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Metro.Style Interview With Olivia Marsh About Her EP, "Paraglider"

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<p>Stripped of all pretense by a terrifying midair altitude drop,<strong> Olivia Marsh </strong>left the tarmac entirely done keeping her truest self under wraps. Well, she even bottle-epoxied it into her stunning, recently released sophomore EP, <strong><em>Paraglider</em></strong>. </p><p>In an exclusive interview with <strong>Metro.Style</strong>, the artist brought us into her creative airspace, charting the space between our absolute lowest depths and the quiet comfort zones we fall into when the storm blows over.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780757457860Album Artwork_Olivia Marsh_2nd EP_Paraglider.JPG" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>The near-death reality check and the beauty of freefall</strong></div><p>Faced with a possibility that life could change in an instant, Olivia made herself a promise a year ago on a flight. The kind of promise that would alter the trajectory of her music. But as anyone who has ever bartered with the universe knows, a vow made in the clouds rarely has the legs to follow us through the mundane noise.</p><p>“Back when I was flying a lot, I always felt this growing fear whenever there was turbulence. Whenever I felt that fear, I’d think to myself, ‘If I land safely today, I’m going to live life more fully. I’ll do the things I want, when I want.’ But every time I landed, I’d fall back into my usual ways,” Olivia recalled the disarmingly specific origin of the project. </p><p>Consider <em>Paraglider</em> her way of bringing that sky-high perspective back down to earth—an artistic vow to stop playing it safe. It’s an ethereal, five-track escape route for anyone looking to release the need for control.</p><p>As she said, “With this EP, I wanted to bring that midair clarity back down to the ground. To appreciate the fact that I’m even alive at all.” </p><p>On the emotional compass of the mini album, Olivia explained, “The title <em>Paraglider</em> refers to the feeling of release, freedom, and soaring. I wanted this EP to feel like an escape for listeners, a space where they can let go of their worries and step away from the small stresses of everyday life.”</p><p>The irony is not lost on her. If anyone’s wondering whether she’s actually chased that literal adrenaline rush, the answer is a very chill yes: “I actually went paragliding a while back, and surprisingly I wasn’t scared at all. I remember it feeling more calming and soothing than thrilling.”</p><p>It’s also proof of a beautiful human truth that sometimes, the sensation of falling can feel remarkably similar to the sensation of flying.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780757640441Olivia Marsh_Photo_Paraglider 1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><strong>Unpacking the tracklist</strong></div><p>While the concept of <em>Paraglider</em> crystallized over the last six months of intense studio commitment, its roots run deeper. The track “<strong>Stranger Tides</strong>” actually has the longest history within the project, which was reworked alongside a producer she’s close with. </p><p>For her, the songwriting process was as varied as the tracks themselves, stating, “I guess it depends on what you’d consider the start of the creation of the EP. If you count the very first drafts of the songs, I could take you back around three years ago when I first started writing ‘Stranger Tides.’ But actually putting the EP together and developing all the songs properly once I decided to fully commit to the project was probably around six months ago.”</p><p>Navigating the tracklist feels like scrolling through a meticulously curated late-night playlist, balancing raw, acoustic vulnerability with propulsive indie-pop energy. The project’s visual identity, produced by the creative collective 00, is just as considered. Contrasting confessional camcorder footage with two distinct registers (flowing white for exposure, dark glamour for the city-at-night ambient), it speaks to the dual nature of Olivia’s music.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780757757761Olivia Marsh_Photo_Paraglider 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><br/></div><p>Focus track “<strong>Roll</strong>” arrives with neon-lit momentum and captures the intoxicating feeling of a connection that seems destined to last forever, until daylight reminds you otherwise. “‘Roll’ started as a demo that I instantly fell in love with,” said Olivia.</p><p>Opposite to the rush-like vibe of “Roll,“ “<strong>Why</strong>” is the spiral that lingers in the ambiguity of slow-burn romance. Written during a session, she said, “[It’s about] confusion of an undefined relationship—overthinking every signal, wondering if the feelings are mutual, and being caught between wanting to make the first move and the fear of ruining the connection you already have.”