As a self-proclaimed “chronic collaborator”, Reid has connected with audiences around the world via collaborations such as "Time is Mine" with Kidswaste, "What You Came Here For” with Jae Luna, and “Above the Clouds” with SŸDE - a track with over 20 Million streams on Spotify alone. Also a chronic creative, Reid is constantly exploring new ideas in innovation technology, education, screenwriting, and podcasting - notably hosting the Spotify for Artists and Noteable series entitled, Song Start. There, Reid brought her multifaceted approach to production, songwriting, and human creativity to the table, in conversations with the likes of Sam Smith, Victoria Monét, Take a Daytrip and Hayley Williams of Paramore.
Olivia Reid’s debut EP Earth Water hit streaming platforms in 2021, with new songs on the way in 2023. Fueled by deeply personal lyrics and boundary-pushing production, the new project conceptually details an artist's slow descent into madness.
Press Releases
09.15.23//Indie-Pop Darling Olivia Reid Unveils Cinematically Rich EP: TO BE NAMED BY THE PEOPLE
Indie-Pop Darling Olivia Reid Unveils Cinematically Rich EP: TO BE NAMED BY THE PEOPLE
New York, NY – Renowned indie-pop artist Olivia Reid is set to release her latest EP, TO BE NAMED BY THE PEOPLE. With this EP, Olivia Reid unpacks emotions or experiences that are multi-layered. The times where exhaustion co-exists with adrenaline (“Runner’s High”), pain coexists with healing (“Wounds (Healing)”), grief coexists with joy (“Central Park West”), dreams coexist with unrest (“Nightmare Machine”), and madness coexists with clarity (“Madness - Act I, II, + III”). Reid’s cinematic and ethereal production styles take a similar approach, where organic elements collide with electronic concrete and synthetic textures. TO BE NAMED BY THE PEOPLE is available to stream and download worldwide.
Aptly named, Olivia Reid sought the opinion of her fans to title her latest record, at first using TO BE NAMED BY THE PEOPLE as a title placeholder. To her surprise, fans overwhelmingly agreed that the working title should stay, creating a project name that allows listeners to choose their own title based on what the songs mean to them. Having already received widespread acclaim for her previously released singles featured on the EP, Olivia Reid impresses with tracks like "Runner's High," a dynamic journey that reflects on her pursuit of progress and the motivation that comes with accomplishing goals. "Wounds (Healing)" artfully intertwines pop sensibilities with soft electronic rhythms and jazzy undertones as Reid explores her relationship with anxiety and painful memories. Not one to shy away from experimentation, "Nightmare Machine" offers listeners a unique opportunity to embrace collective restlessness. The song's expressive vocal delivery, paired with electronic accents and intricate folky-instrumentation, is reminiscent of indie-folk icons, Bon Iver and Florence & The Machine.
TO BE NAMED BY THE PEOPLE presents two brand-new tracks, "Madness (Act I)," written, produced, and performed by Reid herself, and “Madness (Act II + III),” a track Reid co-produced with collaborator, The Grand Mess. In this three-part journey, Reid delves into the concept of madness as a pathway to healing. “A few years ago, I wandered into a conversation about madness at a neuroscience convention in Berlin. One of the speakers was talking about how "madness" doesn't have a true definition, and anyone who we may deem "mad" as a society may very well just be living within a different way of being, in their own universe,” explains Reid. “I started to write a story from the 3rd person in three acts, detailing this fictional character losing their mind. But midway through writing I found moments of non-fiction within the story, and I changed the 3rd person pronouns into “I” statements. Suddenly it was me who was losing my mind alone in the woods in Act I.” Act I follows Reid as a characterized version of herself hiking in the woods - marked by the shuffle of her feet against the gravel and the percussive clang of her bear-deterrent bell. Blaming the loneliness of the woods as the cause of her lunacy, Reid sets her sights on the city. Act II drops Reid into the middle of the city's chaos, “lost and cold,” like everyone else. She quickly realizes the sensation of madness was never loneliness but rather was a signal of healing, exploring how a broken mind may find the sensation of healing to be so foreign, it seems mad. But by Act III, Reid turns to face the “madness,” realizing that it might not be madness at all, just an evolution. The three-part song ends with a plea from the world to “come back to Earth” to which Reid replies - “I can only try.” Reid's hauntingly soothing vocals, coupled with her deeply personal lyrics, create an immersive experience that resonates deep within the soul. Blending indie acoustics with bold electronic pop soundscapes, Reid crafts a visceral sonic world that leaves an ineradicable impression on listeners.
