In Conversation with OFLO

Image Source: oflomusic.com

Gender Amplified chatted with 22-year old Olivia Florentino, otherwise known as OFLO, about her DIY spirit, her influences, and her driving forces.

Gender Amplified: You are a singer, songwriter, producer, and you are an independent artist. What is the importance and significance to you, as an artist, of the DIY approach you take? What power do you find in creating (at all levels) your own music?

OFLO: Writing music has has been a constant form of self expression for me. I wrote my first original song when I was 12, and ever since then I’ve turned to songwriting as a way of processing, articulating, and analyzing my feelings. It’s allowed me to embrace my human emotions (many of which are painful/stifling/confusing) and then use my energy to create, and move forward with my life. I think songwriting has really brought me closer to knowing myself, and knowledge is power!

Image Source: oflomusic.com

Gender Amplified: How is your most recent EP “Thank You” different – personally, sonically, and production-wise – than your first EP “Only the Best” which was released in 2015?

OFLO: I took a more honest and vulnerable approach to this project. I think the songs on “Thank You” feel more authentic because I had a much bigger hand in the production, versus “Only The Best”, where I had little to no part in the musical production. Having full creative control over my music made me feel much more intimately connected to the project at large. I also think it is important to note the developmental growth I’ve experienced between the two projects, which were released three years apart. I was a totally different person back then, and it totally shows in the music.

Image Source: oflomusic.com

Gender Amplified: Recommend to Gender Amplified some new musicians and artists to pay attention to.

OFLO: Check out Camille Trust, Manu Manzo, and Lolo Zouaï !!!!