One To Watch: Beren Olivia is an alt-pop superstar in the making

Alt-pop singer and songwriter Beren Olivia is destined for big things.

The 22-year-old has navigated several exciting paths - from competitive swimming to acting - but, having taught herself guitar at age 13, and after inheriting a poetry book a couple of years ago, Beren's true calling was realised: songwriting and emotive storytelling.

Beren worked hard through 2020 to establish herself as one of pop's most exciting rising voices, zooming from 0 to 4.5 million streams in a year and earning plays across major radio stations including Radio 1's Future Sounds and Best New Pop shows.

Her new single Hurt Again is the second from her upcoming debut EP, produced by Dylan Bauld, who's worked with Halsey and pop-rock duo Simple Creatures (made up of All Time Low's Alex Gaskarth and Blink 182 legend Mark Hoppus). Dylan is also the bassist and producer of US indie outfit Flor. 

Dylan's previous work makes him the perfect counterpart to Beren Olivia's songwriting and performance, and you can certainly hear those rock influences in this latest single.

Of the song, Beren says: “In the past I’d dive head first into relationships I knew weren’t good for me. But to be honest, those were also the ones that started out the most fun. My mum could always somehow predict the outcome of the relationship, whether I wanted to believe it or not at the time.

"Hurt Again was written from the perspective of starting a new relationship knowing that it will go wrong, but being naive enough to hope that they will prove otherwise.”

As for her other songs (her complete playlist is below), Beren's rockier tracks include Read My Mind and recent single Is That What You Like Now, while Black Magic and Hurts So Good are pure sad-pop goodness.

Beren says her influences come from a range of genres, but include Halsey, Anne-Marie, Lorde and Avril Lavigne. If you like Kelly Clarkson's early work, rising star Tate McRae, or reigning queen of the charts Olivia Rodrigo, then Beren Olivia may be right up your street.

A key ingredient to Beren's early success is the way she connects with her fans. Between official music videos, she also shares behind-the-scenes footage and vlogs about different aspects of her life, from skincare routines to how in-ear monitors are made. Her numerous formative pathways (possibly the most relatable part of being in your teens to early twenties?) influence her songs in a big way, and her authenticity across her online presence has only solidified their devotion.

Listen to all of Beren Olivia's tracks to date below.