“I don’t refer to myself as a singer-songwriter,” Olivia Bartley says. “I’m interested in ideas and trying to create something that will move people; disrupt everyday ideas. It’s more about sounds. The music leans on language but the songs don’t follow traditional form at all.”
Welcome to Olympia’s debut album, Self Talk. As illustrated by three exquisite singles — ‘Honey’, ‘This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things’, ‘Tourists’ and the new offering, ‘Smoke Signals’ — it’s a world of heart-stopping melodies, rich sonic intrigue and big ideas, from places way beyond the debut singer-songwriter’s handbook. Showcased on Triple J as feature album last week, Self Talk goes out into the world to much critical acclaim.
Fresh from moonlighting on keys and guitar in Paul Dempsey’s band, Olympia will launch Self Talk with new single ‘Smoke Signals’ and a series of live dates that will see her play around the country. Today she also reveals the stunning new video for ‘Smoke Signals’ directed by Alex Smith (Peaches, Iggy Pop, Coldplay)
Recorded with Burke Reid (Courtney Barnett, Jack Ladder, the Drones, DZ Deathrays, Sarah Blasko), it’s an album of brilliant metaphors, filmic soundscapes and a weight that belies its writer’s feather-light voice.
“The album is definitely a collaboration between Burke and myself,” Olivia says. “There were conscious sonic choices and considered influences but it was mostly influenced by the process of making it: the people involved, the instruments and equipment we used. It reflects the almost collaged way the songs were written. I like the symmetry in that.”
The result is an album loaded with instantaneous hooks and layers of revelation for the inquiring mind, beginning with the slow-moving clouds of ‘Honey’ and the soft-focus psychedelia of ‘Smoke Signals’. What lies beneath the soaring lament of ‘Different Cities’? The lyrical piano and vocal harmonies chasing swirls around ‘Biscuits’? The sad, hypnotic lull of ‘Blue Light Disco’?
“The title Self Talk is about observing the stories we tell ourselves,” Olivia says. “It’s also a nod to the religion of self help.”
OLYMPIA – SELF TALK TOUR
THU 26 MAY – NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB, SYDNEY
FRI 03 JUN – BLACK BEAR LODGE, BRISBANE
SAT 04 JUN – SOL BAR, MAROOCHYDORE
SAT 11 JUN – PRODUCERS BAR, ADELAIDE
SAT 18 JUN – NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE
FRI 24 JUN – AMPLIFIER BAR, PERTH
SAT 25 JUN – ODD FELLOW, FREMANTLE