Backstage with Olivia O’Brien in NYC!

We caught up backstage with Olivia O’Brien at Irving Plaza, her New York City stop on the Pixie Tour, and asked her all about her life on the road! From her favorite moments on stage to her dream guest star, Olivia gave us a sneak peek behind the scenes.


Q: What is your go-to post-show snack?

A: I get nervous before the show, and I have a hard time eating. So usually right after I get off stage, I need fast food. I’ll usually order Taco Bell, but sometimes I order Sonic if we’re in a place that has Sonic. I did that the other night. I had a Sonic hot dog and, randomly, a breakfast wrap. It was a weird combination, but it was good. Also, Buldak Carbonara Ramen.

Q: What’s your hype-up song before a show?

A: I have a playlist that I like to play in the room for everyone. It’s on my artist profile on Spotify, called my god, this is the best song ever made. If I had to choose one hype-up song to get myself in the mood to perform, it would probably be “Mrs. Officer” by Lil Wayne.

Q: What’s an item in your makeup bag that you cannot live without?

A: Well, there are a couple. I literally have to have lip liner and some kind of gloss. There’s this new gloss, Kiss Theory, by Anastasia Beverly Hills, that hydrates your lips, and it’s the best thing ever. I have it in every color. I also have to have my falsies. Fake lashes are just everything. No amount of mascara will ever look as good as false lashes. I love them.

Q: Do you have any good luck charms or superstitions that you have to do before the show?

A: I don’t have any good luck charms or superstitions that I have to do before a show, but I definitely have to take two shots of tequila.

Q: If someone had never heard your music before and you had to send them one song, what would it be?

A: It would be “Icarus.” That song is my baby, my brainchild, my best work. I love it so much. I love the harmonies. I love the creative choices that we made on it. I’m just obsessed with it!

It’s my favorite, and all my friends who are actual musicians, whose work I really respect and love, said that it is their favorite song of mine as well, which really validated me. 

Q: Describe your album, Pixie, in one word.

A: Describing my album in one word is impossible… but Magical!

Q: What’s a lyric from Pixie that you’re most proud of?

A:  It would be “Can’t dig your own grave and complain that it’s dirty” off of “Icarus.” I really did my big one with that. I love that lyric. 

Sometimes lyrics just come to you; you don’t even think about it. It’s almost like some kind of spirit possesses you, and you’re like, “Whoa, wait, that actually means something, and that’s really good.” That’s how I felt about that one. It might be my favorite I’ve ever written.

Q: If you could bring out a special guest for one song, who would it be?

A: Miss Amy Winehouse. She’s my idol; I would literally die to sing with her, even though I would sound like a dying mule next to her. That would be incredible. 

Out of people who are alive, Adrianne Lenker, for sure. We could do some insane harmonies and something that really pulls at the heartstrings.

Q: If you could see the version of you who made and wrote “Hate U Love U”, what would you tell her?  

A: I would tell her to strap the fuck in and get ready, because she has no idea what is about to happen to her life and how crazy it’s gonna be, and how many of her dreams are gonna come true. I would also tell her to appreciate all of the huge things that are happening and understand how huge they are, because I don’t think I could really comprehend how truly insane everything that had happened to me was at the time.

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