</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780757841681Olivia Marsh_Photo_Paraglider 3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>“<strong>One Touch</strong>” follows as perhaps the collection’s most vulnerable offering. Built on minimal production and floating vocals, it revisits a moment when someone reached for her hand, and she instinctively pulled away, unable to act on what she truly felt. Over time, the song evolved into something even more bittersweet: “I lost that relationship. Now the song carries a second meaning, reflecting another loss and the wish that I could go back in time.”</p><p>The intimate track came together through collaboration with an incredible guitarist, <strong>Jung So-ri</strong> (정소리), who sent Olivia some chords that inspired her.</p><p>As for the title track, the South Korean-Australian singer wrote “<strong>Paraglider</strong>” in her home studio, working on it little by little whenever inspiration came. It explores letting go of regrets, relinquishing control, and choosing uncertainty over stagnation. </p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="925" height="525" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vHDuZUfrnT4?si=NsGDForwFDCVkN82" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>When asked about what she wants her listeners to understand after the final track ends, she responded, “I hope my listeners feel uplifted in a way—a sense of hope and reassurance. Beauty in letting go and trusting where life takes you.”</p><p>Olivia also admitted that the real hurdle was in the curation, saying, “One of the biggest challenges was deciding which songs to include on the EP. There were actually a lot of other songs I considered, but in the end I chose the ones I felt the deepest connection to.”</p><p>“I feel fortunate to have been more hands-on with this EP, and I loved getting involved in every step of the creative process. Through making it, I learned so much about how to create something that truly resonates with me,” she added.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780757945783Olivia Marsh_Photo_Paraglider 4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Protecting the peace and looking ahead</strong></div><p>Olivia is currently opting for the power of silence. She isn’t chasing every promotional event; instead, she’s back in the lab. “At the moment, I’m more focused on the creative process—writing, experimenting, and learning more. I’ve been spending a lot of time figuring out what truly resonates with me and pushing myself to make more music that feels honest and meaningful,” she confessed.</p><p>When she does decide to look toward the horizon, her sights are set on high-art collaborations: “There are so many artists I’d love to collaborate with in the future. Off the top of my head, I’d love to work with <strong>KAYTRANADA</strong>, <strong>Amaarae</strong>, and <strong>Alewya</strong>!”</p><p>And for the local fans? While she hasn’t touched down in the Philippines yet, the theater kid in her is already manifesting a visit. “I grew up loving musical theater, and I was a fan of <strong>Lea Salonga</strong>. I’d definitely love to be introduced to more Filipino artists though,” revealed Olivia.</p><p>Olivia’s bucket list for the rest of the year is analog. She’s stepping away from the digital noise to get back into arts, sharing, “I’ve really been wanting to get back into drawing or some form of visual art again. I’ve been doing pottery now and then lately, and I’d love to get better at it, hopefully enough to create my own exhibition someday.”</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780758050040Olivia Marsh_Photo_Paraglider 5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/album/3cVnrjdKcNZuHqY3diBud7?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><em>Olivia Marsh’s EP Paraglider is available now on all streaming platforms.</em></strong></div><div><br/></div><p><strong><em></em></strong><em></em><em></em>Photos courtesy of <strong>Warner Music Korea</strong><em></em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong></p>

<p>In an exclusive interview with Metro.Style, the South Korean-Australian brought us into her creative airspace, charting the space between our absolute lowest depths and the quiet comfort zones we fall into when the storm blows over.</p>

In an exclusive interview with Metro.Style, the South Korean-Australian brought us into her creative airspace, charting the space between our absolute lowest depths and the quiet comfort zones we fall into when the storm blows over.

How Olivia Marsh Turned a Mid-Flight Trauma Into Her Most Authentic Music Yet

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How Olivia Marsh Turned a Mid-Flight Trauma Into Her Most Authentic Music Yet

Leigh Sofia Lazo

Published June 06, 2026 11:00 PM PHT

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Updated June 06, 2026 11:07 PM PHT

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Paraglider

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