After breaking through with her brilliant debut single ‘INSANE!’ earlier this year, fast-rising artist Octavia returns once again to deliver her vibrant new offering ‘9 TO 5’.
Bringing back more of that riveting alt-rock-inspired energy she is building for herself, ‘9 TO 5’ sees her continue her upward ascent with every chord. So we caught up with her to find out more about her origins and ambitions over the years.
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Can you tell us a bit about your musical background and how you got started in music?
I come from a family of musicians! Growing up it was required that my brother and I learn how to play at least one instrument. My parents made me join the middle school band when I was 10, and I was assigned the clarinet! I started my songwriting journey a couple of years earlier though! I started writing lyrics when I was eight because I wanted to be like Hannah Montana and sing on stage (my favourite show as a kid). Some of these lyrics I hummed melodies to them, but they weren’t concrete songs yet! I picked up the guitar when I was 12 and taught myself to play one summer. And from there, my love and need to create music took off!
Who are some of your biggest musical influences, both past and present?
My biggest musical influence from the past is definitely The Smashing Pumpkins. I remember being stoned one night, and the Siamese Dream album kept being recommended to me on YouTube. It kept catching my eye and I eventually gave in and listened. There aren’t many albums that just touch my soul and make me feel seen immediately. The vulnerability and rawness of Billy Corgan’s voice, both literally and figuratively is what I aspire to be. I know I’m not quite there yet. I’m still learning how to use my voice and I’m still figuring out my tone and style. I would love to work with Billy someday, that would be a dream! As for the present, even though The Smashing Pumpkins are still cranking out albums, the band I look up to as a musical influence is I Prevail. I love love LOVE the drums on all of their songs! When creating “9 TO 5” I heavily emphasised to my producer that I wanted the drums to be as powerful as they are in I Prevail songs. The way they mix and master their songs is also top-notch. They layer EVERYTHING. I wish I had more time and money to make my songs to that level of quality, but right now we are entry-level in terms of budget! But that’s the goal!
Are there any specific artists or bands that have had a significant impact on your music style or approach?
I’m heavily inspired by 90s grunge and alternative rock. The two songs I currently have out are very Nirvana-esque. There is something very true and honest in songs from the 90s. There isn’t a single artist or band that single-handedly made that impact. The music of that time period impacted me in that way. There is something special about that period in rock. I believe that as the decades have passed, we as a society have become scared to be vulnerable in public for fear of judgement. We’ve lost our colour- our flavour. Everything is artificial regurgitated garbage now. And that’s not just in music! But I won’t sit here and say that that isn’t something that I also struggle with! I blame social media. My plans for my musical style will be that special rawness- that soul from the 90s.
Could you share any memorable moments or experiences that have shaped your musical journey so far?
Learning how to deal with the negative comments for sure! Some of the comments ARE legitimate constructive criticism, and I don’t mind them! I learn from them and it pushes me to be better! Other comments are simply hateful. It was hard to deal with at first and IT DID take a toll on me mentally. For some reason, it hurts more when people hate you without knowing you. It’s like how are you going to hate me without any valid reason? I did nothing to you! But then I realise that it isn’t about me, it’s about them. I triggered them so much that they had to write a hate comment about me. To get to the point, I appreciate the constructive criticism I receive because it helps me view my songs and voice from an outsider’s perspective. It makes me work harder and inspires me to improve myself!
How do you express your personal experiences and identity through your music?
I haven’t released any of my super-vulnerable songs yet. “INSANE!” is somewhat vulnerable, but I have a lot of sad unreleased songs! I express my personal experience and identity through my lyricism. I also like to create build-up in my songs, because I am very much that way as a person. I’m not someone who goes from 0 to 100 like THAT. I’m very patient until I’m not. I’m a slow burn until I explode, which is emulated in a lot of my songwriting!
Have you faced any challenges or obstacles as a female musician, and if so, how have you overcome them?
A lot of guys like to assume that I don’t know how to play the guitar, and that I’m only using it as a prop in my photos. I had a guy “test me” on my guitar knowledge and on the gear that I own. I entertained it for a bit until I realised “Why am I doing this?” Would he do this to a male musician? I then told him that I didn’t have to prove myself. I know what I’m capable of. I’ve been playing for 15 years. He then went on to say that I knew my stuff and just wanted to see “what type of musician I am”. His tone and inflection sounded sexist when he first introduced his question. I’ve only worked my day jobs in male-dominated environments. You get used to it after a while.
Are there any particular themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?
The theme I like to express in my music is non-conformity- being a non-conformist. I remember my 11th-grade English teacher taught us about this subject when teaching us about Henry Thoreau. Ever since then I just took that and ran. I love the idea of it! I’ve always felt like an outsider- never really fit in. I was bullied growing up, I grew up in a very white town as a POC. I have severe hearing loss and as a kid, I would have to carry around this speaker. My teachers had to wear a headset in class so that I could hear them while they taught as I was having trouble learning. Of course, I got made fun of for it. I also had a speech impediment, so I couldn’t really stick up for myself. It was alienating for me, so the idea of “choosing” to be an “outsider” or a “non-conformist” really resonated with me. There is nothing wrong with not fitting in with the status-quo! It makes you special!
Can you talk about your creative process and how you go about writing and producing your music?
I have had bad writer’s block since the start of this year. I haven’t finished writing a complete song since December 2023. It’s been depressing actually, but I just can’t come up with a melody. Lyrics for me are no problem but I don’t like to force melodies. Melodies will come to me while I’m sleeping, doing a task, or practising. I haven’t had that spur in a while, but that’s how my creative writing process goes. I’ll get a melody in my head and I’ll figure the melody out on my guitar. Sometimes I will have a lyric or two right away, other times I’m humming while figuring out the lyrics. I’ll take the humming voice memos and write lyrics around that. Once I have an acoustic demo of my song, I take it into the studio with my producer and we create something great!
How do you hope your music will resonate with your audience, especially with other aspiring female musicians?
The rock genre is very, very male-dominated. I feel as a woman it is a lot harder to be taken seriously in the rock scene as artists. However, we are starting to see more and more women playing guitar on stage which is dope! I hope to be a role model for young girls who see me, and gain an interest in picking up the guitar just like I did with Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus! Especially for young black girls, I feel like it’s the most important. That visibility. Growing up it can be isolating in the black community to like or have an interest in things that are not “black culture” (even though black culture invented the music that shaped modern-day rock). I want to show them that it’s okay to be a rocker! Do what you want and be a nonconformist!
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Listen to Octavia’s new single ‘9 TO 5’ below.