Interview with OLIVIA

After a roughly two-year break from music, singer/song writer OLIVIA returned earlier this year with two new singles, both featured in Yazawa Ai's "Nana" animated series, and delighted her numerous international fans by dropping in on the Pacific Media Expo in Los Angeles, California, on October 28th. She made her first appearance in the judging of a "Nana" cosplay contest, which gave fans a chance to show off their costuming skill, talk a bit about the "Nana" series, and greet OLIVIA. Many in attendance were obviously long time fans and one appeared to be near tears when given the opportunity to express how much OLIVIA's music had meant to her.

Aftwerwards, JaME was given a chance to sit down for a one-on-one interview with this talented star to talk about her concert scheduled later that night and her thoughts on performing in America for the first time.


What are your thoughts on being back in front of an audience after so long?

OLIVIA: It feels really, really good. I've been wanting to come back for the last year before I released the Nana stuff. I'm so happy to be busy again; so happy to be making music. And I'm really excited to be making my original music as well right now.

How do you feel about finally coming over to America after spending so much of your career in Japan?

OLIVIA: It's a little... ah... what's the word, um, what's the word.... I guess I'm a little nervous about it. What's the word, I can't think of the word! (laughs) But it feels really good. It feels really good to to see fans here. I get all of this mail from my fans from all around the world saying, "Hey, please do a show here, please do a show here!" A month before I got this PMX gig, everyone was like, "You gotta do a show in LA!" It was always LA for some reason! (laughs) I was like, "I would love to but...!"

So here you are in LA now! (laughs) So is that why you decided to come to California as opposed to New York or another place in America?

OLIVIA: For PMX?

Yeah, was there any particular reason?

OLIVIA: Ah, no (laughs)

Do you have a preference when it comes to singing in either Japanese or English?

OLIVIA: Oh, I would definitely like to sing in English. For me, it's more natural and I can play around more; there's more creativity and more things that I can do. I guess that when I sing in Japanese, there's certain things that I'm not allowed to do and that I don't know that I can't do, so I make a lot of mistakes. It really takes a lot of time and effort to do it in Japanese.

How do you make the decision when writing a song- is it a conscious decision to write it in Japanese or in English? Is it based on the subject?

OLIVIA: Basically, I would, ah.... It depends. If it's a single, then I definitely would want to sing it in Japanese. If it's a lead track on the album then I would sing it in Japanese, because I want them to understand what I'm saying. So the b-sides would probably be English.

Do you speak any other languages?

OLIVIA: Any other languages? No.

Are you interested in learning any other languages?

OLIVIA: Yeah, yeah, yeah. French, Spanish.... I guess I would- I still have to master writing the Japanese kanji, I still have so much to learn about Japanese.

Can you give us any insight into your creative process when it comes to your lyrics? What inspires you?

OLIVIA: My lyrics... It's my peaks; it's my very lows and my very highs that I write about. I definitely write about how I'm feeling at the moment, I try not to remember a time when I was, you know.... I don't try to write about somebody. It's always about what I'm feeling at the time, something that I'm thinking at the moment.

So you don't like to dwell on the past?

OLIVIA: No, not really. But I do, but I don't like to write about that too much.

With how many songs you've written over the years, is there any one in particular that's really special to you?

OLIVIA: That's really special to me? Um... (quiet for a moment) Alone in our Castle. That one is really special to me. Cupid. Sugarbloodsuckers. Um... There are songs that I haven't released too that're very special to me but I'm trying to save them for a good time (laughs)

Can I ask why those?

OLIVIA: The songs I just chose?

Yes.

OLIVIA: Well, Alone in our Castle.... I was really, really hurt at the time and that song, when I wrote it and sang it, it really healed me and I felt so, so, so close to the song. It came out so naturally and so easily. It's the same with Denial too, that song. I love the songs that come out so fast and easily and you're not really thinking about it. It really feels like you're channeling it from your heart.

So is it pretty quick for you, writing music?

OLIVIA: Music like that? Yes. But there are the more pop-y songs like some of the ones I'm writing right now and some of the ones for Trapnest. It's not easy for me to write a pop-y song. I really have to sit down and.... At least give me two weeks, to think of the melody! (laughs) I want to make it as good as I can. It takes time.

