By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Ever since she started to play piano and sing at age four, Olivia Soli was determined to make her statement upon the music industry one day.
With the imaginative video release for her debut single “Boy Bye” back in May, that day finally came this year and the emerging Los Angeles pop artist hasn’t looked back since.
Determined to promote self-worth through her powerful, catchy melodies and personal experiences, Soli is a hometown girl at heart and eager to show that LA can be more about its magic energy than its toxicity.
The Music Bugle had the chance to talk with the singer-songwriter – who has cited Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston as major influences – about what she has been up to lately and more.
Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your style of music?
Olivia Soli – It makes people feel empowered and sexy. My style of music is perfect to dance and sing as loud as you can in your car when you want to feel like a princess.
Music Bugle – What was your goal for your debut single ‘Boy Bye”?
Olivia Soli – My goal for “Boy Bye” was to be able to relate to girls and boys all over the world and make them feel like an empowered bad bitch! My initial goal was to release this song in hopes that my audience will get a better vision of who I am and what I stand for.
Music Bugle – How would you describe Los Angeles to someone who has never been there before?
Olivia Soli – I would describe Los Angeles as a melting pot of creativity. There are so many amazing opportunities in this city and I believe as a creator, it is important to surround yourself with like-minded people.
Music Bugle – What was it like making the video for “Boy Bye”?
Olivia Soli – Making the music video for “Boy Bye” was truly an amazing experience. As this was my first music video on my own, I felt so comfortable and safe with the cast and crew. It was so exciting discovering my inner diva on screen and matching that vibe with my beautiful wardrobe that was put together.
Music Bugle – What is the biggest creative advantage of being a singer-songwriter?
Olivia Soli – I believe the biggest advantage is that your music is more authentic to how you’re feeling or what you truly would like to say to the world. It is a very special gift to have that I will continue to use to display my heart to my fans.
Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise?
Olivia Soli – As I grew up listening to the “divas” of the music world, such as Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, Beyonce and Mariah Carey, the music genre has not fallen that far from those influences. I listen to alot of R&B pop, such as Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, SZA and Chris Brown. However, my music taste is very diverse, as I listen to dozens of different genres. I love Latin reggaeton pop, country, rap, EDM, etc..
Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?
Olivia Soli – As most people in the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, my mental health did struggle with the lockdown. Not being able to perform live and meet new people was very frustrating. However, I did learn a lot about the social media world and the benefits of promoting your art for the whole world to discover via the internet.
Music Bugle – What’s a quote that motivates you to keep doing what you do?
Olivia Soli – “Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you’re willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it,” from Lou Holtz. This is a quote that keeps me motivated, because I truly believe your attitude and the way you perceive things is the most important tool for success. We have attracted everything in our life by the way we perceive things and as long as you can see the success in your mind and create opportunities for yourself, you are bound to reach success.
Music Bugle – Does social media help or hurt musicians?
Olivia Soli – Although some musicians believe social media hurts performing live and connecting face-to-face with your audience, I believe social media has given the platform to artists to share their art globally. With the technology in today’s world, social media has granted many opportunities for artists like me to be able to reach people you necessarily wouldn’t have the opportunity to connect and build a foundation with.
Music Bugle – What’s something that people might be surprised to know about you?
Olivia Soli – What people might be surprised to know is that when I was 15 years old, I had the amazing opportunity to be the first underaged female to have their own live show at the Vibrato Jazz Club in Los Angeles! It was truly an honor and an unreal experience.
