Famous musician Olivia O’Brien released her new extended play (EP) on Friday, Nov. 14. The EP, titled “everywhere i go, there i am,” showcases O’Brien’s candid lyricism and focuses on “singer-songwriter” inspired melodies. She put it out independently under a record label she created herself, titled girlhood records, after departing from Island Records in 2023. Known for her 2016 hit “hate u love u” with Gnash, O’Brien found her sound in recent years and further established it within this new project.
In June of this year, she released an EP titled “love & limerence,” which concentrates on yearning and experiencing romantic love in different forms. In comparison, “everywhere i go, there i am” focuses on mental health and battles with addiction. O’Brien reflects upon her own mental struggles in several tracks, providing her audience with honesty and an outlet of relatability.
These ideas are showcased in the two pre-released songs “lower,” put out during National Suicide Prevention Month in September, and “all the time,” which was released one week after World Mental Health Day on Oct. 18. With four ballad-inspired tracks and one with an upbeat melody — contradicting the message — each song on this EP evokes nostalgia and self-reflection.
The EP begins with a catchy beat and O’Brien recalling the strangers she used to know, the places she used to go, the person she used to be, and her dreams and fantasies still living on memory lane. She recounts the past and introduces it as a place where nothing has changed or “been erased,” leaving the audience with an internal promise: “I won’t leave it.”
The second track, “paradoxymoron,” expresses further honesty from the singer, where she confesses to being a “walking contradiction.” Described as one of her favorite songs to write, O’Brien informs listeners of her flaws through clever lyricism. O’Brien writes, “I’m too ugly to love my reflection / but too pretty to complain,” leaving the verses broad enough for others to put themselves in the singer’s shoes. She ends the chorus by admitting how “It’s bittersweet in [her] comfortable misery.”
The third track on this EP touches upon peer pressure and the urge to fit in with a group of friends or individuals. An acoustic guitar plays throughout it, complimenting Olivia’s authentic emotions and lyrics. Titled “how would i know,” she confesses to an existential crisis in a “Jack and Jill” bathroom, going out and smoking with her friends despite feeling tired and regretful, as well as feeling as though she is “burning out.”
In a pivotal lyric, O’Brien asks the audience several times within this track, “How would I know what’s the wrong way to live / When I’m more scared of what it’d be like to not live right?” Harmonized vocals end this song as she accentuates her worries and “existential crisis” mentioned earlier, repeating “Where do I go? How would I know?”
The previously released tracks “lower” and “all the time” are the last two songs on the EP, respectively. “lower” feels as though it was pulled from Olivia’s diary, while keeping the context vague enough for a listener to potentially relate to. This is another powerful ballad, primarily focusing on the singer’s struggle with her mental health and dangerous thoughts.
“all the time” is an effective acoustic guitar-driven song, bringing awareness to addiction and how far it could go. She mentions reliance upon pills or drug prescriptions, smoking, alcoholism and eating disorders. Speaking directly to the audience, O’Brien conveys, “And you tell yourself it’ll all be fine / as long as you don’t do it all the time.” She ends the EP on this self-reflective note for both herself and those listening.
O’Brien’s realistic portrayal of mental health struggles and honesty enhance the impact of this extended play. College students or young adults can find an outlet in her music. Those going through something can find themselves within these lyrics, proving further how no one is ever truly alone. There is always someone out there who understands you, enduring the same or similar battles. Music can be a viable outlet for those who need it — and Olivia O’Brien’s new EP proves a valuable asset.
5/5 stars
rross1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of @oliviaobrien, Instagram
