5 Questions With... Olivia Rose

1. What brought you to country/roots music?

Growing up in a small town definitely had something to do with it, I can call sitting in my grandmas kitchen listening to all the old country classics on CFCW and just loving how those types of songs can make you feel. I appreciated the writing and stories that went along with them and I’ve never thought of being an artist in any other genre since!

2. When did you write your first song - as an artist or with a band?

I’ve been coming up with lyrics and melodies since the time I could talk! My parents tell me about how I would used to sing about literally everything, but I started really writing my first songs when I was about 9 and it ended up being my first single “Makeup to Mud”.

3. If you could go on tour opening to any performing artist right now, who would it be?

Definitely Miranda Lambert. I’ve looked up to Miranda since the moment I picked up my first guitar and started writing. I’ve been lucky enough to meet her and see her show twice and that girl knows how to work a crowd. I learnt so much from even just watching her shows so I can only imagine how much I could learn if I had the opportunity to be on the road with her.

4. What is the best trend in country/roots music right now?

The top trend in country music right now is streaming and collaborations between other genre artists. There is a generation of writers and artists who listen to both country and pop so we are getting a lot of crossovers. As people open up – programmers and playlisters – there’s more room for these collaborations to move across genres. This also opens up country music to the world allowing new fans in countries like Japan, China and Europe. Crossing genres is one way of maximizing exposure in an increasingly fragmented listening environment, but for country artists, these collaborations offer the sort of international exposure that’s increasingly crucial in a music business that has embraced a global perspective for both streaming and touring. This also allows artist’s to be heard without the direct support of radio play by building exposure on online playlists, podcasts, and internet radio. Especially since over the last couple of years radio play has been hard to crack as an independent female artist.

5. What part of Project WILD are you most looking forward to?

The chance to collaborate and interact with the other artists and musicians. A lot of my friends are not into the country scene as I am, and all play in punk or alt indie bands so I haven’t gotten the chance to spent a lot of time around other musicians that love the same type of music that I do. I’m very excited to hear, collaborate and learn from the other artists!