Following on from recent release ‘Newspaper Smell’, emerging singer-songwriter Olina continues her visceral exploration of early adulthood with new single ‘Smithereens’. This coming-of-age narrative ranges from smoldering introspection to fiery catharsis, reflecting the unpredictable journey that many of us go through as we take our first fearless steps into the future. While many songwriters use the symbol of romance and heartbreak to navigate this turbulence, Olina digs into friendship, particularly those that touch us on a deeper level.
‘Smithereens’ opens with a quiet sense of uncertainty through hushed strings and whispered vocals, which represents the feeling of loss as one enters a new chapter. It’s a dropping realisation that your childhood has officially gone, yet when one door closes, another one opens. Those bittersweet memories ignite a poignant unfurling of emotion that erupts into crashing guitars and raw, soaring vocals.
That immense gear-shift from fragile alt-folk to angst indie-rock is perfectly in-step with the emotional duality at the core of Olina‘s songwriting. The sudden break in a friendship that catapults you from amiable syncopation to inexplicable distance. ‘Smithereens’ is a poetic reckoning with that empty space; by its end, it’s been purified by all that smoke and flame.
‘Smithereens’ is another defining part of Olina‘s upcoming EP, By The Book.
You can listen to ‘Smithereens’ in our Shades of Pop playlist.
Follow Olina:
UNRECORDED 