Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Olivia Helman

THE RELEASE

Meet 21-year-old Asian-American singer-songwriter Olivia Hellman. Born in San Francisco and studiously carving out her path at NYU Tisch, Olivia has rounded herself out as a triple threat, with mastery over singing, acting, and dance. She’s established a unique sound within the BrattyPop genre, a space with roots in pop while having a heavy, rebellious rock flare representative of Gen Z. Olivia’s work serves as an instrumental recollection of resilience and empowerment. Dive into the dynamic world of Olivia Hellman and experience the raw, uncontained energy bursting from her as she barrels full-speed through her musical career.

Unleash your inner rebel with Olivia Hellman's new single, “Prove It!” This pop/rock revenge anthem, just released on February 16th, is the unapologetic statement of proving the naysayers and doubters dead wrong. Olivia will visually take you on a experience in the music video inspired by the punk scene, coming-of-age films, and that never-ending gut-wrenching feeling where the main characters confront the lies and the deceit. The video was shot in the iconic Brooklyn location from the opening of “Saturday Night Fever” as an homage to the rebellious youth culture and to capture the inner defiance against the odds. Come join Olivia Hellman as she sets the stage for a triumphant stand against adversity with “Prove It!”.

THE INTERVIEW

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

My favorite artist as a kid was Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. She was my first concert when I was 4 years old, and even though I was so young, I fell in love with her and her music.  Her album “Eye to the Telescope” was played in our house nonstop.  I recently saw her perform at Sony Music Hall in New York, and I am just as obsessed with her now as I was 17 years ago.  Her lyricism and her strong musical ear are infectious, and growing up with her songs was definitely one of my more formative introductions into music.

I also can’t deny that I am unapologetically a Swiftie, and Taylor Swift gave me the confidence to put pen to paper when it came to my songwriting.  “Speak Now”, her first album that was entirely self written, was so influential to me.  I always had melodies and lyrics in my head, but I was so hesitant to write them down because I never thought they’d be good enough.  But her work ethic and ambition inspired me to dream bigger, and that with hard work and dedication, those dreams can come true.  Especially as a woman, seeing Taylor achieve such success in an overwhelmingly male-dominated industry makes me feel like there’s a place for me too. 

My “rock-star” persona is modeled after so many iconic female rock singers, and for me Pat Benatar is the most prominent.  Not only am I obsessed with her music, but Pat’s presence is electric, all eyes are on her.  I love watching archives of her performances, and I like to emulate her while I’m onstage, whether it be through fashion or attitude.

Last but not least, my all time idol will always be Celine Dion.  As much as I love the grittiness and flare of pop-rock music, I am a sucker for a power ballad, and Celine is the queen of them.  She has a voice that could launch a thousand ships,” and I could only dream to be as incredible as her one day.  Her talent and her strength never cease to amaze me.  Plus any of her songs is my go-to at karaoke!

Were there any personal experiences or stories that influenced the creation of the music video, and if so, how did they shape the final product?

I love paying homage to pieces of visual art that have come before me - whether it be film, tv, or other music videos.  Reinterpretations are my favorite little Easter egg to have and my favorite concept to see other artists do!  For my music video for my song “Mr. Ego Boy,” I recreated Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s infamous “Blurred Lines” music video, but from a female perspective, which I had so much fun doing and I wanted to do again with my music videos!

I had stumbled across Saturday Night Fever, a movie that I definitely knew of, but had never seen before.  From the moment it started, I was immediately drawn in.  I especially loved the visuals and how captivating they were, from the lights of the disco to the streets of Brooklyn.  That opening scene is so iconic, one that people would immediately recognize from the first frame.  I loved John Travolta’s debonair and self-assured strut across 20th Avenue and 86th Street.  How everyone turned their heads as they passed.  When I saw those visuals, I immediately thought of my song “Prove It!” and the subtle edge and energy it gives off.  I thought “Why not make a music video recreating this opening scene?”  It was interesting to see the area and how different it is in 2024, and I was also able to add my one personality and flare while still paying homage to the film.

What was the most rewarding aspect of making the music video, and what message do you hope viewers take away from it?

This was my first time co-directing a music video, and it was such a rewarding experience for me.  It has always been my dream to direct, and being able to direct my own music video was something I never imagined I would do, at least not until further along in my career.  Working with my co-director Jacob Maximillian Baron has been wonderful, and if it weren’t for him my vision would have never come to fruition.  Being in a collaborative process is always so rewarding as an artist, and I hope that people will take away from this that you don’t need to put yourself in a box, you can do anything if you put your mind to it.  I can’t wait for everyone to see it!

Can you share any interesting anecdotes about the song's development with your co-writers or producers?

I knew that I wanted to release a song about getting revenge at some point in my career.  One day, I went into the studio for a session with David Maurice, my producer, and Jon Pasquarella, my co-writer, and I told them that I wanted to work on a revenge song.  All I had were a couple of lyrics written down and a place-holder title: “The Untitled Revenge Song.”  When I showed them, David said “what if we just called the song that? ‘Untitled Revenge Song!’” After working on a hook, the song title was eventually renamed “Prove It!,” but it will always be “The Untitled Revenge Song” to me.

When it comes to the songwriting on this record, what is the message you want to get across to your listeners?

I grew up in the performing arts world, and from a young age, I would get this feeling of insecurity and doubt in myself.  No matter how hard I worked, there was always this little voice in my head that would tell me I wasn’t good enough.  I wrote this song as a way of owning my power and proving my worth, especially to that little girl and the voice in her head.  I really encourage listeners to stand up and stand tall!  Don’t listen to what other people say, follow your instincts and trust your gut, and most importantly be your most confident self!

KEEP UP WITH OLIVIA HELMAN BELOW: