Actions speak louder than words - and so does Olivia Dacre’s music. 'If you wanna be mine' is a realisation piece, wrote by Olivia, about self-worth and sincerity, capturing the desire to pursue an authentic and meaningful relationship after narrowing past experiences. Emotional pain flows through each piano chord (performed by Graeme Park), and feelings of loneliness linger in the atmosphere, perfectly pairing with Olivia Dacre's raw and honest lyrics. Placing listeners in relatable shoes is her gift; this close-to-home track being pure and emotionally hitting - a craft like none other.
Olivia Dacre isn’t just making music - she’s turning life’s most challenging moments into something beautiful. At just 17, this indie/folk-pop singer-songwriter from Barrow-in-Furness has a way of hitting you right in the feels - her lyrics nothing but honest and her atmosphere everything but dull. Imagine the emotional depth of Gracie Abrams mixed with the dreamy aura of Ashe, but in-between lingers a sound that’s completely her own.
A determined artist with a matching passion, Cumbria-based and Barrow-in-Furness-born singer songwriter Olivia Dacre is already an expert at crafting songs that leave a lasting impression on your heart. She first took to the stage at the age of three, singing solo in front of hundreds, supported by a childhood immersed in dance and the performing arts. It was during the pandemic in 2020, at the age of 12, after learning to play the guitar, that she began creating her own original music. Inspired by the live music scene in her hometown, Olivia was eager to get involved from a young age, and that’s exactly what she did. As soon as she turned 14, she booked her first gig, with many more quickly following. This sparked demand from listeners wanting to stream her music, leading to the release of her debut single, ‘Stomach Knots,’ a powerful track about embracing your true self. Her subsequent release, ‘Man on the Moon,’ offers a dreamy, retro-pop celebration of confidence and self-acceptance.
Each of Olivia’s songs feels like a conversation with a friend who truly understands, consistently making her music a talking point among like-minded peers. Now, Olivia balances her A-level studies with writing her debut album and preparing to move to a music-filled city to take her career to the next level while at university. With three singles already out and her fourth track, ‘If You Wanna Be Mine,’ just out 10th January 2025, Olivia demonstrates that sometimes the best way to make sense of life is to sing about it. She reveals her ability to express emotions with ease, resonating deeply with her listeners. She said, “I create my music with the intention of not only connecting with those around me but also sharing my stories and allowing people to use my music as inspiration. A song could be written in a matter of hours or minutes; it really depends on the day, as every sunrise brings something new. The ability to pour my emotions into lyrics through my love for writing has helped me tremendously in my life so far, and I hope it has helped others too.”
An incredibly detail-oriented musician, Olivia built her own home studio, cultivating her music from the comfort of her personal space. Just before the pandemic, her great-uncle, who previously owned a Barrow-based music store, Music & Mystic, unearthed an old and dusty classical guitar from his collection. The guitar, which had never found a home during the shop’s time, became a key part of Olivia’s journey. With plenty of spare time during lockdown and a growing curiosity for music fuelled by her background in the performing arts, Olivia eagerly embraced the opportunity to learn. “The guitar was twice my size, and I ended up with so many blisters on my fingers, but the challenge didn’t faze me,” she recalls. “It was as if I had an instant emotional drive to write music with my new instrument; every time I picked it up, a new story emerged. The rest, as they say, is history,” Olivia explained.
Olivia’s musical journey began as a young child, nurtured by her dad’s love of music. During school runs in his van and road trips into the Lake District, with her dad playing his indie favourites, Olivia memorised the lyrics to numerous classic albums and developed a passion for these bands herself. Her enthusiasm led to a love for the performing arts, spending countless hours singing for her mum in their living room. “It was when I was at a family party - at around the age of seven - everyone was passing around a video I had made on my mum’s phone. It captured me singing my little heart out in the garden, and it resulted in my auntie suggesting to my mum that I should enrol in singing lessons. She approached Jan Kewish L.R.A.M (Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music) and inquired about starting. I’ve been told that Jan explained she wouldn’t normally take pupils so young, but after hearing me sing, she took me under her wing in a heartbeat. I spent multiple happy years singing with Jan before she sadly passed away, and I’ll be forever grateful for her helping me begin my singing journey. Jan taught me the foundations, and to this day I remember many things she taught me about singing. These skills have certainly helped me achieve up to Grade 8 in vocals, completing the grades syllabus and becoming who I am today,” she said.
After combining her newfound guitar skills and songwriting abilities in 2020, Olivia began sharing her talent when the world emerged from lockdown. Starting with charity events and projects supporting her community, she contributed to initiatives like the Bags of Love charity albums, raising money for Barrow Foodbank. She performed at gigs supporting Women’s Community Matters and Black Lives Matter, to name a few. She soon moved on to local pubs and restaurants, becoming a sought-after performer, before progressing to festivals and, more recently, providing bespoke services for weddings, including writing and recording personalised wedding songs. She began gaining more recognition in her town, where she has been invited to perform in the Barrow Music Week celebrations as a renowned Barrow artist, and is even recognised for performing on the Christmas hit single, ‘Light a Candle,’ with Band in Dystopia, which reached No. 5 on the UK iTunes chart.
To further spread her music, Olivia embraced opportunities to feature on radio shows, including BBC Introducing with Emma Linton, where her music was aired, and CandoFM, where she later became a radio presenter herself. By the age of 16, Olivia had already established herself within her local community and beyond. In 2023, one of her tracks was played on a US radio station, introducing her to an international audience.
Before Olivia had even left secondary school, she had performed alongside major artists such as The Coral at Coast Roads Festival and supported Dave Hemingway, a former member of The Beautiful South, with his band Sunbirds. She has also captivated intimate audiences at venues like Kendal Brewery Arts, supporting Bess Atwell, and Barrow Library for Loud in Libraries, supporting Holly Macve—the same program that launched the careers of Adele and Sam Fender, two of her favourite artists. “Ever since I was little, I envisioned myself on the big stages—my dream has always been to get my music out to as many people as possible,” she says.
Looking ahead, Olivia has exciting plans to travel across America, spending the summer teaching music to children in Maine after completing her A-levels. This opportunity represents a significant personal and professional step forward, as she aims to share her knowledge with the next generation. Following her time in Maine, Olivia plans to explore other parts of the state before returning home to embark on her next adventure—whatever that may be!
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