Originally Published on Friday, February 13th

~ About the Artist ~

Friday the 13th.

A day that has traditionally held an infamous habit of being a bad or unlucky day for people. Maybe the conflicting joy that brings the last day of the work week together with a number that is perceived as so unlucky hotels skip that number when assigning floor numbers.

A quick Google search explains that it is a combination of religious and superstitious stigmas with Friday being associated with the day Jesus Christ was crucified and 13 being traditionally unlucky. Then, of course, there is the murderous maniacal psychopath that walks around killing mischievous camp counselors with a machete.

There is a small faction of society, however, who embrace the day. Some enjoy celebrating the stigma in the same way we enjoy Halloween; a draw to the dark, negative references to the holiday. Others consider the day ironically lucky because they consider the traditionally unlucky number 13 to actually be a lucky one. I fall in the category of 13 being my favorite number and I generally have good days on Friday the 13th.

Like this one, for example, is off to a great start because when flip through my catalog of new music, I have the joy of knowing a new EP is available for one of my favorite UK artists, Olivia Miceli.

I first happened across her music last January, with the release of her song Click. Its pop sound was particularly great and learning that she was 100% self-produced, recording in her apartment was really impressive considering how great the production quality was.

80. Single Review of Click by Olivia Miceli

I reviewed her next single, Darling, He Doesn’t Care, as well when it came out last September as well. She has a distinct sound that quickly draws my ear to it.

Olivia Miceli, an independent recording artist out of the UK, writes clever and witty pop songs that could be compared to artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Sabrina Carpenter, and Katy Perry. A multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, guitar, and the ukulele, she blends the organic origins of her music into the digital final products she has become customary to.

~ About the EP ~

Friday the 13th is a 3 song, 9 minute EP featuring the newly released single, Friday the 13th, and previous singles, Click and Darling, He Doesn’t Care, by indie artist Olivia Miceli.

It features vocal, instrumental, and production work all by Miceli straight from her home studio in the UK. It released on Friday, February 13th.

With Click and even somewhat with Darling, He Doesn’t Care, those songs were more upbeat and “bouncy.” Here, Miceli gives us a glimpse at something a little different. The tempo is slowed down and the song is performed in 3/4, giving it a gentle swing.

One element I love is how she sort of hangs on the top end of her notes in places. It reminds of the massive hit collaboration between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, Die With a Smile.

Instrumentally, Miceli attacks the progression with a dynamic piano accompaniment that bounces from structured chords to broken 8th notes in places. With the 3/4 timing it gives the song a sort of old-timey, barbershop swag in places, blending a setting from 100 years ago with today. It’s a really nice element and it pairs perfectly.

Production, production, production!

I really don’t know how she does it so well. This song is produced to perfection. I wouldn’t touch a dial! Miceli knows when to plug in reverb and delay and she knows when to back out of it. She has a spectacular ear for production. I would be very curious to hear her produce another artist’s work. I think she has a great potential here to network and get her name out there a little more through producing music.

175. Fifteen Minutes of Fame Recaps: Single Review of Darling, he doesn’t care by Olivia Miceli

~ Final Thoughts ~

Olivia Miceli represents a new generation of pop performance. Having evolved from an era where young artists would be recognized from vocal and talent coaches, then seek management from talent agents, modeling agents, and anybody else who would fight to put them in front of a camera to get some traction, to getting in a studio to cut demos and, after thousands of dollars, have that demo pushed to label after label, in hopes that the first 30 seconds of their song would spark some interest from a scout who would be looking at their headshot while listening; trying to envision their marketability, that process no longer exists.

Technology has given independent artists the ability to put themselves in front of the world. They can record their own, high quality music, from a laptop, and they can distribute it for a fraction of the cost.

Of course, these opportunities exist for everyone, so consumers have a lot to pick and choose from, and there are other challenges that artists face. It’s still very much a rich man’s game, as it’s very difficult for independent musicians to build a career out of a “viral moment.”

That being said, when it comes to Olivia Miceli, she has it all. I think it would be fantastic to see her perform her music in a live setting. I think she would be very positively received. I think a full length album would be great to hear. When it comes to her music, I find myself eagerly waiting for the next release. She is a phenomenal talent with great potential. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Go press play!