Olympia

Olympia is the project of Melbourne singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Olivia Bartley. Based in Australia, the act uses a mix of widescreen arrangement, rich harmonies, dissonant minimal guitar and forceful vocals. Bartley’s writing draws on a range of references, including everyday life, Pedro Almodóvar, the band Pele and Carl Sagan’s Golden Record.

Live work and collaborators

Olympia performs both solo and with a larger band, ranging from three to nine players. Regular collaborators include Peter Luscombe and Pat Bourke. Bartley has also performed with Paul Dempsey and City and Colour, and has appeared on Rockwiz.

Recording and style

The project is associated with Reach Around Records. It develops a cinematic style and a body of work built around vivid imagery and ideas, with producer Burke Reid involved in later recording work.