Olivia Lunny - VELVET & DENIM
- Samuel Stevens
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
On VELVET & DENIM, which is out now via Infinity & Recordings, Canadian indie-pop artist Olivia Lunny presents her most personal and sonically expansive work to date—a radiant and vulnerable exploration of contradiction, transformation, and truth. Woven with glimmers of nostalgia and cinematic grandeur, the twelve-track album balances elegant softness and steely resolve, delivering a compelling portrait of a young artist stepping fully into her creative power.
The album's opening track, “CITY OF ANGELS,” sets the scene with a sun-drenched, bittersweet tone. Lunny's lyrics speak candidly about the allure and disillusionment of Los Angeles, painting a portrait of dreams chased through neon haze and emotional wreckage. It's both a confession and a celebration of resilience—a motif that pulses through the entire project. “JOHNNY & JUNE” follows and is an immediate standout—a modern love story laced with longing and Americana romance. It’s deeply melodic and cinematic, despite its pulsing bass and simple beat, the track still finds a way to echo the spirit of its two namesakes. Similarly, “GREEN EYES” brims with intimacy and a nostalgic warmth, a gentle indie piece that recalls lost love through soft textures and raw lyricism.
“MARILYN,” which is already a fan favourite since its release, is a shimmering pop anthem that channels iconic femininity and self-empowerment. With its bold hooks and a confident vocal performance, it’s Lunny at her most defiant. Meanwhile, “HEAVEN” softens the edges, presenting a more vulnerable form of devotion, with sweeping melodies and with a heartfelt but soft delivery.
Throughout the middle stretch, Lunny plays with even more stylistic shifts without ever losing cohesion. “LEAVE A LITTLE LOVE” pairs dusky guitar riffs with sultry vocal layers, while “JESUS HELD THE DOOR” ventures into country-tinged introspection, but at its core, it's unapologetically pop. Additionally, it’s one of her most lyrically bold moments—both spiritual and secular, grounded in gratitude and grief.
The titular track, “VELVET & DENIM,” anchors the record in its central theme of duality. The album's most recent single was originally penned eight years ago, the song has evolved into a spiritual centrepiece—dreamy and introspective, it floats on airy synths and poetic lyricism, capturing the tension between fragility and fearlessness. It’s this push-pull between gentleness and grit that defines the entire album.
Later cuts like “NIGHTCRAWLER” and “CROSS MY HEART” lean into the nocturnal, with darker production and pulsating beats, revealing a grittier emotional underbelly. By the time we reach closer to the album's final track, “GUILTY PARTY,” Lunny has led listeners through a late-night emotional odyssey of self-blame, forgiveness, and finally, catharsis.
With VELVET & DENIM, Olivia Lunny isn’t just chasing pop stardom—she’s carving out a unique narrative space that’s as tender as it is tenacious. Her vocals are polished yet emotionally raw, her lyrics are honest without being overwrought. The record feels lived-in and luxurious, each track a vignette of a life spent in motion—onstage, in transit, in heartbreak, and in healing.
Whether it’s the indie-pop shimmer of earlier singles or the confessional soul-baring of newer tracks, VELVET & DENIM positions Olivia Lunny as an artist deeply in touch with her contradictions and unafraid to turn them into beauty. It’s a confident, emotionally intelligent offering that will resonate with anyone who’s ever loved hard, lost big, and still found the strength to begin again.
Check out more from Olivia Lunny:
Comments