Olivia Flanigan

Olivia Flanigan, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter, debuts her album, Girl, on Friday, March 26, 2021, with a live-stream at Constellation on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at 8:00 pm.

Olivia Flanigan, a Chicago-based singer-songwriter, debuts her album, Girl on Flood Records, on Friday, March 26, 2021. She will be performing an album release live-stream with her band on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at 8:00 pm at Constellation. The music exhibits a bit of art-pop intermingling, with strong undercurrents of jazz/soul and late 60s Motown inspiration in the instrumentation. Her backing band consists of seasoned Chicago improvisers providing captivating instrumental solos, harmonies, and strong grooves. 

Flanigan's songs delve into mostly romantic or family relationships. She is fascinated by the expectations put on us by our families, society, and ourselves. "Girl," the first track on the album, is a little play on the fact that growing up, she was looking to defy that she was a girl and refused to believe she was "just" a girl. "I gravitated to being friends with boys, even in childhood, and looking back, I feel like it was a way of proving myself. I had a negative connotation with it - weakness, lack of intelligence. That I could hang and keep up, it was out of insecurity. But now I can see the strength of being a woman, and all the incredible women there are in the world doing incredible things." 

The album, Girl, was recorded at Shirk Studios in Chicago by Dan Pierson. "I met him in my first year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - he's a pianist, and we were both in the Jazz Studies program there. I trust Dan's ear and musicianship, and he has taught me a lot about music and being a musician." The musicians on Girl include Matt Gold (guitar), Paul Bedal (keys), Mike Harmon (bass), and Nate Friedman on drums. 

Born into a family of musicians, Olivia grew up in a supportive and rich atmosphere that has continued to foster her passion for writing songs, singing, and performing. "It feels like a club we are all in together, outside of just being family. She began singing at a young age and was a member of the Elgin Children's Chorus in elementary school. "It came naturally to me, and I loved being around other kids and singing." She also studied clarinet and voice growing up, and wrote and performed songs as a teenager. She grew up listening to a mix of punk, 90s grunge, jazz, R&B, soul, singer-songwriter music, and these influences can be heard in her music today. 

Olivia currently teaches private voice and piano lessons. A few years ago, she went to Ecuador as a Professor of Jazz Voice and taught at a University there. Her favorite comedians include Norm MacDonald, Dave Chapelle, Sarah Silverman, Kristin Wiig, and more. Musically, she enjoys Ben Kweller, The Bird, the Bee, Bill Evans, Al Green, Emily King, Tower of Power, Feist, Pavement, Stephen Malkmus, and Pete Yorn, Shirley Horn, Wilco, and more.

Check out Olivia's Facebook artist page for information on her upcoming album release live-stream with her band on Saturday, March 27, 2021, at 8:00 pm at Constellation.

Links:

Album Release Live-stream on March 27, 2021: https://www.constellation-chicago.com

Website: http://www.oliviamflanigan.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliviaflaniganmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviaflanigan/

Flood Music: https://www.floodmusicchicago.com

Medleyville.us: https://medleyville.us/03-2021-first-things-first-olivia-flanigan/

"Mannequin”: Single release, Friday, February 5, 2021: https://soundcloud.com/olivia-flanigan/mannequin-1/s-z5FaAgwowjF