Self Talk

Welcome to Olympia's debut album, Self Talk. As flagged by four exquisite singles - Honey, This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things, Tourists, Smoke Signals - it's a world of heart-stopping melodies, rich sonic intrigue and big ideas, from places way beyond the debut singer-songwriter's handbook.

Musically it's an album born of specific storytelling intentions deliciously skewed by a passion for sonic experimentation, an experience that sometimes pounces, sometimes envelops, and surrenders more meaning and detail with each immersion.

Borrowing her name from Manet's famously unapologetic 19th century portrait of a reclining nude, Olympia recorded an EP at Braxton's studio with Pat Bourke (Paul Dempsey) on bass. Atlantis was embraced by Triple J as "like a storm in the middle of the ocean… beautiful, dark, powerful… majestic."

Fast forward three years, and Self Talk is a whole new weather system of its own design. Recorded with Burke Reid (Courtney Barnett, Jack Ladder, the Drones, DZ Deathrays, Sarah Blasko), it's an album of brilliant metaphors, filmic soundscapes and a weight that belies its writer's feather-light voice.

"The album is definitely a collaboration between Burke and myself," Olivia says". There were conscious sonic choices and considered influences but it was mostly influenced by the process of making it: the people involved, the instruments and equipment we used. It reflects the almost collaged way the songs were written. I like the symmetry in that."