Olivia Millin got her inspiration for her newest song, “Windows Down,” after she got her Mini Cooper. She immediately fell in love with the feeling of being behind the wheel, especially when the weather was cooler, and she could have the windows down and the sunroof open. When one day she heard another song coming from the speakers, she suddenly had an idea: what if there was a song that would describe what this moment was like?
This thought turned into “Windows Down” – a pop song focused on the simple pleasure of taking a break from everyday worries and enjoying the present moment. “I want people to feel they should be allowed to take a break every now and again and be in the moment,” Millin says. “Just a few minutes of feeling how freeing it is, is enough to reset our daily stress.”
From a Drive to a Song
The concept behind “Windows Down” remained closely connected to Olivia Millin’s own experiences. In addition to the story about the drive from college to work, the young artist also described another experience with her friends while visiting the Jersey Shore. After completing a year in college, she and her friends headed to the shore with no worries about studying or exams. Traveling along State Route 55, they had open windows, loud music of Lady Gaga’s “Disease” playing, and were belting out the lyrics.
That carefree road trip became part of the emotional blueprint for the single. The main idea was not the destination but the feelings that arise when one is away from all worries and spends time with family or friends. Even the way the track was produced involved Millin’s personal experience to some extent. The sound engineers from Rotation Records suggested recording live sounds from her car and incorporating them into the track, including traffic noise, revving of the engine, closing doors, and even a short comment, heard by Millin at the beginning, if you listen intently.
As far as Millin’s vocal is concerned, the artist wanted the last belt to be made in one breath to make the message clear. It took some attempts, but finally the vocal became the essential part of the track, show casing her powerful vocal range.
A Song That Sounds Like Olivia Millin
The moment that is probably most personal for Millin happens during the final chorus, when she can be heard screaming at the traffic. The spontaneous addition matches her personality and provides a bit of a laugh amidst an otherwise professional production.
“Screaming at the traffic in the last chorus!!” Millin states. “Some would say I can be impatient at times, and that part of the song captured me quite well!”
The song also highlights how far Millin has come in her songwriting skills compared to her previous work. Since she began writing music from a young age, she has become much more adept at switching between genres. Moving from J-pop into mainstream English pop has also allowed her to explore more poetic lyrics rather than being confined by a certain genre or language translations. “Some things said in English just don’t translate the same way”, she explained.
This freedom was crucial in writing “Windows Down.” In contrast to most of her work, she usually starts with the lyrics and allows the melody to follow. This song’s hook, took her about an hour to create, after which she tested against her own car speakers to ensure she felt the right kind of energy.
“I wanted something that everyone could sing along to but also something that I could listen to and recapture those feelings again and again,” Millin explains.
The Road Ahead
“Windows Down” comes at a time when Millin seems especially productive. Much of the year has been devoted to creating new music, and now she is busy with recording an album that plans to be released this coming winter.
The move into all English pop music has opened up new avenues for the creativity of Olivia Millin. With her working on a flurry of songs and putting together an album, “Windows Down” becomes an opportunity for fans to get acquainted with a new color pallet of music creativity.
What “Windows Down” is all about is shared experience. Open roads, loud music, nice weather, and a few minutes of freedom from responsibility that come together forming a song about letting go. But for Olivia Millin, the pleasure of carefree indulgence was felt on the road, giving her listeners an opportunity to cherish their next road trip or simply, just take a break to celebrate life!
Listen to Olivia Millin’s “Windows Down” out now: