Artist Interviews
Interview with Alt Pop Artist ÒLAH BLISS on her new song ‘Blood’, coming album & More
MuzicNotez: First off, it’s an honor to be doing this interview with you, thanks for taking the time to sit down with us.
What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?
- ÒLAH BLISS: Likewise, the honour is mine. And thank you as well for saying that and for taking the time to sit down with me, I really appreciate it. In answer to your question, I’ve been drawn to music for as long as I can remember. I started singing around the age of five, and by seven I was already taking part in competitions. From there, I kept performing in various events as I grew up.
There wasn’t really one single moment that motivated me to start, it’s more that music has always been a natural part of who I am. It’s the only thing I’ve ever truly wanted to do, and it just felt instinctive to keep pursuing it from a young age.
Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?
- ÒLAH BLISS: One of my biggest inspirations growing up was definitely Björk. I was really drawn to how unique and fearless she was, the visuals, her voice, everything about her felt completely different and unconventional in the best way. She really showed me that music doesn’t have to fit into a box.
Alongside that, I was heavily influenced by soul music. Artists like Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Macy Gray were always on repeat for me. There was something about the emotion and rawness in their voices that really stayed with me.
I also went through the typical phases growing up, listening to rock and metal, I loved System of a Down, Korn, even Marylin Manson. But over time, I found myself really connecting with rap, especially American rap music. That had a big impact on how I think about rhythm, storytelling and sound overall. So altogether, it was a mix of really different influences, but they all shaped the way I approach music today.
What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?
- ÒLAH BLISS: It’s difficult to pinpoint just one ultimate goal, because as an artist there are many things that matter to me. Like most musicians, I do want to be successful and recognised for my work, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
I’d love to reach a point in my career where I’ve been able to tour, release music that connects with people, and hopefully achieve milestones like awards along the way. But more than anything, it’s about having a platform and using it in a meaningful way.
I know it can sound like a cliché, but I’ve always wanted to do good with whatever I achieve. There’s so much focus in the industry on status and wealth, and while success is part of it, I think we sometimes lose sight of the human side of things. I’d really love to be in a position where I can give back and make a positive impact.
I come from poverty. I’m an immigrant. We were broke. We had nothing, and I’ve had to start over more than once just trying to build a life and a career from the ground up. Because of that, my biggest dream is to show that it’s possible to come from that kind of situation and still build something meaningful.
I want to be a role model for young people, especially those who feel like everything is against them, and show them that it’s still possible to make it by sticking to your gut, not forcing yourself into what you think you’re supposed to do, and never having to compromise your integrity.
What’s the greatest concert you’ve ever been to or performed?
- ÒLAH BLISS: I’ve performed many great shows, and honestly all of them are special to me in their own way. I really cherish the memories and especially meeting people after the performances, those moments stay with me as core memories as an artist.
As a fan of music, I’ve also been lucky to attend some incredible concerts. One of the most unforgettable for me was Slipknot, the energy was just on another level, completely insane in the best way.
Doja Cat was also amazing. The production, the visuals, the staging, everything was really beautifully put together and so creative.
I’ve seen Post Malone a couple of times as well, and his voice is just incredible in a live setting. He really sounds just as good, if not better, in person.
Festival-wise, I really enjoyed seeing Rae Sremmurd one year, the energy from the crowd and the performance itself was just wild in the best way.
And of course, Björk stands out too. I’ve seen her live and her stage production is on another level entirely. The creativity, the visuals, the technology, everything about it feels like a full experience rather than just a concert.
James Blake, Bring Me The Horizon, I mean the list goes on and on and on.
Your latest release is the single ‘Blood’ which is doing very well. What inspired this track? What does it mean to you?
- ÒLAH BLISS: “Blood” is a very special song to me, and it means a lot on a personal level.
It was inspired by a really difficult period in my life. A few years ago, I was in a physically, mentally, and psychologically abusive relationship, and it left a big impact on me. During that time, I wasn’t in a good place at all, and I think I became a version of myself that I didn’t fully recognise.
In the middle of that, there was one person who never left my side. My best friend really stood by me and helped me get out of that situation. She was my rock during a time where I honestly felt like I had very little stability.
We had this ongoing joke where she would always ask me, “When are you going to write a song about me?” and I’d always say, “One day.”
On my birthday last year, she came to my house, went into my studio, and wrote on my whiteboard next to my tracklist, “a song about V.” A few days later, I went back into the studio, saw it, and it just clicked. I knew I had to write it then.
The song came out really quickly after that. It almost wrote itself, because it was so real and tied directly to my experience and my gratitude for her.
You have a new album coming out called ‘Menace’, what can you tell us about this release?
- ÒLAH BLISS: I’ve never written an album before, so this feels like a really important moment for me. I always felt like there comes a point in an artist’s life where you know you’re ready to commit to a full body of work, and for me, it just clicked.
I’m not the kind of writer who can just go into the studio and pull ideas out of thin air. I have to actually live things to write about them. Every song has to come from a real place, whether that’s love, pain, betrayal, or something deeply emotional I’ve experienced. Sometimes it can even be one situation that unfolds over a few days, and I’ll end up writing multiple songs from it, but it always has to be rooted in something real.
“Menace” is exactly that. It’s my life. It’s me acknowledging all parts of myself, the light, but also the darker sides that people don’t usually see. I think there’s been a lot of talk in general about accountability and honesty, and for me, this project is about being honest with myself first.
It’s not a polished version of me. It’s raw, vulnerable, and at times uncomfortable. I’m saying things on this record that I don’t think a lot of people would say out loud, owning mistakes, recognising patterns in myself, and being honest about moments where I haven’t been my best self.
But I think that’s important. I don’t believe growth happens without truth. You can’t become better if you never acknowledge who you really are, even the parts you’re not proud of.
This album was healing for me. It came from a lot of pain, heartbreak, and reflection, but in a strange way it also helped me process everything. And I honestly hope that if people connect with it, it can give them something honest to sit with too.
How does this new album differentiate from your previous release? How have you grown as an artist since then?
- ÒLAH BLISS: Honestly, the growth for me has been unbelievable. I never would have expected to reach this level of artistry and songwriting when I first started out.
I really believe in a strong work ethic, and I feel like I’ve barely had a life for the last year and a half in the best way possible. I’ve put in so many hours, writing, re-recording, scrapping things, going back into the studio over and over again. There’s just been constant work, repetition and refinement.
And the funny thing is, a lot of the time I didn’t even realise I was improving while it was happening. It wasn’t one specific moment where everything changed, it was just consistent effort over time. Then at some point, you step back and realise you’ve actually levelled up.
I used to dream of being this good, but I don’t think I ever fully believed I would actually get here. I’ve really surprised myself with this project, especially in terms of songwriting and how much more I’ve been able to experiment across different sounds and genres.
When I compare it to my previous work, the difference in quality and depth feels really clear to me. I’m just proud of it, to be honest. And what excites me most is that it feels like every release is another step forward. I’m constantly evolving, and this project really reflects that growth.
What else are you working on? What can we expect to see and hear from you in the future? Tell us about the new singles coming up leading to your new album.
- ÒLAH BLISS: To be honest, I just want to keep releasing music and keep building. My main focus is continuing to put in the work, improving, and evolving as an artist.
I also want to experiment more creatively. I’d love to collaborate with more producers and potentially other songwriters as well. I’ve written everything myself up until now, so I think it would be really interesting to step into more collaborative spaces and see how that can elevate the music even further.
I’m a very creative person, I can come up with ideas on my own, but I also believe there’s something really powerful about being in a room with other creatives and building something together. That energy can lead to something really special, and I know I’d learn a lot from it too.
Another big thing for me is consistency. In the past, I’ve had moments where I built momentum, released a lot of music, and then slowed down because of outside opinions or advice that didn’t always align with what I actually wanted to do. I’ve learned from that, and now I really just want to trust my instincts more and stay consistent.
I also want to start touring and create a real experience for my fans, not just a live show, but something memorable and immersive that people actually feel part of. I just want to keep giving back to the people who support me and continue growing with them.
So moving forward, you can expect more music, more collaborations, more features, and a more focused and consistent version of me as an artist. Ultimately, it’s about becoming the best version of myself, not just as an artist, but as a person too. That’s the plan.
Anything else you wish to say about yourself or your music? Any message for your fans?
- ÒLAH BLISS: Please just keep being you. Be kind, move with integrity, and remember to look out for other people. Not everything in life has to be transactional. I really believe in continuing to grow as a person, working on yourself, and becoming a better version of who you are over time.
That’s really the main message I want to put out there, just keep going, keep evolving, and don’t lose sight of who you are in the process.
And honestly, from the bottom of my heart, I just want to say thank you to everyone who listens to my music and supports me. I’m incredibly grateful. I would not be here without them, not for a second.
I really hope they love this album. I know I do, and I hope it connects with them too. I just want us to keep growing together and doing great things together moving forward.
I genuinely love and appreciate everyone who supports me, and I don’t take any of it for granted.Also, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me. I really appreciate the support, and I hope we get to catch up again at some point and see how things are progressing with the next project.
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