Hi Liv thanks so much for agreeing to do this interview for the BeBad blog.
So firstly tell the readers a bit about yourself
Hello! So my name is Olivia McBeth, I am 14 years old and I am a singer/songwriter/influencer from Newbury, Berkshire. I have an overall audience on social media of 50k followers along with a number of original songs out across all streaming platforms with a pop/R&B vibe to them. My two main passions are music and fashion.
As we head into summer things are starting to feel a bit more normal again but how has it been for you being a teenager during a global pandemic?
It has certainly been challenging being a teenager during a global pandemic but it has taught me a lot of new skills. I made the most out of the three lockdowns and really pushed my social media and music. I feel like without the lockdowns, I wouldn’t be where I am now. So maybe I am weirdly grateful but also, things like not being able to see people, wearing masks and online school have been tough.
Have you managed to keep in touch with friends ??
Yes! My friends and I face-timed most days and always were in contact online. I really missed them during the lockdowns but it made this summer very exciting after restrictions were lifted.
It sounds like you have a cool event coming up at the end of the month. Tell us a bit more about that.
Yes, I am super excited! When writing this I have a live music date coming up. ‘It’s Good To Talk’ Live on August 25th in Portobello, London. This is a great opportunity and I cannot wait to play to a live audience!
I bet you can’t wait to be able to perform again on stage, but are you also a bit nervous at the same time ??
A mixture of nerves and excitement. I just love being on stage and performing so mainly excitement.
So how long have you been singing ?? Did you know from a young age that you had a talent for music ??
I have been singing since I was about 3. At the age of 4 I started training at a stage school called ‘Stagecoach’. I stayed there till I was 11. My parents have multiple videos of me singing and dancing around our house making up songs when I was a toddler. It’s always been my passion so as soon as I was old enough to take it seriously, I did.
For those that haven’t heard your last single “Familiar Times” tell us a bit more about this song, how it came about and the duet with Blair Gilmour.
So my latest single ‘Familiar Times’ is a duet with the amazing Blair Gilmour. I watched Blair on The Voice Kids back in 2020 when he was a contestant. At this time, he had no idea who I was. Then, to my shock, Blair messaged me at the start of this year. The rest was history. We wrote the song over FaceTime and then recorded it separately. To this day it is doing great and definitely a personal favourite!
I understand you’ve been working on some new music too ?? Can you tell us a bit more about this and when we might be able to hear it ??
Yes, I am always writing new music! I currently have a great song in the works. At the moment I am focusing on preparing for my live events but as soon as they are over, I will be releasing a new song!
How would you describe your style of music ??
My style of music is a mixture of pop and R&B. They are my favourite styles to listen to so when I started making music, that is what I focused on.
Do you play any musical instruments ?
I can play the piano but mainly just chords to sing along to. It comes in handy when writing songs though. I tried to learn the guitar but I can confirm, it did not go too well.
You must have lots of musical heroes but who would you say is your main inspiration?
Yeah I certainly have a lot of musical hero’s but my main inspirations would be Ariana Grande and Mae Muller. I love how Ariana performs and executes her songs, I also learnt how to riff because of her. Mae is a much smaller artist but I adore the way she writes and the story’s behind her songs. I am super looking forward to Mae’s tour next year as I have tickets!!
Do you have a favourite band ?
I like quite a lot of bands like Maroon 5, Little Mix and 5SOS but my absolute favourite would have to be ABBA. Their songs are so good and I adore the spin on their songs in Mamma Mia!
What’s your music guilty pleasure??
(we promise we won’t tell – he he)
I love old songs! They are my music guilty pleasure. Things like ‘More Than A Woman’ by the BeeGee’s or ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ by Elton John and Kiki Dee. I don’t know what it is about them but they have such a feel good vibe!
How have you been using social media to promote your singing ?? Do you find Instagram or TikTok has better engagement ??
I post a lot of singing videos on my instagram so they can reach big audiences. Things like covers and challenges mainly. I think it is purely luck wether they do better on instagram or tiktok but recently, Instagram has been the best for me.
What advice would you give other young people who are thinking about starting their own music career ??
I know it sounds very cliche but I would tell young people anything is possible if you put in the work. A big thing that would hold me back was people’s opinions and being judged but trust me when I say, it really does not matter.
Let’s talk fashion.
We love your IG Feed and it’s nice to see you have an eye for style – do you choose all your own clothes ?? Do any family members help or offer advice on what to wear or what not to wear ??
Yes, I choose all my own clothes. My parents will say if they like my outfit or not but they rarely influence my decision. I am lucky to have a rather large wardrobe so I have plenty of options.
Any tips for taking a good insta photo ?? especially for those who might be a bit camera shy or not very confident??
I think the key things for a good insta photo is your outfit, the background and the angle/lighting. Taking photos in public can be quite embarrassing but my motto is you’re never going to see these people again, take the photo! It will be worth it.
If you had to pick a top 3 who are the most fashionable people to follow on Instagram ??
My favourite instagram accounts for fashion inspo would be the gorgeous @mollymae, @chlce and @jesshunt2. I just LOVE their feed!
Do you prefer keeping it casual or going full on glam ??
It definitely depends on the situation but whenever given the chance, I love to go full glam. I just find getting ready far too fun!
What’s the must-have item of clothing in your wardrobe this year ?
My must have item would have to be a simple pair of baggy blue denim jeans. They go with pretty much anything and everything and can be easily dressed up or easily dressed down. I have worn them so many times!
Here at BeBad we pride ourselves on being a sustainable fashion brand, we don’t use plastic in our packing and all our tee shirts are 100% organic cotton.
Is eco-friendliness important to you in a Brand ??
Eco friendliness in a brand is very important to me. Brands like BeBad make it easier to live sustainability which is crucial in this day and age.
We always ask.. If you had to pick “Nike or Adidas” ??
I’m going to have to say Nike. No shade to Adidas but I just have a lot of nike shoes and clothes.
Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions, just one more question.
What does the future hold for Olivia McBeth ?? Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now ??
I’m hoping the future is bright. I have big plans and big goals that I will work my socks off to achieve. I am very goal driven, hence where I am now at 14. In 5 years I hope to have a much bigger social media audience, many more songs out and lots of amazing opportunities.