Olivia O'Brien's 'love & limerence' Is a Re-Introduction to This Vulnerable Rising Star
Olivia O’Brien embarks on a quest of exploration in love & limerence, redefining her pop prowess in new shades of vulnerability and musical perspective.
Lead singles, “blip” and “glimpse of me” showcase opposite sides of the EP’s emotional and sonic palette. A collaboration with producer Day Wave, “blip” is a soul-baring act of honesty, embodying earnestness from top to bottom. O’Brien’s vocals are delicately delivered but grounded with rawness, creating an understated yet emotionally rich sound. She recounts the ever-present ache of knowing you didn’t mean as much to someone as they meant to you, singing, “I was a minute, you were a lifetime / A blip in your timeline…” Meanwhile, “glimpse of me” offers the exact antithesis—an anthem of self-growth and empowerment. With a soaring landscape of vocal harmonies, O’Brien touches on a Kacey Musgraves or Miley Cyrus quality, feeling appropriately free, given the message. Listeners are immediately healed from “blip,” and now O’Brien knows she’s more than a chapter in the story, “You only saw a glimpse of me.”
A perfect opening track, “here, alone, again” is both nostalgic and present, with 2000s synths creating pop earworms. O’Brien lets a bit of indie folk rage infuse her vocals, with the close harmonies creating a driving, vocoder-adjacent effect. The arrangement furthers this sonic determination. As the instruments shift fluidly beneath O’Brien’s voice, the melody stays stable, sharpening each word to a point while the chords recolor the notes. “second love” is a particular triumph on the EP, signifying this new era for O’Brien with a sonic journey into the dynamic instincts of indie rock. With electric guitar at the heart of the track, producer Gabe Goodman accesses new expanses of texture. He instrumentally dances alongside the melody, punctuating heavy moments with distorted hits and letting others blossom into warbling effects. The production is its own character, starring alongside O’Brien’s powerhouse vocals, which truly let loose for this track.
“if I can’t be with you” is another moment of vocal accolade, but in stark contrast to the grandeur of “second love.” There are jazzier elements to this track, with a guitar that plucks out accompaniment, falling in and out of step with the melody. Expansive vocals find every corner of the soundscape, the reverb billowing them in waves. The background vocals are especially ethereal, composed in a dreamy Ariana Grande-style arrangement.
The love & limerence EP is both a re-introduction and a return to O’Brien’s roots, as she explores sonic influences, new and formative, and uncovers stories that have shaped her as a person. It’s a testament to the ever-exciting journey of getting to know yourself and is an exciting world for listeners to be invited within.
Listen to love & limerence below:
