We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Olivia Paulson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Olivia below.
Hi Olivia, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I believe that when I was young I knew deep down that I was meant to do something with my love for music. I grew up very shy and my source of expression was dance, so that became a main focus in my life early. I aspired to dance professionally, but in high school I started having complications with my back and dealt with a lot of pain from the stress I was putting on it. Toward the end of schooling, I was in and out of chiropractors, physical therapy etc. and started to lose hope that dance was something I could do as a career. I directed my focus to computer science because I was really good with coding and it seemed like a good path to take. When moving to LA in 2015, I started school and believed I was going to go into software development, but it never felt right passion wise. It took having other friends pursuing music to start motivating me to look into djing and once I started, everything in life felt like it was coming into place for me. I felt inspired, motivated, and was moving like a professional for the first time in my life. I still take dance classes now for fun, but it was that love for dance and music that made me who I am as a dj today.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
When I first made the decision to begin djing, I was working at a late night coffee shop in Hollywood. That job was an amazing way to express myself by connecting with other creatives and being able to play whatever music I wanted, which was indirectly my way of already djing to a crowd without realizing it. At first, it was something I wanted to try because it seemed like a fun hobby, but it quickly became my obsession in the best way. I bought myself a little controller that I could set up at home and practice. I looked up tutorials on youtube to learn how to mix and instantly found myself sitting at home all day and night mixing music together. I began a residency at a bar in Hollywood and was djing every weekend. I learned very quickly how much I needed to learn in order to take this passion into a professional direction, especially with private and corporate events. My first skill would be my diverse music taste, which can adapt to whatever a party might need. My second skill would be doing my best to provide an amazing client experience. I have invested in my own equipment, speaker system, mics etc. to ensure that I am always prepared for whatever comes my way.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
First and foremost, I would say that performing and being able to uplift energy amongst others is one of the most rewarding parts of being a DJ. It is such an adrenaline rush being able to make people excited and share that love for music. The second most important thing would be that djing has become a form of therapy for myself. When i get behind the decks and start creating, I can lose track of time and have a sense of stress relief. Music has a way of bringing people together and also bringing me back to myself.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My main goal at this point in my journey is to keep learning. I have come a long way since I first started djing, and since I have found myself wanting to try new things as well as getting into producing my own music. When I first entered this era in my life, I never imagined myself as an “artist”. It look finding my way, learning myself more and growing out of my shyness as I get older to help me realize what I am capable of and the direction I want to go. I would encourage anyone who has thought about djing to go for it and see what can happen. This journey has beautifully transformed my life and at times I’ve felt lost along the way, but always come back to the reason why I started and the passion I have for music.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @djlivvv
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@djlivvv
