Artist Close Up: Olivia Millerschin Is The Voice of Wisdom In Youth
Olivia Millerschin’s album Look Both Ways is proof that Wisdom is ageless. Often we think wisdom comes with getting older, but wisdom comes with maturity, and that only comes with how you positively experience your life. Thus, when I heard Olivia’s voice and string-driven melodies, I knew I was listening to a young woman who has chosen to embrace life through the light of her talent, and could be a voice of wisdom for youth.
Produced in Brooklyn and Detroit, the Look Both Ways mirrors the grit and hopefulness of both cities, and a spirit trying to rise to its own greatness without getting lost in surrounding darkness. From lost love, Long Weekend, to a developing one, Rather Stay, the record is Millerschin’s ode to cherishing the good in life, while learning to be precautious with its negativity. The singer has already realized that life will always have its good and bad, but she has chosen to musically and personally hold on to the good. Hence, Look Both Ways‘ aim is to discover the enlightened meaning of life for all its quirks and disappointments. Yet, that is not a surprising goal when looking at the blossoming career of Olivia Millerschin. She frequently dedicates herself to several charities and organizations, including Notes for Notes, an after-school program located in major cities that offers free access to music instruments and instruction. Knowing how generous a spirit she is explains why her music feels open to life. To give your heart to music and charity is not an action for the “closed-hearted.”
Vocally, Olivia feels refreshingly timeless, which adds to the universality of her lyrics. Universality is a big word, but Olivia manages to make it small and approachable by creating music that is so clear, in its manifestation, it becomes vastly appealing. She achieves, rhetorically, what I like to call clear conscience, which is a moment when a person’s mindfulness exudes to its audience to appear above time and space. Olivia’s Look Both Ways, is certainly above all, as the simplicity of her guitar-piano melodies and the loveliness of her voice show that beauty is not an achievement; it is a nature. Her lyrics are stunning and hearty in that of however soft her voice is, they carry a fullness in spirit, which makes her record feel like a fulfilling meal. After it is done, you think you have eaten the best music for your soul.
A folkish fire simmers through Look Both Ways to turn her songs into either fables to teach a virtue, Ellie, or conversations between a lover and herself as they try to treat each other virtuously, When. Either approach is successful as her lyrical stories and exchanges make her songs feel like an out of body experiences, in which, you are either Olivia or the characters she brings to life. Add on to her record’s magnificence that her voice has a coolness to it as if her vocals were made in a clear. blue river. They ripple with slights of emotion, but never rush forwards so that you feel like you could drown. Instead, her vocal river is one to float upon and let the sun fall upon you so that, for a moments, you do not feel bombrded by the emotions. Millershcin’s Look Both Ways gives you the time to observe sentiments.
At Just 21, this indie folk-pop musician’s talent, optimism, and keen determination has won her the John Lennon Songwriting Award and has featured her music in movies and TV shows like A Girl Like Her, MTV’s Finding Carter, and Mitch Albom’s book, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto. With more than 200 shows played or planned in 2016, you have a chance to catch this singer’s wondrous heart and music live. She has two album release shows in her home state of Michigan — Oct. 2 at The Ark in Ann Arbor, and Oct. 21 in Birmingham. To buy tickets to her future concerts, buy Look Both Ways, or to learn about the amazingness that is Olivia Millerschin Click Here.