When you first went solo, how did you feel about performing in front of an audience like that? Were you nervous?

OLIVIA: I was nervous, I was nervous. I wasn't that good at Japanese too so when I did TV performances and interviews, I would still kind of- I couldn't really get my words across or my personality across. But... yeah. It was fine, it was fine. I still wasn't really- at the beginning of my solo career, I wasn't really doing exactly what I wanted. It was more what the record label wanted, and what I wanted, right inbetween. So it wasn't... you know, for the first couple singles (laughs) I think everyone can tell though.

Is there anything about working in a group that you do miss? Or are you happier out on your own, doing your own thing?

OLIVIA: Yeah, I would like to do a band one day. Because it is easier, as in a lot of the stuff that I can do, I can spread out the work. It's faster, it's easier, it's fun! When you go out on tour as well. And the thing is, I'm so picky about my music and so once a lot of people start getting in.... It's like "I don't want that, I don't want this, I don't want that, I don't want this" (laughs) So there are good things about being solo too.

Well, speaking of that.... Some of your siblings are also involved in music. Have you thought about making a band with them?

OLIVIA: Yeah! My sister and I, and my brother actually, we write songs together for fun, like all kinds. Like an R&B song, just for a laugh, you know? And then, my sister and I wrote this really chick Beastie Boys-like song; it was really cool. We're just trying to- I guess we're just going to mess around a little bit more and see what would be interesting.

Might release something in the future?

OLIVIA: Maybe, maybe (pauses) Definitely! (laughs) Come on, we have to.

In 2005, you performed at the "Halloween of the Living Dead" event hosted by HYDE. What was that like?

OLIVIA: Oh my goodness. That was... that was amazing. The crowd was so amazing, their costumes were just like- whoo! It was good. HYDE's performance was amazing, his show was great, his costume was amazing (laughs). He was dressed up as Edward Scissorhands and in the show that we did together, he was dressed up as a Japanese student. A girl, with a pleated skirt and a blouse and a wig. It was amazing and he's a really nice guy.

Did you wear any costumes?

OLIVIA: No, I didn't. But I had three- four... three? Three people dressed up in kigurumi costumes which is like a teddy bear, a bunny outfit. The real thing with the fur and everything, and they were dancing in the background, like moshing and doing little performances. It was interesting. We actually took that and got that on video. We might release it somewhere, some day.

I'm sure your fans hope so! Are there any other musicians that you would like to work with in the future?

OLIVIA: In the future.... In Japan?

Anywhere? (laughs)

OLIVIA: Oooh, there's so many (laughs) There's so many musicians that I would love to work with. But... (quiet for a long moment) I don't know, I don't know. I think I would need to think about that a little bit more.

What's your experience been like in working on the "Nana" anime?

OLIVIA: It's been very.... It's been good for me; I've learned a lot about teamwork. It's not about me, this project; it's Nana, it's Reira, and Trapnest. There's so many... There's Yazawa Ai, the writer, there's her management, there's Avex, there's my management, there's me, and so we're all working together. Taking everyone's opinions and coming to me and I'm like okay okay okay. It's like teamwork, you know? It's been a good experience.

Has it been difficult for you to write songs for the Nana anime?

OLIVIA: It's been easy because my style is kind of like Trapnest's. Yazawa Ai-sensei wanted- her image of Trapnest is this heavy, distorted guitar, really dark and gothic with like a little feather floating on top; my voice. Like Denial or Merry & Hell Go Round. There's a lot of songs in that album that had that style so that's why the job came to me. I mean it is easy in a way but it's hard because they want it to be very melodious. So making the chorus, it takes a little bit more effort.

Were you familiar with "Nana" beforehand?

OLIVIA: Nope, nope. The job came to me and everyone was so excited; "Nana!" And I was like, "Nana? What's that?" (laughs) But right away I read the comic and I saw the movie. I was really surprised at how Reira- I got this part and I thought we had so many things in common. I really know- I really know how she feels. So I was really excited to do this.

On your website, we can see some of the artwork that you've created. What motivated you to try your hand at art as well?