Recognized as a "prolific collaborator," Reid has connected with audiences worldwide through notable collaborations such as "Time is Mine" with Kidswaste, "What You Came Here For" with Jae Luna, and "Above the Clouds" with SŸDE, the latter reached over 21 million streams, and earned a gold record certification in Australia. Following the success of her debut EP, Earth Water, in 2021, Olivia Reid’s recent singles, including "Runner's High," "Wounds (Healing)," "Central Park West," and "Nightmare Machine," have garnered critical praise from top-tier outlets like Wonderland, Earmilk, The New Yorker, American Songwriter, and Under the Radar. Additionally, they have received prominent playlist support on Apple Music's Happy Pop and New Music Daily, Spotify's Morning Motivation, Infinite Indie Folk, Femme Fatale, Created By Women, GLOW, and Notable Releases, and Ones To Watch's Now Watching.
To celebrate the release of her EP, Olivia Reid is hosting a release and listening party on September 16th at a secret location in Brooklyn. RSVP HERE for the address and additional details.
Olivia Reid's unique and boundary-pushing production style in TO BE NAMED BY THE PEOPLE adds another dimension to her music, where organic elements seamlessly collide with electronic textures, creating a soundscape that envelopes listeners. Stream the EP on all digital platforms and keep up to date with her journey by visiting OliviaReid.com or @OliviaReidMusic on Instagram.
07.21.23//Olivia Reid Pleads for Peace on New Single “Nightmare Machine”
Olivia Reid Pleads for Peace on New Single “Nightmare Machine”
New York, NY - Following an undeniably relatable series of releases, indie dream-pop savant Olivia Reid is releasing her latest song, “Nightmare Machine.” This track compounds the deeply introspective style Reid is known for as she turns her craftsmanship inward, penning a powerful exploration of experiences from an artist unable to find respite. This melancholic single will be part of her upcoming EP and is now available for streaming or download on all major platforms.
In today’s world rife with seemingly constant turmoil, Olivia Reid’s “Nightmare Machine” produces a unique opportunity for listeners to revel in collective restlessness. Its sound balances the expressive vocal palettes of a seasoned singer-songwriter, assembled with electronic accents, complex instrumentation, and strategically articulated layering. Through rich metaphors and colorful imagery, Reid’s lyricism portrays the song’s straightforward subject, sleep, both as a sought-out refuge from turmoil and, paradoxically, an inundating source of fear and distress. This dichotomy is presented through an intensely personal narrative arc, with the strongest sonic movements occurring as Reid pleads with a figurative ‘King of Dreams’ to grant her the opportunity to recover from the unrelenting burdens created by day-to-day life. Reid’s vulnerability is underscored by the repetitive demand, “Dreamworld of my mind, let me let go,” lending a rhythm to the monotony and despair of the emotional state being described. While the song does not offer an explicit resolution to the anguish and exhaustion expressed, it provides an authentic portrayal of these states, validating and deeply connecting with those who have grappled with similar feelings.
Olivia Reid originally started writing “Nightmare Machine” in 2017 but didn’t finalize the song until recently. “I’ve always had very lucid dreams, and that lucidness can very quickly become terrifying whenever my dreams would turn into nightmares,” explained Reid. “The horrifying shooting in Las Vegas had just happened at the time, and thinking of what those families and survivors had gone through - the fear of shootings completely took over my nightmares.” In 2018, Reid mapped out the song’s arrangement and recorded it with several musicians, including Morgan Guerin on saxophone and Jack Schneider on guitar. “The next few years, especially during the pandemic, seeing the gun violence, racism, police brutality, and divisiveness that’s plagued the US — it all seeped into my subconscious, into these nightmares. While the song started as this sort of general plea for a good night's sleep, I think it has become a plea for peace and rest in general.” In 2022, Reid teamed up with NYC producer So Wylie to bring the evolution of the production to life. Wylie delivers a cinematic and new wave of sound design to the song's most impactful chorus. Will Brown was then brought in to add additional saxophone.
