Hailing from Nelson in New Zealand’s South Island, Oliv (FKA NÏKA) has steadily built up a following with her ethereal pop soundscapes. Having grown up in a musical family, as the younger sister of electro pop heavyweights Broods, Oliv has collaborated with the likes of Flight Facilities, BAYNK, and SACHI, and her debut single “If You Find A Way To Heaven” has surpassed 220k plays on Spotify.
We caught up with Oliv to chat about her songwriting process, cutting her collaborator teeth with legendary local producers, and the Kiwi artists she’s digging at the moment.
Best Before: What is your earliest memory of making music?
Oliv: I cant remember a specific very early on memory other than an apparent two line riff I wrote and sung over and over that my family still jokes about. I wont tell you what it is — all I can say, is that I’ve gotten much better at writing since then.
As for my first complete song I wrote, I was 13/14 and wrote it on guitar then added lyrics in my room. I got sick of singing that one song after a while and so I wrote another and then another. Now we are here.
Other memories were being in school choirs and singing, learning how to harmonise, and all that jazz through them.
“It is honest; I couldn’t sing it seriously if it wasn’t.”
What artists did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to a lot of what my parents liked, all quite different which is cool. The older we got, the more influence we had on who we listened to, and mum would take us to the CD shop in the mall. Back in those days, you could put on headphones and listening to the latest albums, we loved it. The main ones I remember and I’m still very fond of are Cat Stevens, The Eagles, The Corrs, Brooke Fraser, Lene Marlin, Norah Jones, and Katie Melua.
How would you describe the music you make?
My music is true to me and where I am personally in that moment in my life. I write about my own experiences as it is a really good outlet for me. Over time, I have done different things because I have changed, so does my music and the people I write with. It is honest; I couldn’t sing it seriously if it wasn’t.
When you’re not making music, what are you doing?
I start many things and create, and most of the time move on before I finish the last thing. I love to cook — it is another form of therapy for me and a chance to switch off my brain from the world and focus only on the meal. I also love having my family and friends eat my food, so it’s a plus that they are happy and well. I do some gardening and crafts. I enjoy camping too, getting away and being by the ocean.
You’ve worked with producer powerhouses BAYNK, SACHI and Flight Facilities – what have you taken away from those collaborations?
The biggest lessons I learnt from these songs was how to collaborate, first and foremost. BAYNK was one of the first people I wrote with ever. It was a very easy and fun experience, which gave me the confidence to get out there and do more. They also taught me that I have the ability to perform and write many different ways. The songs that came from these collaborations are much different to what I write at home on my own, and different again to what I release as my own artist. They are fun, and I like that.
“I have a lot of love to give, and I’m going to give it. If this is too much for someone, then they don’t deserve it from me.”
Can you take us through your songwriting process?
The way I write is different every time. If I am writing on my own, it is a very quick and therapeutic process. I pick up the guitar and I just let it all out. I get this urge to play guitar and then, if it feels right and I need to get something off my chest, I just sing until I feel better. When I write with other people, I prefer to have the general chords set out before I even begin to think about melodies and then lyrics. If I don’t like the way it sounds, or it doesn’t spark something in me, then I will find it quite hard to connect with and then write to.
What’s the story behind “Too Much Love For You”?
It is your classic story of meeting someone and being head over heels, thinking they feel the same, only to find out that you are on different pages altogether. I couldn’t have written about anything else this day, as the events that led to this song happened the night before. I wanted to write about how I wasn’t ashamed of how much I gave within this particular relationship, and how I was true to myself. I have a lot of love to give, and I’m going to give it. If this is too much for someone, then they don’t deserve it from me. I’ll keep searching till the love is reciprocated on the same level.
View this post on Instagram
Georgia co-directed the single’s visuals. What other influences do your siblings have on your work? Do you find yourselves sharing ideas or advice?
She did — she, Matt Clampitt and I worked together to mesh a story that would read well and match the feelings of the song. I told them to somehow fit the quad bike on the beach and me in a big dress into the visual, as it was something I’d been wanting to do for a while. I wouldn’t say they have influence on my work, but more so within my life as a whole, which shapes who I am and then how I portray myself through my work. My siblings and I are best friends and I hold them very close to my heart. We are constantly talking about all things creative and general life stuff; they are great to bounce off. I do love working with them too, as I am comfortable and most myself with them, which helps me present my most authentic self.
How has the COVID landscape impacted your creativity?
Like for most creatives, it has had its positive and negative influences. I feel sad for the artists who have worked so hard on their projects, and then not been able to experience the full package of releasing them — shows, tours etc. I am glad I have had more time to myself and to write in private, and process some things.
It has been a season where I have really needed this time. In another sense, things have taken much longer to release and I have been restricted on being able to work with people in person, which I much prefer. It is easier to connect and write better music when you have a constant flow and routine going. I guess I have struggled most with what that looks like, and how to achieve it when things keep getting put on pause.
What Kiwi artists do you have on high rotation at the moment?
I am loving Aldous Harding, Marlon Williams, Tiny Ruins, Fazerdaze, Phoebe Rings, MERK, Lips, Jed Parsons, Nadia Reid, Shannon Mathew Vanya, and Rick Shrimp. These are all artists I have either loved for a while now, or who we have on vinyl at home, the main way we listen to music at the moment.
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
I have a couple of songs in the works which I am hoping to make some visuals for. My sister is going to be here for the summer again, so maybe another collaboration is in the works. All in all, I want to get some music out and enjoy a summer with my family and friends whilst making some plans for next year.
Watch the video for “Too Much Love For You” here: