In the Country with Dave Woods:
Olivia Mae Graham

Tillsonburg’s Olivia Mae Graham has had quite a year! She received a nomination back in June for CMAOntario Breakthrough Artist Of The Year & early in October, she released her debut album Nobody. Olivia first discovered her passion for music at the age of 11 when she picked up a guitar. Over the years, she has opened for Terri Clark, James Barker Band, Fefe Dobson, and Nate Haller. Through her live shows and YouTube series, she connects deeply with fans, inspiring them with passion and purpose.

Welcome to the Spotlight, Olivia! First of all, congratulations on your debut album ‘Nobody’. How does it feel to have it out?
Oh my goodness, it feels incredible. This album has been such a long time coming, and I couldn’t be more thankful for how the journey unfolded. Every song on this record was created with so much intention, and I’m so proud of how it all came together. One of my favourite things we did with ‘Nobody’ is include two exclusive bonus tracks on the physical CDs and vinyl. We wanted to make that an exceptional experience for the fans who chose to purchase the album, as a bit of thank you for supporting the music in such a meaningful way.

Share with us the story behind writing the lead single & title track ‘Nobody’. By the way, the music video is great!
Thank you so much, I’m happy you liked the video! I started writing ‘Nobody’ on my bedroom floor late one night. The melody and storyline felt like catching lightning in a bottle, so I grabbed my phone, recorded a quick voice memo, and sent it to my co-writer, Jay Allan. The next morning, he called me and said, “You realize that song you sent me is eight minutes long, right?” and we both laughed. From there, we really focused on boiling it down and crafting the lyrics with genuine intention, making sure every line counted. I knew as soon as we finished it that ‘Nobody’ had to be the title track; it just captured the heart of the entire album. The music video was truly a labour of love. The day we shot it, I was awake for 23 hours (which I do not recommend to anyone!). Thankfully, my Nespresso machine and my incredible team helped me survive that day.

Who are the artists who have inspired you and why?
Oh, so many artists inspire me daily, but over my career, I’d have to say the ones who’ve inspired me the most as a songwriter are Tracy Chapman, Jim Croce, and Taylor Swift. I think they’re all incredible examples of writers who create unapologetic, timeless stories through their lyrics. I’m fascinated by how their songs never seem to age; the emotions, the storytelling, and the honesty always feel fresh, no matter when you listen. That’s the kind of songwriting I aspire to: music that connects deeply and stands the test of time.

What is your favourite part about songwriting?
My favourite part of songwriting is taking a small idea and building an entire world around it. I love that there are so many ways to do that. You can write about a universal kind of love or something deeply personal and specific you’ve gone through, and somehow it still connects with people. Music is such a universal language, and it creates connections in the most unexpected ways. In times when I’ve felt really alone in specific experiences, songwriting has reminded me that so many others have felt the same way, too. That sense of shared understanding is what makes it so special to me.

Who is your ultimate duet partner right now?
Oh, this is such a tough question! The first person who came to mind is actually my brother. As kids, we’d always sing together, make up silly songs, and have fun with it. While he might not have had ANY vocal training, he always brings so much joy into every part of my life. I know that’s probably not the answer you were expecting, but he’s the first person I thought of. Let me clarify, this duet would definitely be one that only my parents and cousins would ever get to hear! Ha!

Music careers are very challenging. What advice would you give to a new artist to keep in mind as they start their career to stay strong through the challenges?
I think to have a music career, your heart has to want it so badly, because it truly is a long journey. The best advice I’ve ever been given actually came from Stacey Lee Guse of The Western Swing Authority. She told me, “Nobody holds your baby like you hold your baby.” What she meant by that is nobody will ever care for your career, your songs, and your art the way that you do. That advice really stuck with me and empowered me to stay as hands-on and involved as possible in every part of my career. At the end of the day, you have to stay true to who you are and to the reasons why you started doing this in the first place, because it’s too hard a journey to do without that.

Congratulations on your online series, The Moments In Between! How important is it to you to share those moments?
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you like the series! Early on in my career, I realized that being in music comes with so many highs and lows. The highs are easy to share on Instagram, but the lows? Not so much. Then I started noticing all the moments in between: the drive to a gig, grabbing coffee, hanging out with my band, answering questions for an online interview —all the things the fans don’t usually see. When I shifted my perspective, I realized that success isn’t just about the big milestones; it’s about how you show up for all the moments in between. That mindset has helped me find so much happiness in my day-to-day life. One of the things I love about sharing my journey online is that you never know how a video will end or who it might inspire. I’ve received so many messages from fans who feel empowered to follow their own journeys because of what we are sharing, the authentic story of my life.

Dave, thank you so much for taking the time to ask these incredible questions. You’re such a huge pillar in our industry, and the Canadian country music scene is lucky to have you caring so much about artists and the art. I’m so excited to join your songwriters round in Mississauga on October 19!

Check out OMG at these links:
Stream: https://orcd.co/omgnobody
Watch: https://youtu.be/Dglzjj4J0bs?si=OWPv63K27MmFg-hE
Website: https://www.oliviamaegraham.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviamaegraham/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oliviamaegrahammusic