Name: Olympia Vitalis

Where She’s From: West London

When She Started: 2020

Genre: Soul

Files Next To: Yazmin Lacey, Ray BLK, NAO

Sounds Like: “I’d say I make soul music, but I’m just a mix of everything that’s inspired me. I’ve got a gospel background, so there’s elements of gospel in my music; there’s also some jazz in there too. I’m still figuring it out, though. I don’t want to box myself in and have to stick to one sound—the more music I create, the more I want to experiment with different sounds—but I call myself a soul singer.”

First Music That Inspired Her: “Jheeez! That’s tough. I’m going to say ‘In My Bed’ by Amy Winehouse. That whole Frank album was, and always will be, so important to me. I’m always coming back to it and trying to learn new things from it. Amy’s really honest on ‘In My Bed’, proper blunt, and I love that: ‘The only time I hold your hand is to get the angle right.’ Ridiculous! Amy’s a storyteller, and she made me realise that I just wanted to tell truthful stories—be it personal or societal.”

West London courses through Olympia Vitalis’ veins. Although she says neither of her parents were particularly big musical influences, they did set her down some significant paths of discovery. Growing up with a father from St. Lucia, the ascendant singer was immersed in Caribbean culture from birth and a regular fixture at Notting Hill Carnival since she was a toddler. But that wasn’t the sum total of her musical upbringing; at the other end of her dad’s record collection were Pink Floyd and Queen (“they were the only CDs he had in his car and he would play them at full volume on repeat,” she tells TRENCH).

Olympia’s mother, meanwhile, educated her on soul music and, from there, jazz. Her in-car CD selection was even more sparse. Close To A Miracle by Heather Small was the only album on offer, but they would study that just as closely. The influence of Small’s gospel-inspired vocals are something Olympia has carried with her, specifically the ability to fill a room and tweak a soul at the same time. For similar reasons, she cites Aretha Franklin as another key influence and in no uncertain terms, “the best vocalist ever.”

Keen to get more of that soul-stirring, spiritual fix from music, Olympia joined a local gospel choir and the effect on her vocals is plain to hear. Just as influential on her vocal style is the meeting point between jazz and soul, something she fell in love with when her mum introduced her to Amy Winehouse. She points to the late singer’s blend of shockingly frank lyrics with tender musicality, especially on Amy’s 2003 album, Frank, which she says “was, and always will be, so important to me… I’m always coming back to it and trying to learn new things from it. Amy’s a storyteller, and she made me realise that I just wanted to tell truthful stories—be it personal or societal.”

Since starting in 2020, Olympia has been on an impressive run, tidily racking up support across the industry and building a loyal fanbase. An appearance on COLORS last year, where she performed “The Rush”, remains a highlight in her career. “The whole experience was so surreal,” she says. “I find it hard to acknowledge my achievements, but after COLORS, I had to step back and give myself some credit.” Buoyed by all of this success, she looks ahead to what should be an even busier year. Her recent single, “Younger”, set the tone, but the big tentpole event is her debut full-length. “My first project is coming out very soon,” she promises. “I’m so excited to have it out and to show people what I’ve been doing for the past year.” If the heady mix of soul, jazz and gospel we’ve heard thus far is anything to go by, Olympia Vitalis is about to make West London very proud.