Kat Harlton
Photos provided via PR team
Rising Canadian pop phenomenon Olivia Penalva, recently released her brand new single “Spiderwebs” on March 14th via Tunecore on all streaming platforms.
Produced by Ryan Stewart (Victoria Duffield, Carly Rae Jepsen, Simple Plan), “Spiderwebs” is an emotional and melodic pop-dance track describing losing your sense of identity in a relationship. It is the first glimpse of new material from Olivia’s forthcoming debut full-length album, set to be released later this year.
Since releasing her debut single at the age of 13, Olivia Penalva has evolved into a versatile artist and songwriter. Boasting over 25 million streams to date and several Top 20 radio hits, Olivia has joined the ranks of Canada’s rising pop stars.
In 2021, Olivia earned herself a Top 20 spot on Canadian radio for her hit single “Love Me” which then became the #2 most-added song at CHR Mediabase. Her following single “Ex’s” hit the Top 20 on CHR and Hot AC radio in Canada, and was Olivia’s foray into US radio, earning her a Top 50 slot on mainstream pop radio
I had the opportunity to chat with Olivia about her musical journey, her new single and what’s next.
Kat: Can you share with us a bit about yourself and your music journey so far?
Olivia: I’m Olivia Penalva and a singer-songwriter from British Columbia, Canada. I’ve been making music since I was eleven years old and other than my family, it is the most important part of my life. Music has always been a form of self-expression for myself. I started because I loved to tell stories and when I realized that I could sing, it kind of just took off from there and I never looked back.
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your new single “Spiderwebs”?
Olivia: This song is about the consequences of someone else controlling your life. It represents the aftermath of a relationship gone wrong and how entangled we can become in someone else’s webs and how catastrophic it can be when that person doesn’t have your best interests at heart.
Kat: What do you hope fans take away from the song?
Olivia: When people hear this song, I hope it’s a reminder that we need to be in control of ourselves and our lives. That no one person should be able to take that away from you and that we have to protect the things that make us who we are.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Olivia: I think the most challenging part of the creative process is sharing your work with the world. As exciting as it is, it’s also scary to be so vulnerable. Everything you create, whether it’s about you or not, is very personal so no matter how excited you are to share it, it’s always a little nerve-wracking because you want people to love it as much as you do.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far?
Olivia: I think one of my most proud moments in my career was when my single “Ex’s” went to US radio for the first time and ended up getting a Top 50 placement. I had only released music to Canadian radio before so to see something I created do that well in another country was so exciting! Definitely a highlight!
Kat: What have you learned along the way? What would you would like to share with other aspiring artists and creators?
Olivia: I’ve learned that you have to be in control of your art and that your team is one of the most important parts of being an artist. They are your supporters and advocates and no artist can do everything on their own. It really does take a village and having people that you trust and that have your back is truly the most important thing.
Kat: What else can fans expect from you for the balance of 2024?
Olivia: I’ve been working away on an album for the last two years that I cannot wait to share very soon. It’s been a little while since I’ve released a full body of work and I’ve truly poured blood, sweat and tears into this project. I hope the world loves it as much as I do.
Connect With Olivia
Twitter: @Oliviapenalva
Facebook: /OliviaMusicLive
Instagram: @oliviapenalva
Website: https://oliviapenalva.com