We had the good fortune of connecting with Olivia Maria and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olivia, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I really just couldn’t ever see myself doing anything else. Making music and playing music in front of people makes me feel more like myself than anything else does. When I was a young person who was coming into my own identity and discovering who I was on a deeper level, it was very meaningful for me to listen to bands who could communicate the feelings I was having and thereby validate my experiences and make me feel less alone. That’s always been my ultimate goal with music, making other people feel understood the way those bands made me feel understood.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m one half of a band called COWBOY BOY, a power pop band currently based in Los Angeles. My bandmate Mike and I started making music together when we both lived in Boston, and since 2017 we’ve been collaborating long-distance. We put out a record in June of 2021 on Get Better Records called GOOD GIRL, and it was the culmination of a lot of really hard work and the start of a whole bunch more hard work. Releasing a record during the pandemic comes with a lot of unique challenges, not the least of which being cancelled shows and tours, but I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished with this record, and beyond grateful for the opportunities that have come from its release.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The best thing about living in LA is how easy it is to do things outdoors. We’d probably eat at my favorite taco truck in Highland Park right outside the 7-Eleven on Avenue 52 and then walk directly across the street and grab some fruit from the vendor who sets up there, and then go hang by the pool or take a drive to Point Dume and say hi to the seals who hang out on the rocks!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My incredible creative partner and bandmate Mike Nevin deserves so much recognition, not just for being ridiculously talented but for always working hard to keep us on the same wavelength, and treating our partnership with the utmost respect. My best friend and collaborator Elle DioGuardi also deserves a giant shoutout for being a phenomenal visual artist in her own right, but also for lending her talent to so many visual elements of this band and helping to shape the aesthetic of COWBOY BOY from very early on. Lastly I’d like to recognize Get Better Records for being the label of my dreams and throwing so much genuine support and love behind the release of our debut record. Working with them as a label and as people has been a dream come true from the beginning, and I look forward to continuing to support their amazing work.

Website: cowboyboyband.bandcamp.com

Instagram: instagram.com/cowboyboy_band

Twitter: twitter.com/cowboyboyband

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.