Olive Black isn't your average artist. With a background in artist management and a life story that's taken her from Switzerland to Texas and back again, she's now stepping into the spotlight with a sound as raw and uncompromising as her experiences. Her latest single, 'Contemplate', is a dark pop anthem that takes aim at toxic relationships and the emotional vampires who thrive on control.
Having survived an abusive relationship and navigated the often-turbulent waters of the music industry, Olive's journey has been anything but straightforward. Her music reflects this, exploring themes of darkness, chaos, and the complexities of human emotion with unflinching honesty.
We sat down with Olive to dive into the creative forces behind her music, her upcoming EP 'Reflectō', and why honesty, no matter how brutal, is at the heart of everything she creates.
It's great to have this chance to speak with you, Olive. How did you first start making music? Where did it all begin?
"It started with pain. I wrote my first poem at 10, my first song in 5th-grade choir, but trauma is what drove me to create. After a series of rough events endured while living in Austin, Texas, I fled to Switzerland, where I poured everything into writing and producing in my studio. Meeting Ephrem Lüchinger was a turning point - we both knew making an album was the only option. Five years and over 100 songs later, here we are."
How would you describe your sound?
"It’s hard to define - each song has its own vibe, but my voice and story are the constants. I love bending genres, fusing sounds that shouldn’t work but somehow do, creating this raw, chaotic atmosphere. My first EP, 'Interitus', shows that range: 'Execute' leans into trap and electronic, while “Exposure” has a softer, more classical tone. With my next EP, 'Reflectō', I’m diving even deeper into that contrast, refusing to box myself in or limit where my sound can go.
What influences most define your music?
"Beyond my own life and struggles, I’m deeply inspired by art that confronts chaos and darkness. Filmmakers like David Lynch, Yorgos Lanthimos, Park Chan-Wook, and Tarantino, and artists like H.R. Giger, Zdzisław Beksiński, and Salvador Dalí transform discomfort into beauty. I’m drawn to the gritty truths most people avoid - the raw, unsettling parts of life that give it weight. That’s what I aim to capture in my music: the ugly truths that few dare to face."
Can you tell us about your new song?
"'Contemplate' is a big f*** you to anyone who’s ever tried to control you, and in my case… very specific ex’s and shit friends. It’s about breaking free from people who get off on the non-consensual pain they caused—those emotional vampires we all know too well. There’s no sugar-coating, no soft edges. It’s about realising you don’t owe anyone, especially when they’ve been feeding off your misery. It’s my way of taking my power back."
What is your songwriting process? How does it all come together?
"My process is pure chaos - I don’t sit down with a neat plan or formula. It usually starts with a spark from pain, a shit memory, or a feeling that just won’t let go. I dive in headfirst; it’s messy, dark, and raw—that’s where the real magic lives. Once I have the foundation, I team up with Ephrem Lüchinger, and together we mould, bend, and sometimes break it until we find something that just feels right."
What’s the most important thing for you when you’re writing a song?
"Honesty and authenticity. I don’t care if it’s pretty or not, If it doesn’t bleed some kind of truth, then it’s not worth writing. Creating is my therapy… in this space I am safe and through that, I want people to feel something, whether that’s love, rage or sadness or even disgust. Oh, you love it… cool. Oh, you hate it… cool. I’m content with any reaction as long as it’s real. "
What would your dream collaboration be?
"First a question - dead or alive? If we’re talking the departed, I’d love to work with legends like Billie Holiday, Hieronymus Bosch, Stanley Kubrick, Federico Fellini, Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelly, Oscar Wilde, H.R. Giger, and, of course, Amy Winehouse. That list could go on forever though."
"As for the living, I’m obsessed with Sir Chloe right now, but if I ever got the chance to collaborate with David Lynch, Sevdaliza or Marina Abramovic, that might actually cure my depression."
What advice would you give to bands looking to make it?
"Be you - create what you love, and don’t worry about what’s 'correct'. Be as weird, wild, and messed up as you want. If you’re real, people feel it. If you’re fake, you’ll fade like every other generic band. And know a little bit about the music business; that knowledge has been a game-changer for me."
Ultimately, Olive Black is a force to be reckoned with. Her music is a testament to the power of authenticity and the resilience of the human spirit. With 'Contemplate' making waves and 'Reflectō' on the horizon, she's poised to make a lasting impact on the music scene. Keep an eye out for this rising star – she's only just getting started.
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