Defected and Topshop present: Olive F

Two and a half years ago Olive Firth — or Olive F, as she’s since become known — had never been behind a DJ booth (except when partying in her spiritual home of Ibiza). Now, the Blackpool-born artist has already played three shows of Ibiza’s 2025 season, is putting out records under Dftd and has a brand deal with Topshop. When we chat on Zoom, the thirty-two year old has just touched down in the party mecca once again to headline one of its most iconic venues, Pacha. That’s just scratching the surface of Firth’s new jet-set lifestyle, though — she’s been on a whistle-stop tour of Madrid, Dubai, London, Paris, London and Bali this week alone to perform. “I’ve been here three times already and it’s not even the end of May,” the DJ says. She’s sitting in a palm-tree-laden park, getting some fresh air after a spontaneous night out the evening prior. “I said, no one invite me out,” she laughs, “but I ended up going out last night and I’ll probably end up going out tonight.”

When music is involved, Firth can’t say no — she’s been an avid record collector since her childhood and recalls road trips to France listening to her stepdad’s Daft Punk records. She’s also spent many summers “around the music” since her first Ibiza season at nineteen. A career in DJing, however, was never on Firth’s radar. “I never had the balls to do it,” she tells me. When it did happen, though, Firth describes the career pivot as happening “on a whim”. “I had a bakery before,” she explains. “And I broke up with an ex-boyfriend and my friend was like, why don’t you start DJing? And I was like, nah.” At this point, Firth had never tried her hand at the craft, even as a hobby. But after the same friend put her on the line-up at a Moxy club night, she started gaining momentum, and fast. “ It’s just gone crazy,” she says. I never expected it to be this — I just thought I’d be doing the odd show. And look at me now. It’s mad.”

Ahead of her next show at Pacha with Defected (Firth is going to be spending plenty of time there this summer) we talk disco tracks, silly tattoos and Topshop.

Scarlett Coughlan: So where did your love affair with Ibiza begin?

Olive Firth: I did so many seasons here for Paradise on the PR team. I basically was trying to entice people to go on Wednesdays. Now I’m playing the shows and it’s just like, what! And Ibiza is like my home. You know when you land somewhere and you just think, oh my God? There’s no better feeling than when I get here. This is where I’m supposed to be. And to see my name on billboards and stuff — what the hell?

SC: How did you get from being on the PR team to playing the shows?

OF: My first show was one of my friend’s nights, called Moxie, and I remember I was absolutely shitting myself. Like, what on earth am I doing? And the moment I played my first track — which is usually how it goes, every show I get so nervous — I was like, this is why I love it. I’m always so happy. But how did I get here? I don’t even know. A cycle of people — I had an amazing agent who put me in touch with big people. Then I was lucky enough to do the shows and they just kept re-booking me. Now people are like, what’s your end goal? And I’ve pretty much done it. It’s so surreal.

SC: It must be a pretty hectic lifestyle.

OF: Everyone’s like, oh my God, it’s the best job ever. And it is. But there’s so much traveling and being by yourself and no sleep. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but it’s so worth it. Sometimes you’re getting straight off the stage onto another flight. I literally did that yesterday. I played in Valencia, went straight from the gig to the airport and then back here. 

SC: How do you cope with that?

OF: You know, the worst part is I used to come off aeroplanes in wheelchairs. I used to be so terrified of flying when I was a kid. My mum always says, how on earth are you doing this job, because you’re on flights all the time? But you just have to suck it up if it’s something you really love.

SC: Do you have any other tricks for managing the lifestyle? 

OF: I don’t ever really get drunk — it’s not worth it. Rehydration tablets are a saviour. I always carry a little care package around me and it has a root of ginger (don’t ask, everyone’s like, what on earth is in your bag?) to nibble on. I always have mints. Rehydration. And if I can go to sleep, I go to sleep. I’m pretty good at stuff like that. I didn’t trust myself to before, but I actually might try to move here next year.

SC: Where are you based now?

