarre. I use to do it because I was afraid of the dark but now it's just habit. Also my head gets cold. I should probably invest in a sleeping night cap or something. 

F O L L O W   O L I V I A 
TWITTER || FB || INSTAGRAM || WEBSITE

Special thanks to Olivia for taking this time to work with me on this interview! I am a huge fan of her music and cannot wait to see the success she has in the future!

Images Provided || OliviaLane.com

THE SKY'S DROPPIN' JUPITER AROUND US LIKE SOME OLD TRAIN...

SEPTEMBER IS HEREEEEE! In Knoxville, Labor Day Weekend is a big deal. Every year they host a firework show called Boomsday! Normally I'm not into fireworks or big crowds, but this year I knew I had to go! 

About three months ago I started hearing rumors about a concert or two that would be happening at Boomsday. At first I heard Rodney Atkins, then Native Run, and then…I heard the one name that made me jump for joy. Obviously I'm talking about Kelsea Ballerini! 

So…for the past month and a half I've been waiting for the moment to see Kelsea perform at Boomsday. 

I called in reinforcements and asked my best friend Nikki to join me for Boomsday! After some reassuring that we would NOT be staying for fireworks, she agreed. We met up with my friends Jeff and Kristina around 5pm and spent the next few hours listening to music and sweating…no really, it was MISERABLY HOT!!!

First up on the stage?  

Jackie and I both grew up in Blount County and we have TONS of mutual friends! This however, was my first time getting to meet him and see him perform live. Listen up y'all, I'm OBSESSED! He put on a great show and I am officially a HUGE fan! 

[SIDENOTE: Look for his interview on my website SOON!] 

CHECK OUT MY FAVORITE JACKIE LEE SONG HERE!

My friends and I ended up walking over to another stage to see another artist and ended up missing Lindsay Ell! I'm still terribly upset about this!!

BUT…I MADE IT BACK JUST IN TIME TO SEEEEEEEEEE….

So I've only seen Kelsea perform her songs live one other time and it was in the basement of WIVK in Knoxville while she was here on her radio tour! So being able to see her on stage and singing in front of tons of other people was a super exciting moment for me! 

Kelsea sang XO, Dibs, The First Time, a cover of Lady A's Downtown, and her new single Love Me Like You Mean It. Naturally I was in the front row singing every single word and awkwardly dancing. No really, VERY awkward. I'm 100% sure I was embarrassing myself but I don't mind one little bit. 

SIDENOTE: I SANG WITH KELSEA….okay, I'm lying a little bit. I sang in Kelsea's microphone…with about ten other girls…and I was off key….and STILL awkward dancing. Regardless though, I can check that off my bucket list. 

After her set I of course spent the next hour taking pictures and hanging out with everyone.

Special shout-out to these two studs! I've seen these guys perform many times and together, they make a great pair! I am so glad Jacob Simmons and Josh Kerr are part of Kelsea's team. 

[Oh and thanks Caty and Sutton for sharing Jacob with Knoxville for the evening! On behalf of everyone else, we appreciate it!]

Kelsea Ballerini: you are the cutest and sweetest girl ever! Thanks for being my favorite singer/songwriter and friend! I love you AND I mean it!

[I leave you with just a few more pictures from the amazing night]

So until next time Boomsday….

THE CONCERT LIFE

It's summer time! It's hot outside and everyone is headed to the beach, the lake, or to a summer concert. Recently I was asked about proper country music concert attire so I recruited some of my sweetest and most Southern friends to help me show y'all what proper attire should be worn to a country concert or summer festival. 

HERE ARE A FEW OF OUR LOOKS:
There are only two ways to dress when attending a country concert. Being the Tennessee girl that I am, I believe a dress and boots will never look wrong. A light and loose dress will be comfortable and classy at the same time. I also am all about dressing down and casual for a festival. Usually if the show is going to last for more than a few hours or if there are multiple artists performing I tend to lean towards jeans and boots. Jeans/shorts/skirts can all be causal, comfy, and cute when paired with a graphic tee, a silk shirt, or a fun printed blouse.

THE DRESS & BOOTS LOOK

THE CASUAL LOOK

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL MY BEAUTIFUL FRIENDS FOR BEING SUCH AMAZING MODELS FOR THE DAY! COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER GROUP TO SPEND THE DAY WITH!