Odina is an independent singer-songwriter and producer from Spain. Her music is heartfelt, deep and complex and I happen to be a big fan. As well as her new single, she shared some of her lockdown words of wisdom with me and the importance that music holds for her in her life.
‘1, 2, 3, 4’ offers a glimpse at all the glorious things to come from this artist.
Emma Miller » indie top 39
Odina is an artist I’ve been following since 2016 when she released her debut EP ‘Broken’. Her music has always felt delicate and fragile in the most beautiful, pure way. However, more recently there has been a simmering sense of power taking hold in her songs and none more so than in the brand new single ‘1, 2, 3, 4’.
There’s an edge to this new song by Odina. The words more forceful, direct and empowered than before. She might be counting down the end of a relationship, or vocalising the never ending cat and mouse chase that can happen between two intertwined people, yet, there is no sense of self-pity in her delivery. The dynamic she creates between the playful, honest lyric and the rumbling drums and guitar swells transform this track from a melancholic introspection to something that feels quite empowered and suggests Odina knows she’s in charge of her own fate.
‘1, 2, 3, 4’ offers a glimpse at all the glorious things to come from this artist. Her self-produced debut album will be out later this summer and there’s plenty of music to catch up on from this Spanish songstress whilst you wait. Go and find her.
Your new single ‘1, 2, 3, 4’ was released last week. How did it feel to share the song with the world?
I was very nervous about sharing this song as I hadn’t put new music out in a long time, but ultimately it felt like a relief. It was a very important song for me and to have it out in the world, and receive such positive reaction from people around me feels great.
I want to make things happen no matter the budget I have or the tools I have access to.
odina
When did you discover your talent for directing and making music videos? Do you always have a video idea for your songs?
I feel like the directing aspect is something that I didn’t choose, but I rather fell into. Im an independent artist, and I’ve always had this attitude to make things work for myself, and make things happen no matter the budget I have or the tools I have access to. And so I ended up making my own videos out of necessity, but it is now such a vital part of me, I love directing my own videos. I just like being in control of the visual part of things. Sometimes as soon as I finish writing a song, I know what the video should look like in my head, that was the case for the ‘1,2,3,4’ video at least.
The uncertainty of the situation has not made me feel very creative, I’m trying to tell myself that that’s ok.
odina
Where are you currently spending lockdown and what’s it been like for you?
I have my ups and downs, like everyone I guess. I’m in London, and feel very lucky that we are able to go out for a daily exercise here. I have been going on bike rides almost every day which have been great for my mental health I think. I feel like as a musician, there’s this pressure to feel like you need to “take advantage” of the situation, to create lots of things, and make lots of music, but the uncertainty of the situation has not made me feel very creative. I’m trying to tell myself that it’s ok, that if one day I have a song to write that’s great, but if I just have to spend a day doing nothing and watching Netflix, that’s also ok.
Do you have any artists you’re in love with at the moment?
Love the new Waxahatchee album, and the new Fiona Apple album too.
A song you’ll never stop listening to?
It’s a necessity for me to make music. It’s important to remind myself of that on difficult days.
odina
We talk to a lot of indie artists about the ups and downs of making music. Do you have any thoughts you’d like to share about your experience as an indie artist?
Music is just the way I process the world, and make sense of it. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have music. Sometimes it’s easy to forget this when I’m having a bad day, or when I’m struggling with the industry side of things. But it’s important to remind myself that I don’t do it for anyone else, I do it for myself and because it’s a necessity for me to make music. I think it’s something I forget sometimes, and something that’s important to remind myself on difficult days.
What’s one of your most memorable or proudest moments since you started making music?
Making this album, and especially producing it myself. I had always produced my own music in the past, but I had never made an album. I think making an album, envisaging it as a complete piece of work, and not just as separate songs, feels like you’ve really ‘created’ something, to an extent that I had never felt before. That’s what I’m proudest of to date.
Can you share anything with us about your future releases?
I can’t wait to release more songs in the coming months, they’re all part of this same album which will be out later this summer.
If you could give your future self a piece of advice, what would you tell her?
Be patient, and take your time making music you love, everything else doesn’t matter really.
