Meet Olivia Kuper Harris

We were lucky to catch up with Olivia Kuper Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ve always loved singing and I started writing at a young age, too. But I don’t think I would still be here doing it if it was just a passion. It’s been both passion and purpose have kept me going.

I’ve found my purpose through years of ups and downs that have made me reflect more deeply on why I was doing this. Whenever I asked myself, is there anything else I could do or would want to do, the answer was no. And something deep within always told me I was right where I needed to be.

As a kid, I said I’d move to Los Angeles one day and become a singer, so I think I always knew what I wanted but I didn’t know how to get there. I grew up around an orthodox community in Dallas, TX, and I think I always felt like a fish out of water in that world. When it was time for high school, I went to the public arts high school and that helped me find belonging and figure out where I fit into the world.

I moved to LA with little idea of what I was doing and no connections in the music industry, and I was couch surfing and living out of my car. Eventually I booked my first job performing in a show at a bar in Los Feliz. From there, I started to build a network and gain experience on the jobs.

It’s taken a lot of strength to listen to my gut and follow that, because following your heart doesn’t always lead you down the easiest, paved path. I’ve sung to rooms where no one was listening, and also for attentive audiences. The setting drastically changes from day to day, but the empty rooms just make you more grateful for the full rooms. And it’s worth it to give generously in each setting, because you never know who might need it.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. I grew up in Dallas, Texas, inspired by the jazz and soul scene there.

Influences include Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Betty Carter, John legend, Jeff Buckley, Fiona Apple, Whitney Houston, Ariana grande, Joni Mitchell.

I started off doing theatre with LA based theatre company, For The Record Live. We did runs in Las Vegas at The Palazzo Theatre, Mandalay Bay, Broadway in Chicago, Norwegian Cruise Line, and at The Wallis Annenburg,

Then I began touring with Postmodern Jukebox after winning their international talent search.

I’m currently co-writing the music & lyrics for a new musical in collaboration with the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Company, set to premiere in the summer of 2025.

You can catch me on the Season 3 Finale of FOX’s “I Can See Your Voice” on Hulu, and singing background vocals for Teddy Swims on YouTube.

My original music is on all digital music platforms, including my albums, “Juicy” and “Stylish”, my EP “Luvtrovert”, and singles.

Stay up to date by joining my newsletter at www.oliviakuperharris.com/newsletter. IG: @olivia.kuper.harris

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think the most important quality to have is courage. Because it takes courage to be authentic and trust yourself. Authenticity and trusting your taste is what will help you make decisions and find your way as an artist. These things are important, because if you don’t know who you are, then someone else will come along and tell you who you are.

Another quality that I believe is helpful in this career is focusing only on what you can control. At any given moment, all you can do is your best, and you can’t control what happens after that. So having a mindset that is not too attached to an outcome can help you move through this industry with grace.

Lastly, your attitude is everything. A good attitude might book you a job even if someone else is more technically proficient. The entertainment industry is very much about building connections and networking. If you aren’t someone that people want to spend time with, or tour with, then it doesn’t always matter how talented you are.

Just put on your blinders and focus on being your very best self!

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

My biggest area of growth lately has been mindset; Specifically the mindset of being forever a student. I get inspired every day by other artists or just life around me, and my inspirations are ever changing. Remaining open to how much there always is to learn allows me to keep growing.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Sela Shiloni, Almen Jones

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