Carla Olive
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Carla Olive

Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 1999 | SELF

Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada | SELF
Established on Jan, 1999
Solo Pop Rock

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"Monday Music Pick: Carla Olive"

Carla Olive’s ability to weave together meaningful lyrics and indelible melodies is matched only by her drive and work ethic.
“I’m a born songwriter and I’m not going to stop,” says the Calgary pop-rocker. “I’ve kind of determined that I’m always going to be working at it.”
Olive’s musical resume is a broad, sweeping tale that has taken her from the rigours of classical piano to the free flow of screaming hard-rock lead guitar, through acoustic singer-songwriter recordings and computerized-loop-supported solo shows to her current album, “Black Tie Affair.”
Released in March, the album — her fifth — is a showcase for Olive and a supporting cast of rock luminaries including producer Greg Godovitz, engineer Johnny Gasparic and musicians Russell Broom and Chris Rawlyck, among others.
Olive gives credit to Godovitz — who’s best known as leader of semi-legendary Canadian 1970s-’80s hard-rock trio Goddo — for helping to shape and focus the album’s 11 songs and its overall sound.
“We met a few years back, and he fell in love with my music as soon as he heard it,” Olive says of the transplanted Torontonian. “He was obviously my first choice to produce, because he’s been really encouraging, and it’s a great working relationship. He worked with my ideas; the final say was mine. You know, he was very cool about that.”
The album is a highly listenable package of pop- and jazz-influenced rock, with lyrics that are both heart-wrenching and clever. Sinuous lead guitar lines wind their way through layers of keyboards, bass, drums and Olive’s expressive voice. The songs are classic female-songwriter pop-rock fare, with echoes of Carole King, Chantal Kreviazuk, Rickie Lee Jones and Tori Amos.
Olive’s upcoming shows will feature songs from “Black Tie Affair” and some older material, played by the Carla Olive Trio, which includes drummer Colin Adhikary and bassist Stephen Shepard.
Raised on a farm outside Grande Prairie, Olive has made Calgary her home since she was 18. Her regular gig as host of a singer-songwriter open mic each Tuesday evening at Café Koi (100 - 1011 1st St. S.W.) gives her a front-row seat to the development of Calgary’s music scene.
“We’ve got some phenomenal talent. They come through the doors every Tuesday,” she says. “Calgary has changed in the last five years. We’ve come leaps and bounds in the arts, and I’m really proud to be called a Calgarian now. It’s amazing.” - Miles Durrie - Avenue Magazine Calgary AB


Discography

Bliss - 1999
Smokey Haze - 2001
One - 2004
Tabitha - 2007
Black Tie Affair - March 2013

Carla Olive Rock EP - December 2017

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Bio

Singer/Songwriter and Recording Artist, Carla Olive presents her dynamic musical abilities in pop rock riffs and rhythms with interesting melody lines. Her music speaks with dynamics and feel, as her lyrics challenge the heart and mind… passionate about social issues, and honest in difficulties of the heart.

With over 20 years on the music scene, she has produced six albums; performed countless venues and festivals all over North America; freelanced for some great artists; and continues to write, collaborate and record.

Carla resides in Victoria BC where she can be found performing in all kinds of local venues both solo and with her trio, and probably hosting a weekly open mic or jam.  Her latest project St. Cecilia, is an all female rock band covering women in rock music – encouraging local female artists to participate in their shows.  Passionate about promoting and supporting female Songwriters like herself, she is curator/host for The Indie YYC Women In Music series – featuring artists from all over the globe.


Band Members