Based in NYC, Olivia Reid’s unique production style blends indie acoustics with exploratory electronic pop soundscapes, creating a distinctive sonic space to express her most inward emotions. Reid’s artistic style fuses the expressive sounds of artists like Bon Iver, Norah Jones, Sylvan Esso, and Florence + The Machine, with the viscerally emotional experiences she channels. Her eclectic ear as well as diverse interests in areas such as screenwriting, neuroscience, current events, and nature advocacy, work in tandem to mold the lyrical metaphors, stage presence, and, most notably, inspired sound design that she is known for. As a self-proclaimed “chronic collaborator,” Reid has connected with audiences around the world via collaborations such as "Time is Mine" with Kidswaste, "What You Came Here For” with Jae Luna, and “Above the Clouds” with SŸDE. Her music has been featured in Flaunt Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan, Wonderland, Earmilk, Celeb Mix, The New Yorker, Ones to Watch, and American Songwriter and has been added to several official Apple Music and Spotify playlists like Happy Pop, Metropolis, Chill Tracks, GLOW, Infinite Indie, Sunday Session, Dance Hits, and Golden Hour, garnering her over 40 million streams.
“Nightmare Machine” is an incredibly humanizing single, depicting Olivia Reid’s vulnerability through the fatigue of facing constant bad news. Stream “Nightmare Machine” on all digital platforms and keep up with her by visiting OliviaReid.com or by following @OliviaReidMusic on social media.
03.03.23//Olivia Reid Finds Her Stride With Latest Single “Runner’s High”
Olivia Reid Finds Her Stride With Latest Single “Runner’s High”
Indie-Pop Artist Muses About Moving Forward With Her Beat-Driven Track
New York, NY – Indie-pop artist Olivia Reid has swept in with the release of her latest single, “Runner’s High.” The electric track offers a glimpse into Reid’s forthcoming EP as she paves her way as an independent artist. Reid acknowledges the fast pace of life, imploring listeners to keep moving forward and to stay positive in the face of obstacles. “Runner’s High” is now available to stream and download on all platforms.
Coming in with a smooth, light opening before transitioning into a quicker-paced, pumping beat, “Runner’s High” grabs the attention of listeners with potent lyrics, and carries them through a musical journey perfect for a windows down drive or an outdoor festival. It touches on Reid’s perseverance, that even though challenges arise, there is a blissful nirvana in overcoming the odds. “Runner’s High” is a self-reflection, with Reid musing about her constant chase of progress, using the high that comes with accomplishing goals as a motivator. “'Runner’s High' describes the way I’ve conditioned myself to be a workhorse,” explains Reid. “A product of growing up in America, I guess.” Yet Olivia Reid is a shining example of what hard work and constantly chasing after your dreams can bring forth.
The indie-pop artist explained that an early iteration of the track was sent to her via Instagram by co-producers Ry Jones and Bastian Testori. Jones shared the idea, highlighting the track's luscious saxophone outro marked a perfect callback to Reid’s 2018 single “Organic Bloom.” “When I heard the early version, I was so inspired. I immediately asked if they wanted to collaborate on it. The concept for ‘Runner’s High’ came so quickly. This song feels like that moment when I’m sprinting, and my legs finally seem to move faster than my thoughts. My mind is free. At that point, the high, the bliss - feels earned - and it’s most definitely addicting,” says Reid. “I’m so grateful that Ry sent that Instagram message. It was such an organic creative process.”
Based in NYC, Olivia Reid’s production style blends indie acoustics with exploratory electronic pop soundscapes, landing listeners in a visceral sonic world. Drawing inspiration from artists like Bon Iver, Norah Jones, Sylvan Esso, and Florence + The Machine, these artists have worked in tandem to mold her lyrical metaphors, musicality, stage presence, and, most notably, her love of sound design. Reid’s interests are diversified, exploring areas such as screenwriting, neuroscience, digesting current events, advocating for nature - she’s currently involved with Brian Eno’s charity EarthPercent - and listening to podcasts - she formerly hosted Spotify For Artists and Notable’s Song Start podcast where she interviewed artists like Sam Smith, Victoria Monet, Hayley Williams of Paramore. With such profound sources of inspiration, Reid looks forward to releasing new tracks that touch listeners. As a self-proclaimed “chronic collaborator,” Reid has connected with audiences around the world via collaborations such as "Time is Mine" with Kidswaste, "What You Came Here For” with Jae Luna, and “Above the Clouds” with SŸDE. Her music has been featured in Flaunt Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan, The New Yorker, and American Songwriter and has been added to several official Spotify playlists like Happy Pop, Metropolis, Chill Tracks, Sunday Session, Dance Hits, and Golden Hour, garnering her over 40 million streams.
“Runner’s High” is the first of many tracks to come from Olivia Reid in 2023. Between her unique incorporation of synths, emotionally conscious lyrics, and electronic beats backing her glossy vocals, Olivia Reid is someone to watch out for. Stream “Runner’s High” on all digital platforms, and keep up to date with her by visiting OliviaReid.com or @oliviareidmusic.