OLIVIA LUNNY: Finding My Voice - The Story So Far

© Ivy Tellin

From uploading a first song aged 12 to connecting with listeners worldwide, for Olivia Lunny, music became more than a passion - it became a purpose.

“Music has always felt like home to me. I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, surrounded by melodies, my dad playing guitar in our living room, and me scribbling poems in my notebook. I wasn’t chasing a career at first; I was just trying to make sense of my feelings. But somewhere along the way, songwriting became more than a creative outlet. It became a calling.

I wrote my first real song at 12 and uploaded it online without expecting much. But when people started connecting with it, something clicked. I realized music could be a bridge: One between my inner world and someone else’s. That realization changed everything.

Aged 17, I released my first EP, and not long after, I won a national music competition that gave me my first real shot in the industry. That chapter launched me into a world that felt surreal—collaborating with artists I admired, touring, and eventually moving to Los Angeles to dive fully into this life.

As a creative, I’d describe myself as a translator. Someone who turns emotion into sound. I’m drawn to contrasts: light and dark, soft and raw. My music lives in the space between dreamy pop and alt-soul, always anchored in storytelling. I’m endlessly curious about how sound can express what words alone can’t.

At the heart of everything I create is a search for truth. I don’t write songs to be perfect, I write them to be real. Whether it’s heartbreak, hope, loneliness, or desire, I want to give those feelings a voice. And I want listeners to feel less alone when they hear it.

My style blends atmospheric production with lyrics that cut deep. I often pair warm, ethereal sounds with gritty themes. It mirrors how life feels: beautiful, but complicated! 

I treat songwriting like both a practice and a ritual. I’m always writing and capturing thoughts, feelings, and fragments of life in my notes app or voice memos. Sometimes a melody leads the way, sometimes it’s a lyric that keeps playing in my head until I turn it into a song. I follow the feeling more than a formula.

My message is simple: Your emotions are valid. Whether you’re in love, in pain, or in between, I want my music to be a mirror. If one song helps someone feel seen, I’ve done my job.

My latest single, Marilyn, is all about reclaiming your power. It’s inspired by the duality of femininity. Softness and strength, vulnerability and confidence. I wanted to create a song that made people feel glamorous, fearless, and totally themselves, like walking through the world in slow motion with your head held high.

Writing Marilyn was a playful and empowering process. I leaned into bold lyrics, organic production, and the energy of unapologetic self-expression. It’s the kind of song you put on when you need a reminder of your worth - when you’re getting ready to go out, chasing a dream, or standing your ground! For me, it’s a personal anthem of confidence, and I hope it becomes that for others too. 

The biggest challenge I’ve faced in my journey is learning how to live with uncertainty. In music, and in life, there are no guarantees. No one hands you a map. You just have to trust your gut, take the leap, and build the bridge as you walk it.

In the beginning, that uncertainty used to scare me. I wanted answers, timelines, clarity. But over the years, I’ve come to see the unknown as a space for possibility. Some of the most beautiful moments in my life and career have come from the unexpected collaborations I never saw coming, songs that arrived out of nowhere, and opportunities that arrived last minute. at first. Now, I try to meet uncertainty with curiosity instead of fear.

I’m inspired by artists who are emotionally fearless. Lana Del Rey, Fleetwood Mac and Miley Cyrus. Beyond music, I find creativity in film, poetry, fashion, architecture and especially in moments of stillness where I can just observe.

Looking ahead, I’m beyond excited to play festivals this summer and for my Debut  Album, Velvet & Deni,m to come out early June! Also manifesting “Best New Artist” at the Grammys in the next 5 years… Lots and lots of work ahead, but good things take time.” 

Follow Olivia on Instagram, TikTok and listen to her music here