“Lonely, god you know she’s lonely, telling her life story” – Blacklisted
Coming out of Tucson, Arizona, Miss Olivia & Interlopers, composed of Olivia Reardon (Vocals), Mike Sydolski (Guitars, Vocals), David Hostetler (Bass) and Daniel Thomas (Drum, Vocals) believe the best songwriting comes from that inner space unperturbed by outside influence: what works for you is what you should play.
That free spirit mentality is what makes them sound “Like a Mixtape”: the wisdom literature of the tape decks and Walkman, where the only limits are the expanse of your taste. The band wants to write what they want to listen to; a philosophy that may lead down the road less traveled, but never the wrong oneReardon drops puts her entire heart into the chorus has that familiar distorted hooks of all great 90’s alt-rock bands with a positively monstrous riff heading through the blaze of passion.
Olivia and her intrepid Interlopers take this mentality and let it fly aside on this two-song aperitif in preparation for their upcoming record Little Stories. Reardon channels her influences of Erykah Badu and her 10 years singing with an impressive array of musicians in various LA clubs to find that sweet, bourbon-smooth gospel sound in a mix that recalls Ms. Badu, and alternative rockers like Alanis Morrissette in equal measure.
“Leaving You Behind” has that spacious jazzy sound one expects off Chick Corea, with Reardon’s voice soaring over those groove-pulling synths that sit just under the mellifluous jazz/funk of Sydolski’s guitar and the Hostetler’s lowkey bedrock Bass line. Reardon shows off plenty of her soulful bona fides on this track as she glides over those tried and true blues of the complicated rules of love; that kind where all is fair until it isn’t. One feels that sultry pain of loss as she croons the chorus the conviction of her need contrapuntal against the silky funk stylings of her band.
Reardon drops puts her entire heart into the chorus has that familiar distorted hooks of all great 90’s alt-rock bands with a positively monstrous riff heading through the blaze of passion.
“Blacklisted” is where this really feels like a mix tape. Starting off with Sydolski’s smooth jazz voicing, we see the switch flicked in a moment when the bombastic ear-worm of a chorus comes crashing down and the Black Crowes take flight. Reardon drops the pretense and puts her entire heart into the chorus which has that familiar distorted hooks of all great 90’s alt-rock bands with a positively monstrous riff heading through the blaze of passion. After the storm, we go back to lounging on the beach with Pat Metheny and Sonny Rollins, smoothly sailing along the seas of Jazz, Funk and Blues.
Of music, Reardon goes back to her roots “Our family wasn’t rich, but music was always around to help guide us along” she learned from a young age that music “Brings Joy and happiness, a way to heal, distract and keep going”.
Brief but electric, the two song offering whets the appetite just right in time for the upcoming release. Begging for more tracks. I found myself doing the subliminal repeat after hitting the end of this EP, ready for the next few songs.
I am eager to see where this mixtape goes next; but wherever it goes, I’m sure it will be as compelling as what’s already on the plate.
Miss Olivia & The Interlopers will be doing a short tour of the West Coast in June. Check their website for tour dates.
Until I’m Blacklisted.
