Course Studied:
BA (Hons) Music (Jazz)
Year of Graduation: 2023
Graduating from Leeds Conservatoire in 2023, Olivia is now playing with her quintet, and other bands such as Mangorata, Ferg's Imaginary Big Band and Sunkissed Child. Olivia recently released her album 'The Whole Damn Plan', on January 21st 2024.
BA (Hons) Music (Jazz)When did you first start pursuing your career and what inspired you to do so?
I knew all my life I wanted to be a musician. I come from a line of musicians, my dad is a drummer and my dads dad was a pianist. To be a musician was never a choice I had to make, it was something that I’ve always wanted to do. I couldn’t put a date to that particular point I wanted to pursue music. I started learning drums at a very young age, and trumpet at age 10. I started writing my own music when I was 17 in college, that was the start of my original music career, and I hope that lasts forever.
How did studying at Leeds Conservatoire prepare you for working in the wider industry?
Due to the size of the Jazz course at Leeds Conservatoire, you get to meet so many new people. This means you are in so many bands are are gigging a lot. Having ample musicians and facilities meant we could be out there, in the real world, playing all the time. Leaving uni and gigging full time didn’t feel like too much of an adjustment because of this.
You’ve recently released your album ‘The Whole Damn Plan’, what’s your approach when it comes to writing? Where do you typically get your inspiration from?
9 times out of 10 I started with melody. If I’m writing a vocal lead tune this may be linked with lyrics. I’ll usually write lead line of the head, and then once I’ve sung that to myself for a few days I’ll fill in the gaps with the rhythm section. Lots of what I’m writing at the moment is vocal lead, and I tend to find inspiration in stories or observations. I like the song to have a strong narrative, possible characters and quotes. Whatever the story is about is usually how I decide what sound the song will have.
Stream 'The Whole Damn Plan' on Spotify
How important were the connections you made during your studies?
My most significant connections were with the alumni. Playing with and learning from them really shaped me as a musician.
Check out Mangorata
What's coming up next for you in terms of projects or releases?
I’m still touring the new album at the moment. I’ve got a bunch of gigs spotted all over the UK and am very excited to share the music with more lovely audiences. I am currently working on a new single I hope to release sometime this year.
Could you me tell about some of your most memorable performances to date?
My most memorable performance was my album launch for my new album The Whole Damn Plan at Hyde Park Book Club. The album was recorded at Leeds Conservatoire, with a handful of incredible guests, most of which were students or alumni from the conservatoire. I had written something I was so proud of and couldn’t wait for people to hear it. The show was sold out, and the reception was a dream come true. I felt so much support, love, joy and recognition - it was one of the best nights of my life.
What was the most important lesson you learned during your time in Leeds?
Hard work pays off.
'The Whole Damn Plan' on Bandcamp
How did you start as a gigging musician?
I started gigging regularly in my second year of uni (we had lockdown in first year). I was playing lots of original music and standards in different spots in Leeds; Hyde Park Book Club, Sela Bar, The Domino Club. Over the next few years, I was gigging more and more, spreading to Manchester, London, and other cities. What started with standards, grew to my own compositions and other people's originals. Now that I’m a full time musician I do the odd pop gig too to keep my head afloat.
What's your approach when working with big bands?
I really enjoy playing in big bands, but I am still in very early days playing this type of music. I tend to be on 4th or 5th playing the solos, which is exactly where I want to be. But to improve I should think about challenging myself on trumpet 2 or 3 to work on my big band articulation and projection. One thing I need to keep reminding myself is that whilst it’s important to be good at the things you love, but it is also important to work on the things that aren’t exactly what you want to do because this is the stuff that will teach you a lot.
What is your best memory from Leeds Conservatoire?
Playing with Eddie Henderson. On a very special Friday Masterclass, we were lucky enough to have Eddie Henderson visit us all the way from the States. I played alongside him in the masterclass and supported him that night at B-side. That was one of the most exciting days I had at uni - I will always remember it. Eddie is a legend!
What advice would you give to a prospective student thinking of applying to your course?
I would say this is a great idea and you’re going to have so much fun! I would say that although the teachers are brilliant on this course, you will need to be your own teacher a lot of the time. Push yourself and keep yourself looking forward and learning.
We'd like to say a huge thank you to Olivia for chatting with us!
Check out Olivia's socials:
Instagram / Website
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