OLIVIA: During the two years that I wasn't doing well, that I was on my break, I couldn't write. I wanted to take a break from music because my passion went down after doing so much work; after the Lost Loli album, I was like, I can't make anymore music, I can't do this anymore. So I started to draw because I needed a way to get my art out and not have someone tell me that I have to make it like this or that. I just needed something where I could just let all my real emotions and thoughts out. So that's when I started to draw.

Do you have any plans on continuing that in the future?

OLIVIA: Yep, I think I will.

Some years ago, you also had a fashion label. Could you tell us a bit more about that?

OLIVIA: Yeah, I did that with Kozue Rin and we did that for about two years. It went really well but she moved, she decided to move to the States. And I definitely could not have done it by myself, because I have my own thing to do too, so we just finished it.

Do you think you'll start a project like that again in the future?

OLIVIA: Yeah, definitely.

Maybe another clothing line?

OLIVIA: Maybe, maybe. My sister and I were talking; maybe a t-shirt or something simple or... I dunno (laughs) We still have a lot of ideas and need to talk about stuff.

What made you decide to mostly express your creativity through music, as opposed to art or fashion?

OLIVIA: I don't know (laughs) I just naturally.... When I listen to music, it... (quiet for a long moment) I don't know, I just started singing when I was little. I just started dancing, I started singing and I just I- I love music. I just love music so much. I dunno, I dunno, what is it? I feel the most peaceful when I'm listening to music. And when I'm singing... When I feel nervous or when I feel down, I just start to hum, just to calm myself down.

How does it feel when you're on stage?

OLIVIA: I... It feels really good on stage. I'm actually very shy and nervous, and a very bad communicator, and a really lonely kind of girl. When I'm on stage, I can forget everything; I can forget my past and get into that moment, get into the music. It feels so good. I feel the most peace when I'm on stage.

Have you given any thought to other ways you might express yourself in the future, like maybe writing a book?

OLIVIA: Oh yeah, like a book. I've thought about doing that but not any time soon. Painting and drawing.... Visual art, I've thought about visual art because I love music videos. I love Michel Gondry and Chris Cunningham and oh my goodness. Have you seen Rubber Johnny by Chris Cunningham?

No, I haven't.

OLIVIA: It's so amazing, it's so inspiring. Chris Cunningham took music videos to the next level and I just thought I want to do something like that too. Like my sister and I do a lot of visual art for fun and sometimes for my shows, we would put it on the back screen. It's been really fun, I'd like to do something like that.

Do you think you'd like to direct a music video?

OLIVIA: Oh my goodness. I think I will, one day (laughs) Definitely. I have so many ideas for cool music videos.

Are you really close to your family still?

OLIVIA: Yeah. Very, very close. My sister and my brother and I are- we're best friends and we never fight. We're so, so nice to each other. I really miss them. I can't wait to see them; they're going to come today.

Is the whole family coming here for your show?

OLIVIA: Oh no. My parents live in Germany right now but hopefully I'll be able to see them in December.

Speaking of Germany, can we expect to see any more international shows from you?

OLIVIA: I hope so! I've got to release some albums here and my mini-album is gonna come out in January and then a Trapnest album is gonna come out after that. Then we're also planning a full album right after the Trapnest album so I don't know when I would be able to do that. But I'm thinking, maybe in two years, after two years, I think I'll be able to do more things like that.

You definitely want to come back to America?

OLIVIA: Oh yes! (laughs)

(laughs) Definitely want to tour Europe?

OLIVIA: Yeah, definitely, definitely. I think in two years, my musical level will also go up so it's good, it's good. It'll be good in two years.

What are some of your other ambitions for the future?

OLIVIA: Other ambitions.... (quiet for a moment) Well, I want to learn the guitar more properly. That's something that I wanna do. I want to travel more. I want to travel and I want to help more, I want to do more. I want to help, like go to Africa or do volunteer work or that kind of thing. Because I definitely think that's something that I have to do when things calm down a bit.

Were you surprised to have so many international fans?

OLIVIA: Was I surprised? Recently, I've been getting so much mail from foreign countries but yeah, I've been surprised (laughs) I'm very, very thankful. I feel very lucky.

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JaME would like to thank the PMX staff, Avex, and of course OLIVIA herself for all of their help!