Feature: Olivia Brown Decodes ‘man rm -ir’
Can you talk about any specific themes or motifs that run throughout 'man rm -ir?'
‘Man rm -ir’ explores the complexity of pain, loss, and rebirth through an immersive, textural soundscape. Across my EP, I combine evocative lyrics, haunting vocals, lush chord stacks, glitch motifs, and crunchy textures to capture the raw, messy, but ultimately beautiful grief and healing process.
Each track represents a different phase in that journey. “44 w vine” centers on the initial devastation of loss, with lyrics like “I’ve tried it, scrubbing off what once was. Don't know what I’ve had til it's gone.” “Anguish” grapples with acceptance, as heard in “Our love, it is not enough. Worth only a simple touch. Just a rush. Suspended in strata.” Finally, “window8.6” marks the moment of release. “As you fade from existence, I reclaim what he had once stolen. Leaving you to expire, you fracture, shatter, fall to pieces.”
How did you work with the producer or engineers to bring your vision for this EP to life?
‘Man rm -ir’ was co-produced by me and my friends iyrliaes and roxy phantom, two incredibly talented electronic artists I study alongside at Oberlin College. We have natural chemistry, each bringing our strengths to the making of ‘man rm -ir.’ My focus is on crafting emotive electronic pop, blending haunting vocals, complex yet intentional composition, and glitchy artifacts/beats, while iyrliaes and roxy phantom are masters of intricate, textural sound design and beat-making. Together, we build an immersive world capturing the rawness and beauty of transformation.
How does 'man rm -ir' fit into your overall artistic vision?
‘Man rm -ir’ marks a major step in creating my identity as an artist. Over the past year, I’ve been gradually finding my footing in the electronic world, refining my production style, developing my songwriting voice, and shaping a visual aesthetic that feels authentic. This EP is the first project where everything has clicked, in terms of textures, emotional weight, sonic choice, and imperfections.
‘Man rm -ir’ captures the vulnerability, chaos, and complexity I’ve always wanted my music to express. I see this EP as the beginning of a larger evolution, like a starting point for future work where I continue to explore sound design and audio-visual storytelling.
Can you tell us more about you as an artist?
I’m currently studying computer science at Oberlin College and will be graduating this spring and moving to Chicago. I’ve always enjoyed music and computers/mathematics, but for a long time saw them as separate worlds. As I started learning audio programming and music production, though, I discovered the synergy between technical precision and emotional expression. This realization completely transformed how I approach music.
Musically, I have a strong guitar, voice, and songwriting background. Over the past year, I’ve expanded into electronic production, working primarily in Ableton Live. I’ve also taken an interest in coding my own plug-ins in C++ and Max, as well as creating my own visuals with DaVinci Resolve, Max, and TouchDesigner.
Through everything I create, I aim to build a full sensory experience that feels personal yet inviting to all listeners. I hope that everyone can find some aspect of my music to relate to.
How do you continuously grow and evolve as an artist?
It’s important to surround yourself with people who inspire you. Being around talented artists and constantly discovering new ones pushes me to experiment with new instruments, techniques, and ideas. Through that experimentation, I’ve been slowly refining and evolving my sound.
It’s also important to stay curious. I approach each project as a learning experience, allowing myself to take creative risks, understanding that the process is messy and the outcome is uncertain. Growth is rarely linear, and it can be simultaneously scary and exciting. Each project and collaboration stretches me to find new ways to express what words alone can’t capture.
