Five minutes with Olivia Lunny — The Canadian singer-songwriter is breaking the City of Angels

Last year, Olivia Lunny travelled across both Europe and the United Kingdom while supporting Ellie Goulding and Loreen on their respective tours. The last six months have been quite the opposite for the Canadian singer-songwriter, though — she’s been holed up in an LA studio working on her upcoming album, which is set to drop next year. In the meantime, though, Lunny’s latest single, ‘City of Angels’ is enough to sate us. Here, she tells HUNGER about breaking the Top 40, finding a new way to tell stories and connecting with her audience on a “heart level”.

Creating your new music for six months in an LA studio sounds intense. What does that kind of isolation do to your creativity?

It’s both grounding and disorienting. On one hand, being in that bubble strips away distractions and lets you dive deep into your ideas, but it also magnifies everything — every thought, every doubt. It pushes you to be brutally honest with yourself, which can be creatively exhilarating but emotionally exhausting too!

‘City of Angels’ explores the shadows behind the glamour. Was that your experience of LA?

Absolutely. LA is magnetic, but it can also be really isolating. You come here chasing this big dream, but in the process, you confront parts of yourself you didn’t expect. It’s a city of extremes. Beautiful and chaotic, connection-filled and lonely and that duality shaped the song.

Supporting Loreen right after Eurovision must’ve been wild. Any standout moments?

So many! Loreen’s energy is unmatched. There was this moment in Stockholm where the entire crowd was singing ‘Tattoo’ back to her, and I just stood there soaking it in. It reminded me why we do this — to connect on a heart level.

Your early music was quite stripped back. What drew you towards bigger pop production?

I think I was craving a new way to tell my stories. Acoustic music feels like a whisper, but big pop production is like standing on a rooftop and shouting. It’s not just about volume, it’s about finding a new intensity — a new colour palette for the same emotions.

There’s this interesting tension in your music between pop gloss and raw emotion. How do you balance that?

Thank you for noticing. It’s something I’ve intentionally really tried to achieve in my songs. The production might sparkle, but at the core, the lyrics and themes or stories must cut deep. For me, it’s about making sure the emotional truth is never lost, even when the sound is big and fun.

From intimate festival sets to supporting major tours, how do you adapt your performance?

It’s all about the energy exchange. In smaller sets, you can look people in the eye and build this beautiful intimacy. On a big stage, it’s more about creating a wave of emotion that can reach the person in the very back row. Both are special in their own way.

You’re one of the few independent artists to break the Top 40. Did that change your approach to making music?

It didn’t change how I create, but it validated my instincts. Being independent means you must trust your gut, even when it feels risky! That Top 40 moment reminded me that there’s space for authentic voices in the mainstream.

From Western Canadian Music Awards to global stages, has your relationship with home changed?

Home feels both smaller and bigger now. Smaller because I’ve seen more of the world, but bigger because I understand how much it shaped me. It’s not just a place, it’s a grounding force I carry with me everywhere.

Touring with Ellie Goulding — did that change how you think about performing?

Completely. Watching Ellie night after night taught me so much about stamina and storytelling on stage. She has this ability to make every moment feel fresh, no matter how many times she’s performed it. That’s a lesson I’ll always remember.

‘Heartbreak on Repeat’ celebrated self-love, but ‘City of Angels’ feels more complex. How has your narrative evolved?

‘Heartbreak on Repeat’ was about reclaiming myself, but ‘City of Angels’ leans into the messiness of growth. It’s less about tying things up in a bow and more about sitting with the contradictions — love, ambition, loss, hope, all tangled together.

The new album’s dropping in 2025. What can you tell us about its direction?

It feels cinematic, vulnerable and playful in parts. I’ve pushed myself sonically and emotionally for this project. It’s the first time I’ve created a whole world and theme inspired by the duality of my life. I truly cannot wait for people to hear it — it’s so special.

The pop landscape’s shifted a lot since you started. Where do you see yourself fitting in now?

I think I fit in by not trying to fit in. Pop has become so beautifully diverse, and I want to contribute to that by staying true to my unique perspective I have to offer. I don’t want to chase trends, I want to make music that resonates, no matter where things may shift.

Finally, who are your dream collabs?

So many, but right now probably Rosalía! She’s fearless in how she blends genres. I think we’d make something wild together.