Olivia Grasso
Nashville-based artist Olivia Grasso recently released her latest single “Late Night TV” and it’s an instant smash ! Co-written with Ele Ivory and produced by Dan Alber, the uptempo pop/electronic single is about how two-faced we all can be when it comes to our lives through a screen. “This song is about addressing the reality of attacking people behind a screen just to smile to their face and pretend like we don’t have any issues,” she says.
“Late Night TV” is not only a great record, it also addresses an important message that we barely get to hear in pop music nowadays. “Late Night TV” is standing out from the rest of the music we hear today and it’s one of these songs that will you make you dance but it will also make you stop and think about today’s society. This new single is a big game changer in my opinion :)
“Late Night TV” is now available worldwide !!
Photo credit: Ashley Hurst
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
I’m Olivia! I was born in raised in the Nashville area and absolutely love it here. I’ve been singing and playing piano since I was in kindergarten. I can’t tell my story without Jesus and if He’s not a part of yours then that’s ok! The only reason I am where I am in music today is because of growing up in church.
I’ve been pursuing pop music for 4 years and released my first single in September of 2020. Although I love and appreciate the music that is born in church, pop music just felt like the right direction for me.
I love people and love connecting with people. I want my music to connect in ways that some people aren’t able to understand. I used to think my story of growing up in church was boring and not relatable, especially in the pop world, but I’m learning that’s not true at all and that there is so much more I want to share with whoever will listen.
How would you define Olivia Grasso, the artist?
I would say “Olivia Grasso” is bold, honest, energetic, free, passionate, joyful and honestly, cool! I want my songs to make people feel more like themselves when they listen. If I can provide an escape to hope, joy, and freedom, even just for 2-3 minutes, then we win. I want to be artistic and innovative within the pop industry while never sacrificing who I am and where I came from.
"Late Night TV" is your new single - what's the inspiration behind this song?
I was thinking about how two-faced we all can be when it comes to our lives through a screen... whether that’s the highlight reel of our life or the “bark” that comes when we disagree with someone. It's fabricated and heartbreaking, to a degree. I wanted to write something that felt cool and relatable but was also very honest. I’m just as guilty of all this, but I’m working to come to a place where I’m so secure in who I am that I don’t care what culture may demand of me. That’s what the song is about. I hope it’s thought-provoking but also makes everyone wanna get up and dance.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this particular song?
This song was made 75% virtually, which is mind-blowing to me. I’m such a face-to-face person, so I wasn’t thrilled about it all in the beginning, but it’s fitting for the song, coincidentally.
“Late Night TV" was written with one of my greatest friends, Ele Ivory, over FaceTime. I had the idea and had a horrible demo of it that we picked and pulled from. Once we had the song, I sent a piano vocal to Dan Alber who demoed it for me. Once I heard that demo, I knew I had to release it. I actually didn’t have any plans for the song until then. I knew it was a great song but was still trying to figure out what was next for me. I actually screamed when I first heard it. I listened over and over for a week!
After that, we went to Gnome Studio in Nashville to track vocals. It was myself, Dan Alber, and Brett Killingsworth, who helped with vocal production and mixed it! I loved this day so much. It felt like I was exactly where I needed to me. I couldn’t stop smiling to myself feeling so thankful.
What did you feel when writing this song?
There are so many lines in this song that I love. I felt inspired and passionate about the subject. Ele and I had been trying to write for a while at this point as well, so it was all exciting. This song isn't surface-level by any means either, so we were both digging deep into the questions that living in a world with social media and TV bring.
What's your favorite thing about this single?
I’m obsessed with the lyrical content as well as the production, but all of that happened because of the people. So my favorite thing about it is who is behind it. Finding the right people to work with is one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced so far in the industry, but these people were gold. I love them all so much.
What made you want to release "Late Night TV" as a single?
It’s exactly the direction I want my artistry to continue to grow into. Everything about it feels authentically me.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
Ashley Hurst and I did a shoot in the streets of downtown Nashville. I absolutely love her eye and technique. Once I saw the photo of myself kind of bending over, it felt twisted and obscure. I rotated the image to get what you see now. It felt true to the song… turned and twisted to create a weird illusion.
Mackenna Hood added the title and my name. I sent her a board of inspo from old 80s and 90s late night TV titles.
What message do you want to deliver with this single?
What you’re seeing on your phone, what you’re reading on the news, and what you’re watching on TV isn’t reality 90% of the time. We don’t have to pretend like everything is ok, but we also don’t have to hide the beauty in life and be sad. Dance, cry, feel the emotions of life, but don’t do it based on the hype and popularities of our culture.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The hardest part is holding fast to my identity and standing firm in it. The people around me will change, my ideas and opinions will change, and part of being an artist is opening the door to let people see it all. If I don’t know who I am, then comparison comes, bitterness comes, pride comes, jealousy comes, confusion comes and those things will kill any creative.
As for the best part, I played a show recently and someone I hadn’t met before came up to me and said, “I feel so much joy after listening to your set and I don’t know why.” That’s the best part. The moments when you know you’re doing exactly what you were created to do. The divine moments where writing, recording, and performing feel like second nature. When people actually verbalize what you’ve been praying for.
Doing it with the right people, once you find them, is also one of my favorite things. I don’t want to do this alone and I don’t believe I’m meant to.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I would change the competitiveness. I fully believe that what I’m destined for, no one could take even if they spent their entire life trying. There’s no need to withhold something in fear that someone else will take your place. There is obviously wisdom that is needed, but in terms of “my piece of the pie and your piece of the pie”... there are no “pieces”. It’s your pie and it’s my pie. There are separate things. I don’t want what’s in yours because it’s not meant for me, but let me help you get there if it can!
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
That it’s ok for the people you work with to change, ebb and flow. It’s ok to let people leave your life. It's ok to be hurt, but it’s also ok to move on in love. This is one of hardest things, but when people don’t show up, it’s ok to let them and move forward.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Actually understanding and encountering the real love of Jesus.
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