OF: I live in Manchester at the minute. I went to uni in Manchester to study film and media because I wanted to be a Sky Sports presenter. Don’t ask. You know when you’re like, what am I doing with my life? The only thing I enjoyed was film and I wanted to study horror films. But then I thought, maybe I could be a presenter because they just have to stand there and look pretty. Little did I know you actually need to know about sports, so that went out of the window. And, basically, I went to uni for four years and didn’t get a degree. 

SC: Oh, wow. What happened? 

OF: I quit two weeks before I was supposed to hand in my dissertation. I never went to my lectures. I remember going to one once and the woman — it was literally at the end of the year — was like, are you even in this class? I was like, oh God, that says everything. I literally just went to uni to party. But I do not regret anything. I know it’s ridiculous — I’ve got four years worth of uni fees to pay, but you know what? I had the best time. 

SC: Other than the partying, what was your introduction to music like?

OF: I grew up around amazing music. We used to drive to France when I was a kid and my stepdad would play the Daft Punk album on repeat. He used to buy me the latest iPod every year for Christmas and it was just kind of instilled in us, which is amazing and I’m so grateful. Then I started coming to Ibiza and that just intensified everything.

SC: When did you first go over?

OF: I first came here in 2012 on a total whim. I would never have come here. My stepdad was the kind of guy that had to buy me a fake ID to try and force me to go out when I was a kid. I don’t know — I wasn’t shy, I was just a bit of a recluse. My cousins were going here and my uncle was like, why didn’t you just tag along? And I thought, fuck it, why not? They ended up staying in and I literally ended up going out every night by myself. Then the year after I did my first season and I was just absolutely obsessed with the place. 

SC: Other than the music, what draws you to Ibiza? 

OF: Oh my God, there’s so much I could say. Just the energy of the place. Every time I land here — and this sounds so sad — but I always cry. I feel like my life changed when I came here. You just meet so many people from so many different places and I realised, oh my God, there is so much more to life. 

SC: Is that how you want your music to make people feel?

OF: When I first came here, there’s certain sets I remember because of one track. I just want people to remember my songs, and I want them to eventually be a classic. Is there anything better than that?

SC: How do you describe your sound?

OF: It’s got inspiration from disco always, because I’m a disco and hip-hop girl. I always take samples from disco tracks — there’s something just so feel-good about it. I just want groovy, feel-good music basically. 

SC: Is that your vibe in real life, too — go with the flow?

OF: Go with the flow is exactly the way to describe me. Just taking every day as it comes. Not thinking about much. Just living life. 

SC: That’s what I thought when I saw your promo for “Hot Sauce” — that hot sauce challenge you did with Defected.

OF: That was awful becauseI love hot things, but they don’t love me. That was literal torture.

SC: Do you do a lot of rogue promos?

OF: I actually don’t — this is very new still. But I want to do more rogue stuff than that. I’m literally down for whatever. The funnier, the better.

SC: You’re also about to play Pacha again. How was your show there last week?

OF: Really good. It’s amazing. It’s such a good vibe in there. Pacha is one of the most iconic clubs ever, so to even have the chance to play there… And I’m playing there five times this year, which is mental. But it’s intimate, the sound system is incredible. It’s exactly what Defected is about.

SC: I love the branding of Pacha with the cherries. I have a cherry tramp stamp.

OF: I was going to get one the other day but I didn’t have time! Bring back the tramp stamp, I say. I just got a Hello Kitty tattoo in Paris — basically every time I go to a French gig, I don’t know why but they have tattoo artists at the club, and I’m so here for it. I’m like, give me the weirdest shit. Everywhere I go now I’m just like, you know what? I’m going to get a tattoo and just be covered in random shit. 

SC: How would you describe your dress sense?

OF: I’m not very feminine at all. I’m such a tomboy. I love baggy t-shirts, boys clothes. Anything colourful. You should see my wardrobe, it’s like a rainbow. I just don’t overthink it.

SC: And of course you have your partnership with Topshop.

OF: I mean, my first brand partnership and it’s Topshop! Can you get better than that? I’d literally spent my life in Topshop as a teenager. I’d go religiously every weekend to see what they had new in. So when it came through I was like, this is insane. I’m so glad that they’re kind of overlooking the whole perfect influencer thing — that’s not what they go for. They want people that they can relate to, and I’m pretty relatable. Like, I don’t really give a fuck.