In an business usually polished to perfection, Olivia O’Brien stands out as a uncooked, unfiltered voice for these navigating the messy terrain of youth, love, and self-discovery. Born Olivia Gail O’Brien on November 26, 1999, in Thousand Oaks, California, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter has carved a distinct segment along with her piercing lyrics and soulful melodies. Her breakout hit, “i hate u, i really like u,” a 2016 collaboration with Gnash, skyrocketed to quantity 10 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 and topped charts in Australia, introducing the world to a youngster who may articulate the ache of conflicted feelings with startling readability. Since then, O’Brien has grow to be a beacon for followers who discover solace in her unapologetic honesty, reworking private struggles into anthems that resonate universally.
O’Brien’s journey started lengthy earlier than her viral success. Raised in Napa, California, after shifting from Thousand Oaks at a younger age, she was immersed in music from childhood. By seven, she was singing and educating herself guitar and piano, her left-handed dexterity hinting on the inventive spark that may outline her profession. Her early years had been marked by a Montessori training, which fostered individuality but additionally left her feeling like an outsider amongst friends. Bullied as a youngster for her social class and musical ambitions, O’Brien channeled her isolation into songwriting, beginning at age 13. These formative experiences of rejection and resilience formed her skill to craft lyrics that really feel like pages torn from a diary, a high quality that endears her to thousands and thousands.
The catalyst for O’Brien’s rise was a serendipitous reference to Gnash, sparked by a SoundCloud cowl she posted as a 15-year-old. Impressed by her uncooked expertise, Gnash invited her to Los Angeles to file “i hate u, i really like u,” a music she’d written as a voice memo. Launched in March 2016, the observe’s haunting melody and candid exploration of affection’s contradictions struck a chord, incomes quadruple-Platinum standing within the U.S. The success led to a take care of Island Data, the place O’Brien started to construct her solo profession. Her debut single, “Belief Points,” dropped in August 2016, adopted by “Root Beer Float” that includes Blackbear and “Discover What You’re Trying For,” every showcasing her knack for mixing pop, R&B, and emotional storytelling.
O’Brien’s music is commonly described as a soundtrack for all times’s messier moments—heartbreak, self-doubt, and the seek for id. Her 2017 debut EP, It’s Not That Deep, launched singles like “Empty,” “RIP,” and “No Love,” which tackled themes of betrayal and resilience with a maturity past her years. By 2019, her debut album, Was It Even Actual?, solidified her as a drive in pop, with tracks like “I Don’t Exist” and “Care Much less Extra” reflecting her struggles with melancholy and societal pressures. Critics praised her skill to weave vulnerability with catchy hooks, whereas followers related along with her portrayal of teenage girlhood in a world obsessive about perfection. Collaborations with producers like Anton Hård and Teddy Geiger elevated her sound, proving she may maintain her personal alongside business heavyweights.
In 2021, O’Brien pivoted to a daring new chapter with Episodes: Season 1, the primary half of a deliberate second album. That includes tracks like “Sociopath” and “No Extra Pals” with Oli Sykes, the mission showcased her willingness to experiment with edgier sounds. Nevertheless, she paused the discharge of Episodes: Season 2, opting to give attention to standalone singles like “Bitch Again” with FLETCHER, launched in 2022. This determination, shared candidly on the Zach Sang Present, mirrored her need to create with out the strain of a cohesive mission. Her 2024 EPs, love & limerence and in every single place i am going, there i’m, additional explored themes of romance and self-reflection, incomes strong fan assist with person scores of 59 and 60 on Album of the 12 months. O’Brien’s evolution highlights her dedication to authenticity over business expectations.
Past her music, O’Brien’s openness about psychological well being has cemented her as a relatable determine. She’s spoken candidly about her eight-year battle with melancholy, emphasizing that her songs aren’t calculated to boost consciousness however are real expressions of her feelings. “I simply wished to specific my emotions,” she informed tmrw journal, noting how writing helps her course of ache and transfer ahead. This uncooked strategy resonates along with her 3 million month-to-month Spotify listeners, who see her as a good friend who articulates their unstated struggles. Her social media presence—energetic on Instagram, Twitter, and her web site, oliviaobrienmusic.com—additional bridges the hole, providing glimpses of her life, from her pet cat Luna to her love for attempting new cuisines.
At 25, O’Brien continues to be navigating the complexities of fame and artistry. Her 2017 iHeartRadio Music Award nomination for Greatest Solo Breakout, although a loss to Zayn Malik, underscored her early impression. Shops like Paper Journal and NYLON have hailed her as a pop revolutionary, with The Coveteur calling her a playlist important. Her music’s endurance lies in its universality—songs like “UDK” and “I Don’t Exist” critique social media’s superficiality whereas embracing the awkwardness of feeling misplaced. As she informed First Avenue, “All of us really feel this fashion,” a reminder that her vulnerability is her power.
O’Brien’s affect extends past music into cultural commentary. Her lyrics problem the curated facades of Los Angeles’ social scene, the place she now resides, and replicate a technology grappling with authenticity in a digital age. Her collaboration with Island Data president David Massey, whom she credit for championing her artistry, has given her the liberty to experiment whereas staying true to her imaginative and prescient. Whether or not she’s writing poetry, as she does in her spare time, or penning her subsequent hit, O’Brien’s course of stays deeply private, a therapeutic outlet that doubles as a lifeline for her followers.
As Olivia O’Brien continues to evolve, her trajectory factors to a long-lasting legacy. With over a quarter-billion streams by 2018 and a rising discography that spans 46 releases, together with 10 EPs and 35 singles, she’s confirmed her endurance. Her skill to show ache into pop anthems, coupled along with her refusal to evolve, positions her as a voice for many who really feel unseen. In a world that always calls for perfection, O’Brien’s music is a reminder that it’s okay to be flawed, to really feel deeply, and to inform the reality—no filter required.
- E-mail: neill@outloudculture.com
